Luka Modrić Leads Croatia to Victory Over Slovenia in World Cup Prep
The crowd in Varaždin came to see their captain, and Luka Modrić did not disappoint.
At the Stadion Anđelko Herjavec, Croatia’s metronome stepped forward again, driving his side to a 2-1 win over Slovenia in a friendly that felt anything but gentle as preparations sharpen for their World Cup opener against England on 17 June.
Modrić broke the deadlock with the kind of finish that has come to define his international career. Drifting into space on the edge of the box, he seized on a loose ball and whipped a precise strike beyond the goalkeeper, a reminder that his influence stretches far beyond simple distribution. One touch to set, one to punish. Croatia in front, the tempo set by their No. 10.
The game tightened after the interval. Slovenia grew bolder, pushed higher, and refused to let the evening drift into a routine home win. Their persistence finally paid off in the 83rd minute when Andraž Šporar found the equaliser, tilting the mood inside the stadium. For a moment, Croatia’s smooth rehearsal threatened to unravel.
But this Croatian side has lived too many big nights to panic over a late leveller.
Deep into stoppage time, with the clock showing 93 minutes, Mario Pašalić delivered the decisive blow. Croatia forced one last attack, and Pašalić, alive to the chaos in the box, struck the winner to restore the lead and the roar. A friendly on paper, a statement in practice: this team still knows how to close out a contest when the pressure rises.
England await in mid-June. On this evidence, Croatia will arrive with rhythm, belief, and their captain still dictating the story.
Estupiñan shines as Ecuador sweep aside Guatemala
In another corner of the World Cup build-up, Ecuador produced a far more straightforward evening, sweeping Guatemala aside 3-0 in a commanding friendly display.
From the first whistle, Ecuador played with a clarity and purpose that Guatemala never truly matched. They controlled territory, moved the ball with confidence, and forced their opponents into retreat. The scoreline reflected the pattern: a professional, controlled win that carried the feel of a team quietly gathering speed.
Pervis Estupiñan stood out. The left-back drove relentlessly up his flank, a constant outlet and a regular source of danger. His performance deserved a highlight moment, and he delivered it with a stunning third goal. Spotting the goalkeeper off his line from distance, Estupiñan lifted the ball audaciously over him, a long-range finish that underlined both his vision and his technique.
At 3-0, Ecuador could ease off, but the message was already clear. With Ivory Coast waiting on 15 June, this was the kind of polished, confident outing that managers crave in the final stretch before a major tournament.
Experimental Italy edge Greece as Bartesaghi completes full shift
For Italy, the tone of the night was different but no less useful. In an “experimental” lineup under coach Baldini, Davide Bartesaghi earned another start and made full use of it, playing all 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Greece.
This was not a spectacle built on fireworks. It was a test. A chance to see which players could carry instructions, maintain structure, and handle the grind of a tight match with limited margin for error. Italy did just enough, finding the decisive goal to seal a second narrow victory after their recent win over Luxembourg.
Bartesaghi’s full shift will please the coaching staff. Ninety minutes in a side still being shaped says plenty about the trust placed in him at this stage of the cycle.
As the friendlies fall away and tournament football looms, Croatia lean again on Modrić, Ecuador ride the surge of Estupiñan, and Italy quietly sift through their options. The experiments are almost over; the real answers will arrive when the World Cup kicks off.
