Luka Modric ‘ashamed’ of Croatia’s ‘catastrophic night’ against England

Luka Modric Laments ‘Catastrophic Night’ in Historic Defeat

Croatia endured one of the darkest evenings in their footballing history on Saturday, succumbing to an overwhelming 7-0 home defeat against England in the UEFA Nations League. Team captain Luka Modric did not hold back in his assessment of the display, expressing that he felt “ashamed” of his team’s performance. The 41-year-old AC Milan midfielder, who was earning his 205th international cap, termed the event a “catastrophic night” and admitted it was the first time across his two decades representing the national team that he had experienced such deep humiliation on the pitch.

The veteran playmaker, who previously starred for Real Madrid and led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and third place at the 2022 World Cup, questioned his squad’s application throughout the contest. “You can’t play football like that… we looked like we had four or five players less,” Modric stated candidly after the final whistle. The match saw the host nation completely overrun across every department by Thomas Tuchel’s clinical English side.

“It is difficult to find an explanation for such a performance without duels, fouls, aggressiveness, togetherness,” Modric reflected. Emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the blowout, he added: “I’ve been here for 20 years, but for the first time I feel ashamed after a game.”

England Dismantle Croatia in Rijeka Rout

The clash in Rijeka carried high stakes for both teams in Nations League Group A3. Croatia had begun Slaven Bilic’s second tenure at the helm on a positive note, securing a 2-1 away victory against the Czech Republic that temporarily moved them ahead of England in the standings. Although they subsequently suffered a 4-1 loss away to world champions Spain, Croatia remained tied on points with England entering Saturday’s showdown, retaining a strong opportunity to solidify a top-two spot and secure passage into the quarter-finals.

Instead, the contest slipped away rapidly from the hosts. England established total dominance before the interval and maintained relentless pressure in the second half. Modric was substituted in the 57th minute, by which time Croatia were already trailing 5-0 after conceding a brace to Harry Kane along with individual goals from Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka. From the bench, the Croatian skipper watched on as Saka added another and Morgan Rogers also struck to seal an emphatic 7-0 victory for the visitors.

Why This Matters

The lopsided result marks a significant blow to Croatia’s ambitions in Group A3 of the UEFA Nations League. Modric recently made the decision to prolong his storied international career under Bilic, aiming to guide a transitional Croatian side through high-stakes competitive fixtures. However, back-to-back heavy defeats—conceding 11 goals across matches against Spain and England—pose serious tactical and structural questions for Bilic’s setup. Meanwhile, England have decisively seized momentum in the race for a top-two finish and quarter-final qualification under Tuchel, leaving Croatia needing an immediate turnaround in form and morale to salvage their campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score between Croatia and England?

England defeated Croatia 7-0 in their UEFA Nations League Group A3 fixture played in Rijeka.

Who scored the goals for England?

Harry Kane scored twice, Bukayo Saka added two goals, and Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, and Morgan Rogers each scored one goal.

How many international appearances has Luka Modric made for Croatia?

Luka Modric earned his 205th appearance for Croatia during Saturday’s match against England.