Luka Modrić. Photo: Reuters

The captain of the national team of Croatia, opponent of Russia in the quarter-finals of the 2018 world Cup, went through war, the loss of a loved one and camp for the refugees, becoming – according to many contemporaries to be the best player in the history of their country.

“FATHER LUKE WAS KILLED IN FRONT OF HIM”

The Croatian village of Modrychi, adjacent to the town of Zaton-Obrovsky remembers his races from the parental home to the nearest football field in the hope that there are friends with whom you will have plenty to necrotise the ball on goal.

If anyone on the field was not well, had to come back home. No matter what the journey there and back occupied a few tens of kilometers – according to parents, they are generally not seen in childhood, Luke walked.

When he was six years old, in their home, as in all Yugoslav home, trouble came. The country began a war for independence, father Stipe went into the Croat army, his grandfather Luka, after whom was named the future captain of the national team of Croatia, has taken a partisan, but Serbian soldiers caught him a tiny squad of seven people, led to the village and shot in the eyes of local residents, among whom was the little Bow. The same evening, Stipe took his wife, son and daughter Jasmine and went to Zadar, the coastal city at 40 km from Modica in the refugee camp.

From time to time they moved from one hotel to another, shared a room with broken Windows with other such families, who fled from the war, but one thing remained the same: Onions everywhere dragged behind a soccer ball and, if the outside air was quiet the alarm, immediately went outside to play. “He broke more Windows than all Serbian bombs”, – told in interview to Croatian television, a member of one of these hotels. By the way, the love for football grew out of nowhere – his father Stipe himself was playing from time to time, speaking for the team of the military base in Zemunik, where he worked as an aircraft technician.

“I SHOULD GROW UP.”

Tomislav bašić, at that time led the Academy of FC “Zadar” and opened to the world the talent of Modric, recalled how thin from perpetual malnutrition Shorty appeared in his team: “He just took the ball and did all sorts of things that are capable of 20-year-old boys, although he was 7 or 8 years. It was a scary time, we lived in constant fear. One day during a training session on the pitch the grenade fell – had to run for cover with all haste”. Bašić treat Modric like a son when he found out that Luke’s family has no money for football pads, he made them him – from the tree. And then kept them all his life.

Luke was far behind in growth from peers – team-mates were higher, on average, 15 see He was resourceful: after class climbed on the bar, clutched with their feet for a rung and hung upside down like a bat. When asked why he does it, Modric replied: “I should grow”. “None of us imagine then what a great player he will become,” – throws up his hands Josip baylo, at that time athletic Director, “Zadar”.

“WHO CAN PLAY IN BOSNIA, THAT CAN PLAY EVERYWHERE”

Bašić began to arrange the fate of Luke – and he wanted to get into the club, which has always suffered from: the “Hajduk” from split. But frail and almost transparent 10-year-old Modric there rejected immediately. “Skin and bones – why is it us?”, – this was the short answer. Not a problem, decided bašić, and dialed Zdravko Mamić, President of Dinamo Zagreb. He gave the nod to the view and the capital club were more penetrating scouts soon Luke moved from Zadar to Zagreb.

After football school Dinamo, Modric for the season went to Bosnia, “Zrinjski” Mostar, where in 2003 was named the best player of the Bosnian League. “Who can play in Bosnia, that can play everywhere,” admitted Luke later. It turned out – as the water looked.

“CHILDREN UNDER 16 ALLOWED IN THE BAR IS FORBIDDEN”

After returning from Bosnia, 17-year-old Modric has signed a contract with Dynamo for 10 years. In season 2005/06 he became an indispensable element of the Zagreb club: coach Josip Kuzhe believed in Luke, he played all 32 games in the national championship and got Dynamo its first (of three) of the Croatian championship. In 2006 in Basel Luke made his debut for the senior national team of Croatia in a friendly game against Argentina – klasnić opened the scoring in the third minute, then doublet shot Tevez and Messi, but Srna goals early in the second half and chimica in added time brought the victory to Croatia. After 12 years in Nizhny Novgorod Modric again beat Messi, only defeat will come for the South Americans much more bitter.

In 2006-m in qualification for Euro 2008 where Croatia will pull Russia, winning the last round on departure of the British (3:2), the Balkan team played away against Israel. To mention a heavy victory (4:3 with a hat-trick Eduardo) went to a bar, but of all the Croatian players guards at the entrance stopped only Modric: “Children under 16 years allowed in the bar is prohibited.”

“I’M AFRAID TO HIT PENALTY. I NEED TO OVERCOME THIS FEAR”

For Euro-2008 Croats lightning walked through a difficult group with Germany, Austria and Poland, scoring three wins, the first of which (over the Austrians) yielded accurate penalty kick by Modric. In the quarterfinals they staged a fantastic battle with Turkey – 119 minutes the scoreboard showed 0:0, then klasnić scored in Croatia began to celebrate the victory, but after a few moments şentürk equalized. In the penalty shootout, the first Croats were beaten Luke – by. Behind him missed and Rakitic, the Turks went further, and Modric for a few years there was this fear of penalty, within a year he refused to beat when Manchester United and Tottenham are unable to determine the owner of the English League Cup at the time – the spurs scored only Corluka, and the Red devils, not brushing even once, took the trophy (0:0, 4:1). “I’m afraid to hit penalty. I need to overcome this fear,” said Modric.

Will be nine years old, Luka will move from Tottenham to real Madrid, becoming the fourth Croatian player of the club of Madrid – after prosinecki, Suker Yarni and will withstand a difficult start under Mourinho and Ancelotti revealed at, will take all possible club trophies, will wear the captain’s armband in the national team, will come to the 2018 world Cup, confidently guide Croatia through the group stage, not to score a penalty in the 116th minute of the 1/8 finals against Denmark with the score 1:1, but still I find the strength to come to the point in the penalty shootout – and this time not miss.

All because he overcame this fear. But still – after such a childhood, he has nothing more to fear.

Yegor BYCHKOV, Sport-Express