Modric 'Ashamed' After Croatia's 7-0 Nations League Defeat to England

Luka Modric described feeling 'ashamed' after his Croatian side suffered a significant 7-0 defeat against England in a Nations League match. The veteran midfielder, 41, offered a stark assessment of his team's performance, stating that they had "thrown away their reputation" built over many years.

"It is difficult to find an explanation for a performance like that, with no duels, fouls, aggression or cohesion," Modric said. "I have been here for 20 years, but it is the first time I have felt ashamed after a match. You can lose, someone can be stronger, at the moment they are stronger, but losing in this way and throwing away the reputation we have built up over all these years is unacceptable. I really do feel ashamed."

The match, held in Rijeka, saw a stark contrast to the typically closely contested encounters between the two nations in recent years. Croatia had filled their stadium with thousands of schoolchildren for what was intended to be a behind-closed-doors game, but the young spectators witnessed a dominant performance from England.

Manager Slaven Bilic also conveyed his disappointment, stating, "It is difficult to say anything after a night like this. We are sad, disappointed, and I feel sorry for the fans and the children who were at the game." He acknowledged the unexpected nature of the defeat and the difficulty in analyzing a 7-0 loss.

"We knew they were a top team, but that we couldn't match them in any part... that then attacks your confidence, your will, everything falls apart and goes the wrong way," Bilic added. "I don't believe that England would beat Estonia 7-0 at this moment. That is unforgivable for us."

Despite the heavy loss, Bilic expressed hope for a strong response. "We can get out of this with a good performance against Spain, there is time for that. Now is the right time to show unity and character." He emphasized the need for the team to display "heart" in upcoming matches. "There is no reason for this. We train well, the atmosphere is excellent, hardworking, and every detail is taken care of. I have nothing smart to say, it is clear that the responsibility is mine. We will analyse the match further."

England's goals came from Jude Bellingham, who contributed a goal and three assists, Harry Kane with a brace, Bukayo Saka also scoring twice, and further goals from Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers.