Croatia captain Luka Modric has dismissed retirement rumors ahead of his team's FIFA World Cup campaign opener against England on Thursday in Texas, asserting that the squad remains highly focused and unafraid of their opponents.
The 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder is leading a transitioning Croatian side that has established a base at Hotel AKA in Alexandria, Virginia, where local fans have been gathering outside to catch a glimpse of the players.
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Modric, who previously won six UEFA Champions League trophies with Real Madrid, is preparing for a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal against a star-studded English lineup featuring players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
As reported by Goal.
com, Modric emphasized his immediate goals for the tournament rather than contemplating the end of his international career.
"I am focused exclusively on the tournament because I want to help the team in the best possible way," said Modric.
The veteran midfielder is currently just two matches away from achieving his 200th international appearance for his country.
"We respect everyone, but we are not afraid of anyone. Now it is up to us to prove it on the pitch.
We want to make all Croatians proud," Modric stated.
Croatia previously finished as runners-up in the 2018 tournament and secured a bronze medal during the 2022 edition in Qatar.
"The greatest strength of Croatia in recent editions of the World Cup has always been unity, and it must be like that this time as well.
