Luka Modric said he felt “ashamed” for the first time in his 20-year international career after Croatia were beaten 7-0 by England in the Nations League.
The result was Croatia’s heaviest defeat in their history and their biggest home loss, with the match played in Rijeka in front of a crowd largely made up of schoolchildren because of UEFA-enforced restrictions on the hosts.
England had the game won before half-time. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka all scored, marking the first time England had four different goalscorers before the interval since a 4-0 win over San Marino in March 2013, when Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe, Ashley Young and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found the net.
Kane and Saka added further goals after the break before substitute Morgan Rogers completed the scoring for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
It was the first time Croatia had lost a home match by more than three goals. Their previous heaviest defeat on home soil was a 4-1 loss to England in September 2008, while their overall record defeat had been a 6-0 reverse in Spain in 2018.
England’s dominance was also reflected in the underlying numbers, recording an expected goals (xG) figure of 6.43 compared with Croatia’s 1.39. England’s total was the highest ever recorded by a team in a Nations League match, comfortably surpassing the 4.89 xG produced by Belarus against San Marino in September 2018.
Modric, who has won 20 years of international caps for Croatia, was scathing in his assessment after the final whistle.
“You can’t play football like that. We looked like we had four or five less players,” he said.
“It is difficult to find an explanation for such a performance, without winning duels, making fouls, showing aggressiveness and togetherness.
“I’ve been here for 20 years, but for the first time, I feel ashamed after a game.
“You can lose, or you can play against an opponent who is better – and they are right now.
“But losing like this and squandering the reputation we’ve built over the years is unacceptable. I feel ashamed.”
Croatia now face Spain in their final match of the international break on Tuesday. Defeat would almost certainly end their hopes of reaching the Nations League quarter-finals.
“We need to come together and stay united because another difficult game awaits us,” added Modric.
“We have to show our true selves, that we have fight and pride, desire, willpower and unity. You can’t lose that overnight.”
Head coach Slaven Bilic said he could not explain Croatia’s collapse.
“It is difficult to say anything after a night like this. We are sad, disappointed, and I feel sorry for the fans and the children who were at the game,” Bilic said.
“We talked, it is hardest for us, and we did not expect this would happen. I don’t know what to call it, whether it’s a blackout, but it’s hard to analyse a game when you lose 7-0.
“We knew they were a top team, but that we couldn’t match them in any way… that attacks your confidence, your will, and everything falls apart and goes the wrong way.”
