The Real Madrid maestro underwent surgery but Croatia's coach remains bullish about his captain's tournament availability.
Croatia's World Cup hopes received a major boost as coach Zlatko Dalic expressed unwavering confidence in captain Luka Modric's recovery from cheekbone surgery. The Real Madrid playmaker went under the knife after suffering the facial fracture, but Dalic believes his talisman will be ready to orchestrate Croatia's campaign in Qatar.
The 37-year-old midfielder remains the heartbeat of Croatia's golden generation, having led the Vatreni to the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 Nations League semi-finals. His potential absence would have dealt a crushing blow to a squad still dreaming of adding to their impressive recent tournament pedigree.
Croatia's group stage clash with Morocco promises to be particularly intriguing, with the Atlas Lions carrying the hopes of the entire African continent. The North African side, bolstered by a talented diaspora including Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech and PSG's Achraf Hakimi, will fancy their chances against any opponent missing their creative fulcrum.
Dalic's optimism suggests Modric's experience and determination will see him through the recovery process in time for football's biggest stage. For Croatia, having their conductor fit and ready could be the difference between an early exit and another deep tournament run that has become their trademark on the global stage.
