Luka Modrić expresses shame after Croatia's 0-7 loss to England

Croatia captain Luka Modrić expressed profound shame following the national team’s historic 0-7 defeat against England in Rijeka. Modrić, who has been with the national team for 20 years, described the performance as “catastrophic,” noting a complete lack of aggression, cohesion, and fighting spirit.

Modrić stated that while losing to a superior opponent is acceptable, losing in such a manner damages the reputation the team has built over many years. He remarked that the team appeared as though they were playing with four or five fewer players on the pitch.

Coach Slaven Bilić accepted full responsibility for the result, calling it a “collective blackout.” Bilić noted the difficulty of finding positive aspects after such a performance and expressed disappointment for the fans in attendance. The match, which was originally scheduled to be played behind closed doors due to a UEFA penalty, saw several thousand young fans in attendance.