Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic hopeful that Modric will continue till Euro

DOHA: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic is hopeful that Luka Modric will continue to play for his country much after the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and turn up for the small country at the Euro 2024. "I hope he will be with us and I am looking forward to that. I am quite certain he will be. Luka Modric will decide personally how he feels. Knowing how he feels about the national team and about football, I'm pretty sure he will be but of course this is his decision," Dalic said ahead of the third place play-off match against Morocco.

The two teams clashed in a goalless draw in the group stage, with Morocco topping the group over the 2018 runners-up Croatia, who came second while World No.2 side Belgium and Canada were knocked out from the group.

"The first match was the opening match, so it was important for both sides not to lose. It was played at 1pm and for both of us it was not convenient. Tomorrow will be a different match," he said about the first group match.

"My overall sharp focus is on tomorrow and the third-place play-off. We want to employ our best efforts. We have repeated our success in successive World Cups and we want to achieve more. We have many challenges. I believe we have to have tomorrow's match in our focus.

Dalic on his plans for Morocco: "You are right, they are really motivated. They can say that it is not that important for them, but I know it is. It is normal for them to care and want that bronze medal.

"We have to be smart. We have to concentrate on our own game and on our own style. We mustn't have vertical passes. We have to be very protective and take care of Hakimi and Ziyech. They are very difficult to break. They concede only two goals, so we'll have to be patient and wait.

"Croatia must also play a better game than we did in previous games." IANS

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