After successfully tricking Dominik Livakovic in the penalty shootout, Casemiro took the ball. While carrying the ball he walked. In a different direction came Luka Modric, Croatia’s next executioner. Casemiro flashed a smile when the ball was played to Modric. Modric didn’t return Casemiro’s smile, Modric looked down, took the ball. Trying to stay focused. Casemiro walked away with that unrequited smile.
At the end of the penalty shootout, Luka Modric cheered with his colleagues. Meanwhile, the paradox was shown by Casemiro, who only looked down, sad that maybe he was losing his mind. The sketch that rhymes with the words of Nevio Scala (Dortmund coach in the 1990s); if you win you are a god, if you lose you are nothing.
It seems that Luka Modric doesn’t want to be friendly to Casemiro. It’s been ten years since they played together at Real Madrid, until Casemiro was tempted by the coffers of money from Manchester United. The trio of Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos made Madird sink into the top club this decade.
On the field, this trio seems to have merged like flesh and blood, knowing each other. Can rotate beautifully, share roles. Although sometimes Casemiro prefers to be a butcher than Modric who prefers to explore, share the ball or be more offensive.
Although friendly, Modric knows that the 2022 Qatar World Cup is not an arena for celebrating Eid. There is no cipika cipiki on the green field. It’s like a life and death bet, defending the country, in an arena that is far away, every four years. Modric believes this is his last World Cup. At 37 years old, Modric knows he is powerless four years later. It’s been 41 years, he could pass out like Erriksen on the field if he forced himself to play.
Like soldiers on the front lines with limited choices. Modric ran around for 120 minutes. He forced himself to be younger than his age in every move. In his role, Modric does require extraordinary mobility. He moves to set up attacks, divides the ball, forwards and immediately backs off when defending.
Because of this, the Croatian coach, Zlatjko Dalic, never gave a signal to replace Modric. From hand signals, he was even seen instructing his team to set the rhythm, holding back. Maybe for Modric’s good. It can be seen that Modric will only stop when he will fix the description of his long hair. Just a trick, because maybe he really wants to take a little more regular breathing.
Thank goodness his younger colleagues understood him. Pasalic, Kovacic and Brozovic took turns filling in the holes when Modric slowed down. That’s what makes Croatia’s midfield look tough, tight, rarely distant. One of Croatia’s keys to holding Brazil back. Maybe it was that unrequited smile that Casemiro didn’t understand. Brazil at the 2022 World Cup is indeed considered superior. No one thought they would have to worry about being eliminated before the semi-finals at least.
After beating South Korea alone, Neymar is already boasting that he will win the World Cup, even though the journey is still very far away. But that’s Brazil. They rejoice in self-confidence, which sometimes thickens uncontrollably. Casemiro is one of them. He moves as relaxed as he did when he played for Real Madrid, confident that he will also become a champion. He had forgotten that his friends weren’t Modric and Toni Kroos.
In midfield, Casemiro is accompanied by Lucas Paqueta and Neymar. Obviously different. Neymar is indeed skillfull, but if he is tired he will choose to fall into a drama that invites the contents of the stadium to whistle for him. Paqueta also tends to be offensive. Often forget yourself. Leaving the distance, when Casemiro slowed down.
But the essence of the jogo bonito warriors remains. Dissolved in the fantasy that the Selecao could not be eliminated in the quarter-finals. Even though the signs were already visible when the ferocious Vini Jr. was made tame by the Croatian defense line and the goalkeeper, Livakovic, who appeared brilliantly.
The Selecao was even able to be in style when it hit Livakovic’s goal 11 times, although only one ball stuck in the net for 120 minutes. They rocked the samba, and thought they were going to dance as much as they did when they beat the South. They seem to forget that South Korea is not Croatia. This country is the runner-up of the 2018 World Cup.
At that World Cup, Brazil was still traumatized by the painful defeat to Germany at the 2014 World Cup, Modric had made Croatia a scary banner. This Yugoslovian fractional state appeared cold. Crushing opponents one by one, and there’s no need to party excessively when you win because the struggle isn’t over yet.
The difficult struggle in childhood during the war in Zagreb that the average senior courtier like Modric felt was deeply rooted, that they would never stop running chasing the ball before the “war” is really over. Maybe like this. When Brazil did Samba in the locker room, to celebrate victory. Croatian players are still sitting seriously, “cleaning their weapons” for the next match. Respect your opponent.
Who respects the opponent, will go further. That unrequited smile brought Modric to the semifinals, and instead Casemiro had to return to Brazil early to celebrate Christmas. Modric and Croatia have been waiting for another dance from Latin America, Tango. Looks like it won’t be easy. Tango is more punchy and more serious. Leo Messi and Nicolas Otamendi will not smile either until the match is completely over.
ASL
