“We Looked Like Four Or Five Players Short” – Modric

Croatia captain Luka Modric said his team performed as if it were missing “four or five players” after a 7-0 Nations League defeat at home to England on Saturday, a result he described as a “catastrophic night.”

Modric, 41, was earning his 205th cap for Croatia after agreeing to extend his international career under returning coach Slaven Bilic. The AC Milan midfielder was substituted in the 57th minute, with Croatia already trailing 5-0.

By that point, Harry Kane had scored twice, while Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka had each added a goal. From the bench, Modric watched Saka score again and Morgan Rogers complete England’s rout.

“You can’t play football like that… we looked like we had four or five players less,” Modric said. “It is difficult to find an explanation for such a performance without duels, fouls, aggressiveness, togetherness.

“I’ve been here for 20 years, but for the first time I feel ashamed after a game.”

The loss left Croatia third in Group A3 and battling to remain in the Nations League’s top tier. Croatia had opened Bilic’s second spell in charge with a 2-1 away win over the Czech Republic, then lost 4-1 away to world champions Spain.

Despite those results, they went into Saturday level on points with England and had a chance to seize control of the race for a quarter-final place.

Instead, they collapsed in Rijeka as England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, scored seven without reply.

Croatia next host Spain in Split on Tuesday before travelling to England on 12 November and hosting the Czech Republic on 15 November.

“We need to pull ourselves together, stay together because a new difficult game awaits us,” Modric said. “We have to show our true colours, that there is defiance and pride in us, desire, willingness, togetherness, these things cannot be lost overnight.”