Luka Modric Named New Croatia Captain

Real Madrid’s creative talent Luka Modric becomes the new Croatia captain ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

(Image credit: International Business Times)

Following the international retirement of long-term skipper Darijo Srna, Luka Modric has been chosen to lead the team as the new Croatia captain.

“Modric will be our new captain,” said the national selection boss Ante Cacic, before going on to emphasize the importance of upcoming game against Turkey – a side that they’ve faced in the Euro 2016 group stage. “We have the role of the favourite (against Turkey) and we will do everything to justify it.”

Despite scheduled to play in front of an empty stadium (due to Croatia’s incident at Euro 2016), Cacic remains adamant they can pull off a victory, “I believe we will not be hampered by the fact that we are playing without fans against both Turkey and Iceland.”

“It is a great honour to be the new Croatia captain,” Modric confessed. “The fact that we are playing in front of empty stands should not be an excuse. We want a victory and a successful start.”

The new Croatia captain made his first official debut for Croatia in March 2006, in a friendly match against Argentina, before the start of the World Cup in Germany that year. Still only 20 years old at the time, he appeared twice at the 2006 World Cup coming on as a substitute on both occasions when Croatia played Japan and Australia in the group stage of the tournament.

So far, he has participated in five major tournaments (World Cups: 2006, 2014; Euros: 2008, 2012 and 2016), making a total of 93 appearances and scoring on 11 occasions. But the soon-to-be 31-year-old midfielder still has some way to go before he reaches the milestones set by the former captain Srna – Croatia’s most capped player with 134 appearances.

For the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Croatia have been drawn together with Kosovo, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey and Finland in Group I. Modric will lead his country for the very first time next Monday (September 5), as Croatia 1.53 (8/15) take on Turkey 7.50 (13/2) at home, albeit they might struggle to replicate their fine performances from the Euros this summer without the home support. A draw between the two stands at 3.60 (13/5), per online sportsbook Bet365.

(Check out Betting Herald’s Bet365 Sports Review for more info about the online sportsbook.)

Before Croatia begin their qualifying campaign, a number of international friendlies are set to take place this week:

August 31

• Norway vs Belarus – H 1.75 (3/4) D 3.30 (23/10) A 5.25 (17/4)
• Turkey vs Russia – H 2.60 (8/5) D 3.00 (2/1) A 2.87 (15/8)
• Albania vs Morocco – H 2.30 (13/10) D 3.00 (2/1) A 3.40 (12/5)

September 1

• Belgium vs Spain – H 2.70 (17/10) D 3.10 (21/10) A 2.70 (17/10)
• Holland vs Greece – H 1.50 (1/2) D 3.75 (11/4) A 7.50 (13/2)
• Italy vs France – H 3.00 (2/1) D 3.00 (2/1) A 2.50 (6/4)

Bet on international friendlies and 2018 World Cup qualifiers with Bet365 Sports!