Beijing time (CEST), June 28, Group Stage matchday 3, Group L, World Cup: Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1 and successfully advanced to the knockout stage, where they will face Portugal in the Round of 16. Veteran Modric said in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero journalist Alberto Pereiro after the match that he is enjoying everything at this moment and wants to put the pressure aside.

You must be very happy to win the match and advance to the next round, right? You're about to complete your 202nd match for the national team. Did anyone still doubt you before?

Yes, that's right. Our first objective was very important—to get out of the group stage. Now we've achieved that, so we're very happy. I think today was our best match so far, and I hope we can play even better in the next match.

Croatia's story at the World Cup seems like a book in itself—you always persevere to the end. As we say in Spain, in terms of fighting spirit and heart, nobody has beaten you here.

Yes, we're used to fighting, used to giving everything, to persevering until the end, and to always struggling. In the end, if you combine these things with the strength we have—and I believe we do have enough strength—the reward always comes. Today we got the reward, so we're very happy.

Two final questions. First, we all have a feeling: everybody loves you so much, and they feel your story will never end. How do you enjoy each match and each day? You know the whole world loves you, and every stadium keeps chanting your name.

Yes, this is truly incredible. I'm enjoying all of this, enjoying every training session, every match. Because I know that at this age, each training session or match brings me closer to the end. As you just said, the end is approaching, so I'll try to enjoy it, even though it's not easy.

Especially with the national team, the pressure is very high. Because we've achieved great results, the pressure is high, and people sometimes expect us to do things that might not be realistic. But this is also because we've gotten everyone used to it, and we ourselves believe we can compete with any team. So sometimes we add extra pressure on ourselves, and this can sometimes affect our game.

However, I think the last match against Panama helped us build confidence. Because I feel that, especially in matches against Panama and England, we sometimes play under unnecessary pressure. What we're already doing is incredible—we should enjoy it, leave this pressure aside, and move forward.

Last question: has Mourinho called you again? He called you once before—should he call again?

No, no, no. He's a great person and one of the best coaches, and I have special affection for him.

Traducido por IA.

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