Luka Modric Told England to Be ‘Humble’ After World Cup Loss

Having also produced news content for HITC Sport and Read Liverpool, he has created a wide range of content for GMS, including news, opinion, features, lists and viral sport content.

His passion for sports extends further than football, as he has covered several sports for GMS, including Boxing, Tennis, and Wrestling. Sign in to your GiveMeSport account Luka Modric had plenty to say about English 'arrogance' after Croatia beat the Three Lions in the 2018 World Cup semi-final.

The ex-Tottenham man, who spent four years playing in the English top flight, was sensational during that tournament as he guided Croatia to a second-placed finish. Modric even scooped the Ballon d'Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the immediate aftermath of his country's victory against Gareth Southgate's England in the semi-final, the midfielder took the opportunity to remind English media and pundits to stay 'humble'.

It was suggested that Croatia, who had been taken to extra-time in their previous two knockout ties, would be tired heading into the clash against England. That narrative is believed to have been behind their success in the end, according to Modric at least.

"People were talking, especially English journalists and pundits from television. They underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake," he said in a post-match interview.

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The Real Madrid icon then told English pundits to stay 'humble', adding: "All these words from them, we were reading and we were saying, 'Ok, we will see who will be tired today'. Like I said, they should be more humble and respect opponents more."

Gary Neville, an English pundit himself, wasn't too happy with the suggestion comments made in the media would have a bearing on what happens on the pitch.

The England legend fumed on ITV: "I don’t believe it for one second. I think he’s come out after the game having won and thought, ‘I’m going to have a dig’ and obviously he was in a position to do that.

"He’s a great player but I don’t believe for any minute of that game he was ever thinking about the English media, what the English media had said, what any pundit had said. Why would you? No player ever thinks like that during a match."

Appearing to get more agitated as he continued, the retired Manchester United captain asked: "Why would you even think that would be taken into a football match?"

Just three years later, and the two teams were preparing to meet at another major international tournament. Ahead of the Euro 2021 clash at Wembley Stadium, Modric was asked about England's 'It's Coming Home' anthem after previously claiming it lit a fire under his team.

While stating he has respect for England, the now 40-year-old didn't retract any previous comments and claimed he and his teammates simply expressed how they felt. He also explained his remarks weren't aimed at his fellow professionals, but the 'people around England' saying:

"We said how we felt at the World Cup and that is it, we don't need to go back and talk about this. That is it, it is finished. This is a new game and we don't need to look back and make more comments about it.

"I don't want to change what we said because we felt that way. But no matter, between players and teams, it is huge respect. We respect England, they respect us. We never meant it about players and coaches, I mean people around England."