If you thought Dimitri Payet’s goal against Romania was brilliant, we have a contender to directly go against it. Luka Modric netted a sensational strike to inspire Croatia to a 1-0 win over Turkey earlier today.
The first half was rather drabby in terms of sheer opportunities, until Modric unleashed a stunning 25-yard pile-driver that left Volkan Babacan helpless in between his sticks. Turkey upped their tempo after the game, attempting to create chances through set-piece situations. But Hakan Calhanoglu, who has developed a reputation for being a prolific free-kick taker, couldn’t reproduce the quality that’s expected of him these days.
Croatia could have made it 2-0 after the break, but Darijo Srna’s free-kick rattled against the bar, before going out for a goal-kick. Ivan Rakitic also had several key chances to increase Croatia’s lead, but Babacan played an integral role in keeping the score 1-0. Eventually, Croatia held on for an opening win as Modric became the first Croatia player to score in two European championships.
Here are the players that impressed today!
Luka Modric
The Croatian midfielder was incredibly fluid in midfield, and proved why he’s so highly rated at Santiago Bernabeu. Modric was a constant threat moving forward, providing key balls for Rakitic and Manduzkic on multiple occassions. And when it mattered the most, Modric did not disappoint by firing an impeccable strike, which proved to be the winner.
Ivan Rakitic
Much was talked about the Modric-Rakitic partnership prior to the game, and it was easy to see why, within the first 15 minutes of the match. He was as influential as Modric, though his contribution was perhaps overshadowed by Modric’s goal coupled with his missed chances. But like it or not, Rakitic did brilliantly to get into several goal-scoring positions, even if he was guilty of not converting them.
Volkan Babacan
If one man was responsible for keeping this score 1-0, it was Volkan Babacan. He was at his brilliant best today, producing several world class saves from one-on-one situations to prevent the likes of Mandzukic and Rakitic from extending Croatia’s lead. Yes, they did end up losing the game, but on the another day, Babacan’s performance could have been the difference between defeat and victory.
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