Slaven Bilic says Croatia must carefully manage Luka Modic’s workload but believes the AC Milan midfielder can still play a decisive role against England in the Nations League.
The 41-year-old started Croatia’s campaign by scoring in a 2-1 victory over Czechia, their opening match under Bilic in his second spell in charge of the national team. Croatia then suffered a 4-1 defeat by Spain in their most recent fixture, with Modric introduced as a late substitute when the world champions were already comfortably ahead.
Bilic said Croatia would continue to monitor Modric’s playing time, while stressing that the veteran remains essential to the team.
“Of course, as with many other players, we have to be mindful of his workload, which is why we take special care of him,” said Bilic.
“He is simply unique. The old saying is that age is just a number, but with him, it really seems that way and he proves it.
“He simply keeps going because he is unique and because he means so much to the team.
“He is more than a player, more than a captain. He is an icon. His importance can be seen everywhere, at the table, at dinner, in meetings.
“But above all, he is here because he still gives so much on the pitch and makes a difference.”
Croatia have an impressive home record in competitive internationals, winning eight of their past nine matches on home soil and drawing the other. Their only defeat in that sequence came in October 2023, when they lost 1-0 to Turkiye in a European Championship qualifier.
Bilic’s side have lost only four of their past 41 competitive home internationals. However, three of those defeats came in the Nations League, against France and Portugal in 2020 and Austria in 2022.
The match against England will be played mostly behind closed doors as a punishment for crowd disturbances involving Croatia supporters during a Nations League fixture against France in March 2025. Schoolchildren will be allowed to attend, along with 100 England fans travelling to the game.
Croatia’s recent record against England is less encouraging. Since their 2018 World Cup semi-final victory over the Three Lions, they have failed to win any of their four meetings, drawing one and losing three.
That sequence includes three defeats for Croatia and leaves Bilic’s team seeking both a Nations League response after the heavy loss to Spain and a first victory over England since their meeting at the 2018 World Cup.