RIJEKA — Croatia captain Luka Modric said he felt "ashamed" for the first time in 20 years as an international after England thrashed Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League in Rijeka on Saturday, a result the 41-year-old branded a "catastrophic night." The heavy home defeat came in Modric's 205th appearance for his country after extending his international career under returning manager Slaven Bilic.
"You can't play football like that... we looked like we had four or five players less," said the AC Milan midfielder, the former Real Madrid star who won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup. "It is difficult to find an explanation for such a performance without duels, fouls, aggressiveness, togetherness. I've been here for 20 years, but for the first time I feel ashamed after a game."
Croatia were already 5-0 down when Modric was substituted in the 57th minute. Harry Kane scored twice, with Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka also on target before the break. Saka added a second and Morgan Rogers completed the 7-0 rout as Modric watched from the sidelines. The result left Croatia third in Group A3, facing a battle to retain their status in the top tier with the top two qualifying for the quarter-finals.
"You can lose, or play against an opponent who is better - and they are right now," added Modric, who helped Croatia knock England out in qualifying for Euro 2008 during Bilic's first spell. "But in any case, losing like this and squandering the reputation we've built over the years is unacceptable... [it was a] catastrophic night [for Croatia]." Croatia had started Bilic's second spell with a 2-1 Nations League win away to the Czech Republic to move above England, before a 4-1 defeat away to world champions Spain left the sides level on points before Saturday's loss.
"We need to pull ourselves together, stay together because a new difficult game awaits us," Modric said. "We have to show our true colours, that there is defiance and pride in us, desire, willingness, togetherness, these things cannot be lost overnight." Croatia next host Spain in Split on Tuesday before finishing the campaign away to England on 12 November and at home to the Czech Republic on 15 November, after Bellingham shines as England crush Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka.