Former Dinamo Zagreb manager Vahid Halilhodzic has called on Luka Modric to deliver more for Croatia as they prepare to face England in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final.The two sides will lock horns in Moscow for the right to play France in Sunday’s final. Defeat, however, would mean a third-place play-off against Belgium 24 hours prior.
Modric has been at the centre of their progression to the last four, with several, including team-mate Mario Mandzukic and former Three Lions international Jermaine Jenas, believing that he could win the Golden Ball for the tournament’s best player.
Indeed, the 32-year-old scored against Nigeria and Argentina in the group stages, and laid on an assist in his side’s 2-2 draw with Russia in the quarter-finals, before scoring in the penalty shootout. Halilhodzic, though, insists he needs to be more proactive in front of goal.
“Of course Modric is leader of this team, he is best midfielder in the world and a candidate to win Golden Ball,” he told Goal.
“But it will not be that simple, he scores too little, he should have more courage to shoot from distance.”