Nations League: Croatia v Scotland
Date: Saturday, 12 October Venue: Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb Kick-off: 17:00 BST
Coverage: Radio Scotland commentary & text updates via BBC Sport website & app
When the draw for the Nations League was made at the start of the year, many Scots would have looked at the opponents’ superstars and hoped that Euro 2024 would be an international swansong for Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Croatia’s Luka Modric.
Not so.
At the ages of 36, 39 and 39 respectively, the greatest players those countries have ever produced could have been forgiven for calling it a day.
But there is a burning desire inside all three to perform on the World Cup stage just one more time. It drives them.
The pedestals they all stand upon is all the more remarkable given they are compatriots of Zbiginiew Boniek, Eusebio and Davor Suker.
And, sadly for Scotland, Lewandowski and Ronaldo have already scored against Steve Clarke’s side as they prepare to face a Modric-led Croatian team that have become experts at punching above their weight at World Cups.
At the 2018 finals in Russia, Zlatko Dalic led a nation with a smaller population than that of Scotland to the zenith of international football when they contested the World Cup final. They would come up short against France on the day.
Croatia reaching that showpiece was a surprise, but Modric is the very embodiment of upsetting the odds.
He and his family had to flee their home near the Dalmatian city of Zadar due to the Croatian War of Independence that provided the back-drop to his childhood.
As a Dinamo Zagreb graduate, 20 years ago, he was sent on loan to Bosnian club Zrinjski Mostar. For a young Croatian, that will have been an eye-opener.
In the ensuing two decades, Modric has won six Champions League titles, five Super Cups, four Spanish titles and five Club World Cups alongside the 180 caps he has proudly amassed in Croatia’s red and white checks.
Yet, when he made big-money moves to Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, where he has won anything and everything, he was written off by many. He is currently enjoying his 13th season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I’m still here, motivated as before,” Modric said last month. “I am most proud to play for Croatia. I think I can still help.”
He was right as he followed up that statement with a complete masterclass against Poland on match-day two in Osijek in which he scored the only goal of the game with a superbly executed free-kick.
Scotland actually have a winning record against the Croats and are unbeaten on their two previous visits to Zagreb.
However, their two victories during the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, including an unexpected triumph in the Croatian capital, came after the qualification horse had long since bolted.
More recently, the Scots were on the receiving end of Modric wizardry in what was their must-win final group match of Euro 2020. Croatia eased to a 3-1 victory at Hampden Park, with the veteran scoring the second, and the game exposed a big gap between the teams.
To remain in contention in the current Nations League section and maintain hopes of a place in pot one or two for next year’s World Cup qualifiers, this is a game Scotland will probably have to win.
The trouble is that Croatia do not lose at home very often. That Scotland victory 11 years ago is one of only seven competitive defeats suffered on their own soil since Croatia entered the Fifa rankings in 1994.
Like Scotland, they had a disappointing European Championship in Germany, exiting at the group stage after conceding late goals against Albania and Italy in what was known as the group of death. Eventual winners Spain topped the section.
However, that anti-climax does nnot detract from the fact this will be a very tough assignment.
Modric can call on strong support cast
While Modric is the puppet-master, Dalic has a terrific blend of young and old from which to pick.
For quality, look no further than midfielder Luka Sucic’s late equaliser for Real Sociedad against Atletico Madrid on Sunday. The 22-year-old unleashed an outrageous shot from outside the box to sweep past one of the best goalkeepers in world football in the shape of Jan Oblak for his first La Liga goal.
Also on the scoresheet in Spain at the weekend was striker Ante Budimir, whose goal earned Osasuna a point against Getafe.
Midfielder Matteo Kovacic hit a double for Manchester City in their win over Fulham, with club-mate Josko Gvardiol one of the most expensive defenders in the world.
Like Modric, there are still some veterans from that run to the World Cup final within the squad, most notably Ivan Perisic, who joined Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven in the summer, and Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric.
The next talent off the Croatian conveyor belt appears to be 21-year-old Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina, who has attracted interest from Manchester United and has been dubbed “the next Modric”.
No pressure there then.
