Modric on Messi: ‘We will have big problems to stop him’

Ahead of the world cup semi final clash between Croatia and Argentina, Luka Modric has expressed the need for his team to be on top of their game to stop Lionel Messi.

In an interview with RTVE, Modric said even though Messi would bear a lot of influence in the game, he urged his fellow compatriots not to have an all encompassing focus in the game.

“I have the desire to play, but not only to play against one player. Of course, Messi is an excellent player, we will have big problems to stop him, but we are ready and we will do our best.

“Argentina is a big team. We will try to play the best match of the tournament, the best match of our lives. I hope that it will be enough to enter the final.”

“It’s normal that everyone is looking at the big countries,given that we are small, no one counted on us”

“But we don’t mind that others are favourites and we are in the shadows. We can only do our best, try hard, and that is exactly our strength.

The Real Madrid player also recalled his last moment in his club side where he had tipped his country for exploits in Qatar.

“Before I left for the World Cup, we talked a lot in the [Madrid] dressing room, during which I told them: ‘Watch out for Croatia’.”

While the 2018 World Cup finalists are once again keen to make history, they would have to cross the hurdles of an ‘hungry’ Argentines in the semi final scheduled for Tuesday