Modric plans to play for Croatia past 41st birthday — SkimNews
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- Luka Modric, who turns 41 on Wednesday, intends to continue playing for Croatia in upcoming Nations League games, extending a senior career that began with his first cap in March 2006.
- Slaven Bilic has returned as Croatia manager for a second stint, having previously led the side from 2006 to 2012 and helped launch Modric's international career.
- Croatia exited the 2026 World Cup in the last 32 against Portugal, the tournament after which Modric had been expected to retire from international football.
- Modric won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup as Croatia reached the final (losing to France) and helped them finish third at Qatar 2022.
- Bilic was the manager who denied Steve McLaren's England qualification for the 2008 Euros — the "wally with the brolly" night at Wembley.
- Croatia's next fixtures are away to Czech Republic on 26 September, Spain on 29 September, hosting England on 3 October, and the Wembley return on 12 November.
Why it matters: Bilic's return and Modric's continued availability hand Croatia a familiar leadership axis heading into a Nations League campaign that opens against Czech Republic and Spain — and revisits Wembley on 12 November, the same ground where Bilic engineered one of England's most painful qualification failures.
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