DANNY MURPHY: I'm rooting for Croatia to win the Nations League to cap Luka Modric's amazing career... the Real Madrid icon is the ideal person for Jude Bellingham to emulate
- Modric could win his first major trophy for Croatia in the Nations League final
- Both of our Premier League careers ended in the same match back in 2012
- Modric has enjoyed an incredible career at both club and international level
I wish Luka Modric good luck on Sunday as he tries to cap an incredible career with a first major trophy for Croatia, against Spain in the Nations League final.
There aren't many I played against who still going strong but Modric at 37 continues to perform to an incredibly high level.
It's a coincidence that my final Premier League game in 2012 was also his, when Spurs beat Fulham.
But whereas I was only 12 months from retirement, he has gone on to lift five Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, reach a World Cup final and win the Ballon d'Or!
I played against Modric 10 times. When he first arrived in England, he was neat and tidy but the ability to dominate matches by dictating tempo came later.
![Luka Modric can cap an incredible career by if he leads Croatia to their first major trophy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/18/11/72262645-0-image-a-2_1687083931027.jpg)
Luka Modric can cap an incredible career by if he leads Croatia to their first major trophy
![It was clear by his final season at Tottenham that Modric was destined to achieve great things](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/18/11/72262677-0-image-a-3_1687084085540.jpg)
It was clear by his final season at Tottenham that Modric was destined to achieve great things
![The multiple Champions League winner will be someone for Jude Bellingham to learn from](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/18/11/72262697-0-image-a-4_1687084178982.jpg)
The multiple Champions League winner will be someone for Jude Bellingham to learn from
By his final season, there was a conversation in our dressing-room about where he'd go next because it was clear he was headed for great things.
As an opponent, I liked the fact that he didn't get involved in backchat or whinge at referees. If you won the ball with a fair tackle, he wouldn't roll around and claiming a foul.
I'm not sure Jude Bellingham will receive too much verbal advice from Modric at Real Madrid but he'll learn loads just by watching the way he plays and conducts himself.
I know he's won bigger prizes than the Nations League but to see him with a medal to mark his services for Croatia, I'll be rooting for them.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/08/02/636x90_facebook_ad_sport.png)
Most watched Sport videos
- Giants fans burn quarterback Daniel Jones' jersey after loss
- Montenegro fans create distraction from football with fireworks
- Las Vegas Raiders fan body slams a woman during brawl
- Awkward moment footy great can't pronounce NRL player's name
- Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith announces she is pregnant
- Moment Miami Dolphin's Tyreek Hill is arrested by police
- Jason Kelce bares all with ex-Eagles teammate in revealing beer ad
- Shocking bodycam of Tyreek Hill arrest released by Miami-Dade PD
- Woman exposes NRL boyfriend for leaving her for another
- Ireland fans mock Queen's death aiming chants at England fans
- John Hunt makes a poignant return to the commentary box at Brighton
- Tyreek Hill speeds by police before cops aggressively pull him over