In the 81st minute Dalic ordered the substitution. The poster was the capitulation. Majer entered the field for Luka Modric. It was the way of saying that Croatia was throwing in the towel. The team with the most pride in Qatar gave its arm to twist. Seeing the storm, he got down on one knee. Seeing the score and the clock, it was time to think about trying to save strength for the game for third place.
The public applauded him as in every stadium in this World Cup. Only then did Modric stop running. He gave up the captain's armband, removed the headband and it was as if he laid down his arms. Resigned, one by one he shook hands with his teammates who were waiting for him on the bench. His face, very sharp, was disappointed. He had not been able to lead his compatriots to the grand final as he did four years ago. He sat up and bowed his head. He could with Brazil but not with Argentina. Two South American giants were too much for the Balkan.
Modric, 37, will have to make do. He had to bow to the evidence. He will retire without the World Cup without taking away an iota of brilliance from his record, which includes five Champions Leagues. He couldn't lift the cup in 2018 with Rakitic and Mandzukic. He didn't even reach him in 2022 alongside Brozovic and Kovacic. It remains for him as consolation to seek the third position, like that of his idols Prosinecki and Suker. And the final four of the Nations League in June 2023. That is where the Croatian mastermind, who has patented and registered his pass abroad, will surely put the finishing touch and the final point to his international career.
The night of the tenth was the title of the program that Maradona had on television. On the night of the tenth at the Lusail stadium, Messi took Modric ahead as if he wanted to avenge the defeat in Nizhniy Novgorod. Three to zero, Croatia beat Argentina in the group stage in Russia. Zero to three endorsed the albiceleste to the Vatreni in Qatar. He returned it and in the semifinals, which hurts more.
They were both tens but 16 years before it was not like that. On March 1, 2006, Messi and Modric met for the first time in Basel, in a premonitory friendly. They were some kids who were starting out, physically they weren't much of a thing – nor was it necessary – because they already looked great. Leo wore the 19 and in that match he scored his first goal with Argentina. Luka, a confessed admirer of Cruyff – not only aesthetically – chose 14 for his debut. From there, the checkered shirt was perfect for a teacher who moves the chips at will when he has the ball at his feet.
The problem is that nobody invents like Messi, even at 35 years old. “Leo never ceases to amaze you. He does this kind of thing every day in small games, ”explained Rodrigo de Paul about the 3-0 play. “It's like wine. Physically he is amazing. He feels freer after the Copa América ”, defined Emiliano Martínez, another of his friends.
“Many things have crossed my mind, it is very exciting. We are now where we wanted. We have had a very hard time and today we have to experience something spectacular”, said Messi, already in his second World Cup final.
After Modric's goodbye, there is only one Ballon d'Or left in Qatar. He has seven and maybe yesterday he ordered the eighth. He has no expiration.
