The heavy defeat in Rijeka on Saturday represented Croatia’s worst result in history and left the team third in UEFA Nations League Group A3. England ran riot with braces from Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, plus further goals from Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers.
Speaking to Croatian daily Jutarnji, the veteran midfielder did not hold back in his assessment of the performance.
“It is difficult to find an explanation for such a performance without duels, fouls, aggressiveness, togetherness… I’ve been here for 20 years, but for the first time I feel ashamed after a game,” Modric said.
“You can lose, or play against an opponent who is better – and they are right now. But in any case, losing like this and squandering the reputation we’ve built over the years is unacceptable. You can’t play football like that. You can’t play with two players less; you can’t play like this, and we looked like we had 4-5 players less. A catastrophic night.”
Croatia will look to respond quickly when they host world champions Spain in Split on Tuesday. Spain lead the group with a perfect record after three wins.
Modric called for unity and a return to the values that have defined the side in recent years. “We need to pull ourselves together, stay together, because a new, difficult game awaits us. We have to show our true colours: that there is defiance and pride in us, desire, willingness, togetherness; these things cannot be lost overnight.”