Croatia captain Luka Modric said he was “ashamed” of his side’s performance in Saturday’s 7-0 home defeat to England in the Nations League.
It was the first time in 20 years as an international that the AC Milan midfielder said he felt such emotion, calling it a “catastrophic evening”.
Modric, 41, was making his 205th appearance for his country after recently agreeing to extend his international career under former manager Slaven Bilic.
“You can’t play football like that… we looked like we had four or five players less,” said the former Real Madrid player, who helped Croatia finish second and third at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups during his storied career.
“It is difficult to find an explanation for such a performance without duels, without mistakes, without aggressiveness, without conviviality.
“I’ve been here for 20 years, but for the first time I’m ashamed after a match.”
Croatia kicked off Bilic’s second term with a 2-1 Nations League victory over the Czech Republic, putting them ahead of England in Group A3.
They followed that up with a crushing 4-1 defeat to world champions Spain but were still level on points with Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions before Saturday’s humiliating defeat in Rijeka.
With the top two qualifying for the final stages, Croatia had the chance to put themselves in pole position to beat England and advance to the quarter-finals.
Yet by the time Modric was substituted in the 57th minute, the home side were already 5-0 down after conceding two goals from Harry Kane and one from Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka.
Modric was forced to watch from the sidelines as further goals from Saka and Morgan Rogers increased England’s advantage before the final whistle.
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