Croatia captain Luka Modric expressed deep shame following his team's historic 7-0 defeat to England in Rijeka, marking the nation's worst-ever loss since independence in 1991. The UEFA Nations League clash saw Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each score twice, while Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham, and Morgan Rogers also found the net. Coach Slaven Bilic described the performance as a "collective blackout," noting Croatia has now conceded 12 goals in three matches under his tenure.
The result starkly contrasts with Croatia's 2018 World Cup semifinal victory over England, a campaign that propelled Modric to win the Ballon d'Or. Bilic and Modric both called for unity and pride as Croatia prepares to host world champions Spain in their final match of the international window.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing