UEFA Nations League: Luka Modric ‘ashamed’ after England hands Croatia its worst defeat in history

Luka Modric-led Croatia will next host Spain in Split on Tuesday in the UEFA Nations League. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Luka Modric said he felt “ashamed” after Croatia’s 0-7 defeat to England in Rijeka in the UEFA Nations League, calling the performance unacceptable as well as a betrayal of the reputation the side had built over the years.

“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,” Modrić told Croatian daily Jutarnji.

“You can lose, or play against an opponent who is better - and they are right now. But in any case, losing like this and squandering the reputation we’ve built over the years is unacceptable. You can’t play football like that. You can’t play with two players less; you can’t play like this, and we looked like we had 4-5 players less. A catastrophic night,” he added.

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Croatia now sits third in Nations League A, Group Three, and is set to face Spain in Split on Tuesday. The world champion leads the group with a 100 per cent record after a 4‑1 win in the reverse fixture.

“We need to pull ourselves together, stay together, because a new, difficult game awaits us. We have to show our true colours: that there is defiance and pride in us, desire, willingness, togetherness; these things cannot be lost overnight.” Modric noted.