TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Croatia captain Luka Modric has insisted his side has no reason to fear England ahead of their Group L opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying Croatia possesses the experience and mentality needed to compete with any team in the tournament.
Croatia will face England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. While England enters the tournament as one of the favorites, Modric said his team remains confident ahead of the highly anticipated clash.
"We respect everyone, but we're not afraid of anyone. Now it's up to us to prove it on the pitch. We want to make all Croatians proud," Modric said, as quoted by Goal.
Modric Backs Croatia's Tournament Experience
Although England is widely viewed as the strongest team in Group L, Modric believes Croatia's experience on football's biggest stage gives the team confidence heading into the competition.
Croatia finished runner-up at the 2018 World Cup and secured third place in the 2022 edition, establishing itself as one of the most consistent performers in recent international tournaments.
According to Modric, Croatia's success has been built not only on talent but also on strong team unity.
"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," the AC Milan midfielder said.
"We are not here to participate, to act as an extra. When the group is compact, we can compete with anyone."
The 40-year-old midfielder has also been the subject of speculation regarding his future. His contract with AC Milan is due to expire this summer, although the club reportedly holds an option to extend the deal by one year. Several reports have suggested that the 2026 World Cup could be Modric's final major tournament before retirement.
The veteran playmaker, however, has brushed aside questions about his future and said his full attention is on helping Croatia at the World Cup.
"I'm focused exclusively on the tournament because I want to help the team in the best possible way," said the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, who has earned nearly 200 caps for Croatia.
Henderson Hails Modric Ahead of England Clash
England midfielder Jordan Henderson has also spoken highly of Modric ahead of the match, describing him as the best midfielder he has faced during his career.
"I'm not even just saying this -- for me, he's probably the best that I've played against in my career, midfield-wise," Henderson told ESPN.
The Brentford midfielder praised Modric's technical ability, vision, and intelligence, saying the Croatian captain consistently causes problems for opponents.
"Hopefully he doesn't perform as well as we know he can against us, but I haven't seen him have a bad game yet, so it'll be a difficult test, of course, for whoever plays in midfield," Henderson said.
Despite highlighting Modric's influence, Henderson cautioned against focusing solely on the veteran midfielder. He stressed that Croatia remains a dangerous team with quality players across the squad.
"For us, it's just about focusing on ourselves because it's not just him [Modric], there are other very, very good players in their squad as well," he said.
Bellingham Expected to Play Key Role
Henderson also praised England teammate Jude Bellingham, describing the Real Madrid star as a player capable of making a decisive impact at the tournament.
"What he gives us is just something really special. I think he really gives us the X factor in our team," Henderson said.
"I think if you ask any player in the group, they'll tell you how much of a good teammate he is, how well he trains."
The England-Croatia clash is among the most anticipated matches of the opening round of the 2026 World Cup group stage. England will be aiming to launch its campaign with a victory, while Croatia hopes to show it can still challenge the world's elite despite the gradual transition of its celebrated golden generation.
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