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Tag: Luka Modric

  • AP PHOTOS: Favorite photos from AP staff at the World Cup

    AP PHOTOS: Favorite photos from AP staff at the World Cup

    DOHA, Qatar — A World Cup that ended with Lionel Messi finally holding the golden trophy in his hands produced some unforgettable images from the staff of Associated Press photographers at the tournament in Qatar.

    Through the 64 games over nearly a month of soccer, the AP deployed dozens of photographers to the eight stadiums in and around Doha.

    It ended at Lusail Stadium with Argentina beating France in a penalty shootout for the title, and a photo of Messi hoisted above the crowd with the World Cup trophy in his hand.

    It was one of a group of photos chosen by staff members as their favorite of the tournament.

    There were other memorable moments, and other star players. Like Cristiano Ronaldo, who may have played his last World Cup match with Portugal at the age of 37. Like Neymar, who overcame an ankle injury to return to the field but ultimately lost in the quarterfinals with Brazil. Like Luka Modric, who made it back to the semifinals with Croatia a year after reaching the final. And like Kylian Mbappe, who became only the second player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final despite France’s loss to Argentina.

    The tournament in Qatar has been criticized for years because of the country’s human rights record and it started with more controversy when FIFA threatened to penalize players who wanted to wear an unofficial captain’s armband to promote inclusion.

    Four-time champion Germany was one of those teams, and the players decided to take a team picture before their opening match with each holding his hand over his mouth to show they were being silenced.

    There were pictures off the field as well, like of the fans who make the World Cup so special. And even a cricket photo with migrant workers playing their favorite game on a rocky lot in the city with skyscrapers all around them.

    In the end, though, it was all about Messi and that World Cup trophy in his grateful hands.

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    AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Messi, Modric get Argentina, Croatia to World Cup semifinals

    Messi, Modric get Argentina, Croatia to World Cup semifinals

    DOHA, Qatar — Tears are flowing from soccer’s biggest superstars as they make emotional exits from what might be their last World Cup.

    First it was Neymar. Then it was Cristiano Ronaldo. Could Lionel Messi be next?

    Momentum is building behind Messi’s push to cap his career with the biggest prize in the game. The 35-year-old Argentina playmaker has carried his team to the semifinals, almost in the same way Diego Maradona — the man with whom Messi is so often compared — led the South American nation to its second and most recent World Cup title in 1986.

    Now in Argentina’s way is Croatia, a country with a population of 4 million which is establishing a reputation as the most stubborn and durable of opponents while also boasting one of soccer’s most graceful players in Luka Modric.

    The teams go head to head at Lusail Stadium — also the venue for Sunday’s final — in a meeting between the last two runners-up at the tournament: Argentina in 2014 and Croatia in 2018.

    Argentina might have been expected to be in this position. The team arrived at the World Cup as the Copa America champion, on a 36-match unbeaten run and with Messi back in sublime form for Paris Saint-Germain.

    Messi has continued that form in Qatar, scoring four goals.

    “For us, he is our leader — he drives us, motivates us,” Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico said Monday. “We have that little bit extra when we go on the field. We are delighted that he is our captain.”

    There was much less noise around the Croatians, yet they keep on surprising just like four years ago when their run to the final included a 3-0 victory over Argentina in the group stage. They also reached the World Cup semifinals in 1998.

    Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said his team’s World Cup performances are proving to be an inspiration to other underdogs, such as fellow semifinalist Morocco.

    “Everyone in life has a right to make dreams,” Dalić said. “The Croatia national team made that dream a reality for all small countries four years ago. We gave other countries the right to have those dreams.

    “They are encouraged by our example, by our fight, our qualities. All other national teams are living their dreams and Morocco is no exception … But let us share the same dream.”

    Both teams have come through uncomfortable moments. Argentina’s darkest time was right at the start of the tournament, after a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in what will go down as one of the World Cup’s biggest upsets.

    Inspired by Messi and one of the most fervent fan followings in Qatar, Argentina won its final two group games, ended up squeezing past Australia 2-1 in the round of 16 and then required penalties to get past the Netherlands in a wild quarterfinal match.

    Messi is one goal behind top scorer Kylian Mbappé. They are probably the two standout players at a World Cup that has seen many other top players live up to their lofty reputations.

    Modric is a case in point.

    He might not have scored a goal. He hasn’t even had an assist. But don’t underestimate the importance to Croatia of the little magician who keeps things ticking in midfield and manages to assert some control for a team which fights until the last minute.

    In 2018, each of Croatia’s knockout games went into extra time before the team lost to France in the final. The same thing is happening in Qatar, with victories in penalty shootouts over Japan in the last 16 and Brazil in the quarterfinals.

    Croatia looked more comfortable against Brazil than against Japan, which shows the team might be happier to invite pressure and choose its moments to break forward rather than control games and be more susceptible to the counterattack.

    Containing Messi will be key and much of the responsibility there lies with holding midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who protected Croatia’s defense so well against Brazil.

    Argentina will be without two players because of suspension: left back Marcos Acuña and right back Gonzalo Montiel. Acuña is the bigger miss, having impressed since coming into the team after the loss to Saudi Arabia, and he is likely to be replaced by Tagliafico.

    Dalic said Croatia was free from injuries.

    “If we manage to win tomorrow,” he said, “that would make it the greatest game for Croatia of all time.”

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    Follow Steve Douglas on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

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    AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Tenacity and penalties, keys to Croatia’s deep World Cup run

    Tenacity and penalties, keys to Croatia’s deep World Cup run

    DOHA, Qatar — With a population of around four million people, the magnitude of Croatia’s win against Brazil was not lost on Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić.

    To reach to reach back-to-back World Cup semifinals was “unimaginable” he said.

    The runner-up from 2018 is going deep again in Qatar – defeating Neymar and Co. 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw through extra time at Education City Stadium on Friday.

    “To eliminate a massive tournament favorite and probably the best team as well… Only Croatia could’ve done this,” added Dalić.

    Okay, this wasn’t Saudi Arabia shocking Argentina. But on the face of it, Croatia’s victory against the five-time world champions could rank among a host of upsets already produced by a tournament that is refusing to stick to the script.

    And by looking at the faces of Brazil’s distraught fans and inconsolable players afterwards, they certainly didn’t seem prepared to be heading home at this early stage.

    Perhaps they should have taken a closer look at Croatia’s pedigree at the World Cup – and the spirit of a team that doesn’t seem to know how to give up.

    Croatia may have been the underdog against Brazil, but it did reach the final in Russia four years ago and was a semifinalist in its very first World Cup as an independent nation in 1998 – losing to France on both occasions.

    Compare that to Brazil, which has only made it past the quarterfinals once since last winning the tournament in 2002.

    So how does a country with a population ranked at 128th in the world according to size continue to overperform on the biggest stage of all?

    One factor that cannot be discounted is the wider story of Croatia’s fight for independence following the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s when thousands of its people died during the conflict.

    The fighting spirit of the nation is a theme frequently referenced by its players and Dalić.

    “This all comes from how we were raised,” said goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who was born in January 1995, seven months before Croatia took control of the city of Knin, which is commemorated annually as a key moment in the battle for independence.

    “We always go all the way to the end, we leave everything we got on the pitch and we keep fighting. That is the reason for our success.”

    Imperious midfielder and captain Luka Modric had set the scene even before kick off against Brazil.

    “We believe in ourselves. We are capable of anything,” 37-year-old Real Madrid star said before the match, adding that Croatia is “simply, a talented nation.”

    That is a crucial point.

    For all the talk of spirit and resolve, the sheer quality of Croatia’s players should not be overlooked.

    Modric is a five-time Champions League winner with Madrid and a recipient of the highest individual honor in soccer, the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world.

    He won that trophy in 2018, ahead of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and, notably, Kylian Mbappé, who had starred in France’s World Cup triumph that year.

    Modric was a beaten finalist, but was also named the best player of the tournament.

    His full repertoire of skills was on show again against Brazil, while midfield partner Mateo Kovacic provides the tireless running alongside him.

    “In my opinion, Croatia have the best midfield in the world,” said Dalić. “We have a lovely passing game, can control games.

    “They managed to keep the ball, maintain possession, and we sort of paralysed our opponent with our passing game. That was exactly our aim.”

    And then there is Croatia’s expertise in penalty shootouts, which are generally considered soccer’s ultimate test of nerve.

    Twice in Russia and now twice in Qatar, Croatia has had to rely on penalties to progress. After four straight wins from the spot, Dalić claims his team has a psychological advantage over its opponents, with Brazil the latest to fall victim to his specialists.

    “Once we get to penalties, that’s when we become favorites. I sense that the opponent feels like they have lost the game already,” he said.

    With three 0-0 score lines in regulation time and four draws from five games at this World Cup, Croatia has not been the most entertaining team to watch at the tournament.

    But when it comes to nerve, steel and sheer fight, it takes some beating.

    Argentina, Croatia’s opponents in the semifinals, may want to take note.

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    James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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    AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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