Spain was better in all aspects of the game, saddened Croatian striker Budimir after the heavy defeat. Why did Luka Modric make an early substitution?

A clear 3:0 triumph, they were done by half time. The three-time European champions from Spain had beaten the Croatians by a high score, whose striker Ante Budimir lamented after the game that the Iberians were better in all aspects of the game. Why did Luka Modric come on as a substitute?

This is certainly not how they imagined their entry into the tournament. The Croatians brought a very interesting team to Germany that many believe could have been the dark horse of the entire championship. It still can, but the start of the tournament did not go so well for Zlatko Dalic’s charges.

The Spaniards finished off their opening opponent from Group B by half-time when Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored in succession. In the second half, Croatia impressed only with an unconverted penalty and a strictly disallowed goal. Both were scored by Bruno Petkovic.

“In the first fifteen minutes we resisted Spain’s initial pressure. In the next part of the match my team took control and was better, we created chances. Spain came back into the game with our mistake and the goal we conceded. After that we were not able to get back into the game,” uefa.com quotes Croatian coach Dalic as saying.

Dalic wanted to save the experienced Modric for the next matches

After the match, the 70-year-old coach also faced the question of why he had already pulled out the playmaker and, despite his advanced age, still indispensable member of the starting line-up, Luka Modric, in the 65th minute. The Real Madrid midfielder was replaced by Atalanta Bergamo Europa League winner Mario Pashalic.

“We have two important games coming up, against Albania and Italy. At that point we were already 3-0 down and didn’t have much chance to turn the game around. So my colleagues and I in the coaching staff decided to take Luka off the field and save him,” Dalic explained his decision.

“We have to be honest and say that Spain was better as a team in all aspects of the game. The opponent played faster and more aggressive, they also had a better plan. When they had the ball on their feet, it was difficult. For us, a defeat like that definitely hurts a lot,” revealed Ante Budimir, a forward for Croatia and Spain’s Osasuna.

The three-time world championship medallists did not do well in their quest for a possible first precious metal from the Euros. But nothing is lost for them, they have a chance to make amends on Wednesday when they play Albania. That will be a crucial game.

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