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"It was a huge advert for Croatia, all the
world finally knew about us," the 32-year-old midfielder
reflected a couple of years ago of that 1998 run to a
third-place finish. "I began dreaming about trying to reach that
level one day."
On Sunday, Modric leads Croatia in a Round of 16 tie they are
hot favorites to win against Denmark, whose main threat is
another slight and silky midfielder: Christian Eriksen.
Croatia are brimming with confidence after winning Group D at a
canter with a perfect record, including a 3-0 thumping of
Messi's Argentina that included a sublime long-range strike from
Modric that utterly demoralized the South Americans.
The Real Madrid and former Tottenham player also gave Messi a
lesson in converting spot kicks, scoring his against Nigeria on
the same day the mercurial Argentine infamously missed one
against Iceland.
Such has been his influence, when some were suggesting he might
soon be fading into the twilight, Croatia defender Dejan Lovren
suggested Modric deserved to win the Ballon d'Or.
"He is one of the best in the world right now," Lovren said.
"Modric would probably be getting more attention than he is
right now if he was a German or Spanish player."
No Croatian has ever won the annual award for the world's best
player although Davor Suker finished second in 1998, the year
Croatia lost to hosts France in the World Cup semi-finals.
A visionary passer and fleet-footed dribbler, Modric came to
global prominence when he joined Tottenham in the Premier League
in 2008. He has kept his form with Real Madrid's Champions
League-winning sides since joining them in 2012.
Unlike some other creative geniuses, Modric also busts a lung to
help defend -- a quality that endears him to both fans and
coaches.
"He's the engine that makes us go," Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic
said before the tournament.
"He's also a captain who leads by example. He always gives his
maximum, sets high standards with his attitude, aggression and
energy on the pitch, and with his behavior off it."
Disappointed with his personal performances in Brazil four years
ago, Modric has already more than made up for it but now wants
to go further and surpass the Croatian 'Class of 1998' that
first inspired him as a boy.
(Additional reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by John
O'Brien)
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