Croatia's golden generation ends in the most tragic manner....

Shri

Croatia, the strongest team in the past decade, owes its power to the golden generation led by Modric. This European Championship was their swan song, but it didn't end on a high note. After being tied by Italy in the third match, Croatia was officially eliminated from the tournament.

In the final round of Group B in the recent European Championship, Croatia faced Italy, their direct competitor for advancing. A victory would have allowed Croatia to eliminate Italy and advance as the second-place team in the group. Croatia almost achieved this goal when they took the lead with a penalty in the 52nd minute. Holding onto this lead until the end would have secured their advancement.

However, it wasn't meant to be. In the final minute of the match (98th minute), Italy staged a miraculous comeback. A pass from defender Chiellini in midfield created the equalizing goal by Pessina, leading to Croatia's elimination in third place in the group.
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After the match, 38-year-old veteran Modric received the Man of the Match award but appeared visibly emotional, clearly affected by the recent elimination. This was Modric's farewell to the national team, along with other veterans like 35-year-old Perisic, 35-year-old Vida off the field, and even 38-year-old Mandzukic, who has already transitioned into the coaching staff. It marks the end of Croatia's golden generation.

Kabir903

"The tragedy unfolded in the final minute, truly a combination of magic and sorrow!
Every generation, whether it's a golden generation or a mixed one, will eventually face its moment of decline. However, Croatia's end in such an unexpectedly expected manner is truly unbelievable... A one-minute turnaround turned into a bittersweet outcome...
It's really speechless, even if they are left with tears in their eyes."

Kalkin995

Croatia's golden generation peaked in 2018 when they reached the World Cup final, only to be defeated by the French. In the 2022 World Cup, Croatia's performance dipped, but they still managed a commendable semifinal finish. During the European Championship qualifiers, Croatia struggled, finishing second in their group to advance to the main tournament. Their gameplay emphasized defense over offense. By the 2024 European Championship, Croatia's team had aged significantly. Luka Modrić, who struggled to secure a starting position at Real Madrid that season, symbolized their decline. In their first match against a youthful Spain, Croatia suffered a heavy defeat, narrowly avoiding a worse outcome in the second half. Facing Albania, considered the weakest in their group, Croatia struggled again, conceding a late equalizer despite leading 2-1. Despite a strong performance in their final match, Croatia's luck ran out with another late equalizer in stoppage time, resulting in them being knocked out. This likely marks Modrić's final European Championship, possibly his last major tournament, as Croatia faces a transitional period with uncertain prospects for future success. Since the end of Croatia's golden generation in 1998, it took over a decade for new leaders to emerge, and it remains unclear how long it will take for Croatia to regain strength on the international stage.

Janak9955

Luka Modrić, the veteran, has mixed feelings, which is understandable. After all, he also wants to fight for his team to advance. Giving his best effort is already impressive.

Niti998

Luka Modrić's final dance is poignant...and Croatia's golden generation is worthy of admiration!

Jafar224

I think Modrić can now be described as great. In a way, Modrić's fame worldwide surpasses that of his own country, Croatia. The only thing I know about Croatia is Modrić.

Ritu13

The matches bring joy to some and sorrow to others, they say this year's European Championship isn't very exciting.....!

977Iti

It was such a pity to be killed off by Italy....

Kalkin995

Is he a fading hero? Maybe, maybe not! But whether he is or isn't, we're all speculating after the fact. ... We should wait until the end of the tournament to judge his overall performance, at least that's more sensible than making conclusions now.

In the arena of competition, everyone's form is constantly changing, influenced by countless complex factors, many of which are unpredictable—even to the players themselves. However, post-match comments and opinions are inevitable. They can also create significant psychological pressure, a crucial factor affecting on-field performance.

Even football kings or stars on the pitch will have their moments of decline, it's a natural law, unavoidable by anyone. Can Ronaldo be exempt from this? But does his current form really indicate he's past it? As a generational football star, everyone, especially his fans, surely hopes he can extend his career, delivering more spectacular achievements and performances, injecting more vitality into his illustrious career. Let's hope for that, and wish him well!