World Cup 2018: 5 players that stood out in the group stage.

Modified Jun 29, 2018 13:43 GMT

Serbia v Brazil: Group E - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia — Phillipe Coutinho

#2 Luka Modric (Croatia)

FBL-WC-2018-MATCH23-ARG-CRO — Luka Modric

The 32-year-old Real Madrid midfielder captains the Croatian national team, playing a pivotal part in their midfield. He scored 1 goal and assisted 3 in the World Cup qualifiers. Modric usually plays alongside Ivan Rakitic in the central midfield position in Zlatko Dalić's 4-2-3-1 formation.

Luka Modric's Croatian squad faced Nigeria in their first match, where Modric converted a penalty in the 71st minute after Etebo's own-goal gave them a lead. The match ended 2-0.

Croatia faced 2014 World Cup runner-ups Argentina in their second match, which was expected to be their toughest fixture of the group stage, but they won by a 3 goal margin without conceding any.

Luka Modric shifted from his usual defensive midfield position in the 4-2-3-1 formation to an attacking midfield position in a 4-1-4-1 formation. He shot past Willy Caballero in the 80th minute from outside the box to earn his second goal of the tournament.

Modric stepped back into the defensive-midfield position against Iceland in the final match of the group stage, aiding the team into possession play holding the ball 62% of the time.

Luka Modric is credited with the success of the underdog team Croatia for being the only team apart from Uruguay to earn 9 points in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, winning all 3 matches.

About the author

Adarsh is an Esports and Gaming writer at Sportskeeda specializing in FPS games like Valorant, Counter-Strike, and Overwatch 2. After joining Sportskeeda in October 2021, he has authored over 750 stories that collectively have garnered 1.5 million views. By meticulously following reputable sources and enhancing his knowledge of the topics he covers, Adarsh eliminates any margin for error, ensuring his readers receive the most accurate information. As a Journalism graduate, these practices are skills he has honed through practical experience.

In addition to his role as a gaming journalist, Adarsh managed the Valorant, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), and Overwatch 2 departments at Sportskeeda for nearly two years. He also serves as an Esports and Gaming Editor, boasting over a year of experience in this capacity. A significant milestone in his career involves attending various international Valorant events and conducting more than 150 interviews with some of the top talents in esports.

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Edited by Zeeshan Ali