Last stab at international glory for Modric, Perisic in Nations League?

MANILA, Philippines – The second coming of Croatia’s Golden Generation — as led by Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic — will get one last chance at glory before stepping away from international football. 

While both Croatian stars have not categorically said they are retiring, Modric is 37 and Perisic, 34. While another World Cup run might be unlikely, they still have the UEFA Nations League to finish and club football as well. 

Modric’s current contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid expires at the end of this June. As per club policy, they renegotiate with players over 30 only for a 12-month renewal. Granted Modric has always been fit, a regular fixture in the starting XI, and relatively injury free, he could be inked to another year.

Perisic didn’t make a good account of himself with Tottenham this past 2022-23 season. If rumors are correct, he is headed back to Inter Milan one year after leaving them. How long he can stay with them is another thing as Inter Milan made it to the UEFA Champions League finals (where they lost 1-0 to Man City).

When Perisic left for England, his spot was taken over by Robin Gosens, who did well alongside Federico Dimarco.

Croatia was unable to return to the FIFA World Cup Finals in 2022 when they lost to Argentina, 3-0, in the semifinals. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, they booked a return trip but lost to France.

On Thursday, June 15, they will play the Netherlands in the one-game semifinals of the UEFA Nations League. The winner takes on whoever goes through from the other semifinals featuring Spain and Italy that takes place on June 16.

Croatia pays a visit to De Kuip Stadium, home field of Dutch team Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

The Vatreni, as Croatia is nicknamed, will have few veterans left in Modric, Perisic, Domagoj Vida and Andre Kamaric to lead them. They have a young team.

The Oranje are just like them —a few battle-scarred veterans in Daley Blind, Georginio Wijnaldum, Marten de Roon and Virgil Van Dijk to lead the way for a young team; a team also in transition.

Both countries topped their respective groups of this 55-nation tournament. 

Croatia topped League A Group 1 with a 4-1-1 slate while the Netherlands led League A Group 4 with a 5-1-0 record.

The UEFA Nations League match between Croatia and the Netherlands will be televised live in the Philippines live at 2:45 a.m. Thursday on the Premier Sports channel on Skycable and Cignal as well as on the TapGo TV streaming application.