Live Bar April 25 News Recently, former Croatian coach Bilic was interviewed by Marca, who talked about how he found out in the Croatian Second Division and brought Modric to the national team.
What it was like to see Modric play for the first time
'It was 2004, after the European Championship in Portugal, when Modric was only 19 years old and played for a Croatian league second division team, and when I saw him, I liked many of his characteristics, when he showed his talent and character."
And then you immediately consider him a member of the national team?
"He started with the U21 national team, then he came to the first team and became the starting 11 in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. After playing some games, Modric received the captain's armband, and he was a brilliant leader with a unique personality. At that time, I could see that Modric would conquer the world of football in the future. If I thought he could win the Ballon d'Or, play for Real Madrid for 10 years, and be the best midfielder of the last decade, I would be lying. But at the time, it was clear that Modric was ready to grow into one of the best players in Croatian history. ”
What's so special about Modric?
"Totally, he has it all. I remember a pre-match match against Austria before the 2006 World Cup, when I told Modric that even though it was a big event for him, he had to believe in himself and show courage. I said to him, 'Maybe you're not better than Xavi and Iniesta, but if you play in their league, they're not going to be better than you.' I remember the expression on his face at the time, full of excitement and gratitude. Now Modric has shown everyone that he is as good as Iniesta and Xavi. ”
What stands out about Modric? Personality, ability, or leadership?
"From the very beginning, Modric was the captain of the team. He doesn't have a strong presence, a strong body or height, but he's always been a leader on the field and can help other people. From day one, Modric took responsibility, and his experiences in Dinamo Zagreb, Tottenham Andttenham and Real Madrid helped him a lot. This made him an absolute leader in the national team. In the last few years of Real Madrid, I have seen the real Modric, he is the one who carries the weight for the team, the one who ensures the stability of the team, he uses his ability to master the rhythm of the game, for me he is the absolute core of Real Madrid. ”
Can Croatia replicate the feat of 2018?
"It's going to be difficult, we're not favourites for the game. The favourites for the World Cup are the same every time, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Italy but they didn't make the World Cup, and then England, Portugal, Argentina. Croatia can be a surprise in the eyes of others, and I'm pretty sure that no one wants to be a rival to us. There are currently experienced players who have experienced the World Cup in Russia, as well as young players who have provided vitality to the team. ”
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