Croatia Arrives in Spain & Celebrates Captain Luka Modrić’s Birthday
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Luka Modić arrives in Spain (HNS)
Croatia arrived in Spain on Sunday ahead of their opening UEFA Nations League clash.
Croatia will meet Spain on Tuesday at Manuel Martínez Valero stadium in Elche.
On Sunday the squad departed Portugal where they had been based all week and landed in Spain. The squad was joined by Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitić who missed Thursday’s friendly against Portugal.
(HNS)
Croatia arrive in Spain (HNS)
(HNS)
Rakitić will earn his 100th cap for his country on Tuesday but there were different celebrations this evening at the team’s hotel as captain Luka Modrić turned 33.
Birthday wishes had been pouring in all day and this evening team management wheeled out a birthday cake after the squad at dinner at their hotel.
(HNS)
“Thank you, everyone, for the birthday wishes, I am glad I can celebrate my birthday in this company. I have been playing for 13 years and only missed a couple (in camp). I hope we can win on Tuesday and celebrate more,” Modrić said after cutting the cake.
🎂 Sretan rođendan, kapetane! / Happy birthday, captain! 💪#BudiPonosan #BeProud #Hrvatska #Croatia #Obitelj #Family #Vatreni🔥 pic.twitter.com/TKJG3pQ3V3
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) September 9, 2018
Croatia will be looking for their first points in the UEFA Europa League and will have their work cut out against Spain who looked sharp in their 2-1 win over England at Wembley on Saturday.
Although Rakitić returns, Dejan Lovren has been ruled out with an injury. Coach Zlatko Dalić is still without World Cup stars Ante Rebić, Ivan Strinić and Andrej Kramarić who are also ruled out with injuries.
