Manchester City defender who signed a contract extension through 2031 and is a key player in Croatia's 2026 World Cup squad.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… I grew up watching Didier Drogba which taught me a lot, but Modric is so good to watch, a great passer of the ball, technically outstanding and incredible reading of the game.” The Manchester City forward will also come up against familiar Premier League opponents Joško Gvardiol …
Antoine Semenyo hails Luka Modrić as “one of the best midfielders of the current era”Joy Online
… After Livakovic made the save, the loose ball dropped to Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol to clear for Croatia. …
I knew stuttered run-up might get keeper off line – KaneJoy Online
Defender Josko Gvardiol has agreed a new contract at Manchester City until the summer of 2031, sources have told BBC Sport. …
Gvardiol agrees new Man City deal until 2031Joy Online
… Croatia rely on Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic and, with the Manchester City duo back from injury, Dalic is inclined to switch back to a back four – either 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 – which has been a constant during his nine-year reign. …
Croatia World Cup 2026 team guideJoy Online
… Gannon-Doak memorably reduced Josko Gvardiol to a quivering wreck when Scotland faced Croatia in Glasgow. …
Scotland World Cup 2026 team guideJoy Online
… Defenders Joško Gvardiol, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Martin Erlić, Luka Vušković. …
Opponent watch: Modric headlines as Croatia announce 2026 World Cup squadArsenal defeated Manchester City 3–0 in the Community Shield final at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Goals from Calafiori, Havertz, and Odegaard gave the Premier League champions their 18th Community Shield title and second trophy in four months.
16 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3–0 in the Community Shield final at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Goals from Calafiori, Havertz, and Odegaard gave the Premier League champions their 18th Community Shield title and second trophy in four months.
16 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has backed new manager Enzo Maresca as the right choice to replace Pep Guardiola, saying the Italian has quality and new ideas, though he acknowledges it will take time for the team to adapt to the change.
3 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish has returned to pre-season training but was left out of the squad travelling to Hong Kong and Seoul, as he continues to recover from a foot injury sustained in January while on loan at Everton. New manager Enzo Maresca has left open the possibility of reintegrating Grealish into the first team, with the 30-year-old approaching the final year of his contract.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Manchester City midfielder Rodri will be out for a "short period of rehabilitation" after undergoing back surgery on Monday, manager Enzo Maresca said, with no specific return timeline set. City said Rodri had been experiencing discomfort for some time before the procedure.
29 July 2026 · The Chronicle →
Manchester City midfielder Rodri will be sidelined for a "short period of rehabilitation" following back surgery on Monday, according to new manager Enzo Maresca, with no timeline set for his return. City face Arsenal in the Community Shield on 16 August and Bournemouth in their Premier League opener on 23 August.
29 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Croatia's most successful head coach Zlatko Dalic stepped down after nine years in charge, following the team's loss to Portugal in the 2026 World Cup round of 32. Under Dalic's tenure, Croatia finished runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022, and he led the team in 111 matches with 62 wins.
9 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Croatia has protested FIFA and referees after their World Cup exit to Portugal, arguing that a ruled-out goal in the 103rd minute should have stood because a possible contact with Igor Matanovic's hair did not affect the ball's trajectory, contrary to FIFA's own rule that hair only counts as a body part if it affects movement or trajectory.
6 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Goncalo Ramos scored in the 94th minute to give Portugal a 2-1 victory over Croatia and a place in the World Cup last 16, after Cristiano Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot in the second half and Croatia thought they had rescued the match with a late goal that was ruled out for offside.
3 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has expressed admiration for Croatia captain Luka Modrić, calling him one of the best midfielders of the current era, as the Black Stars prepare for a final group-stage match against Croatia in the World Cup.
27 June 2026 · Business & Financial Times →
Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo has praised Croatia captain Luka Modrić as one of the finest midfielders of the modern era as Ghana prepares for a decisive FIFA World Cup Group L encounter. Ghana heads into the match with confidence after drawing with England, hoping to advance beyond the group phase after early elimination in the previous World Cup.
27 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana footballer Antoine Semenyo has praised Croatia's captain Luka Modrić as one of the best midfielders of the current era, ahead of Ghana's final World Cup group-stage clash against Croatia. Semenyo expressed admiration for Modrić's technical abilities and said he is eager to share the pitch with the experienced player.
26 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Harry Kane used a deliberate stuttered run-up in England's World Cup opener against Croatia, knowing it might draw goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic off his goalline; after his first penalty was saved, VAR ruled Livakovic had moved too early, and Kane scored on the retake.
17 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Defender Josko Gvardiol has agreed a new contract with Manchester City until summer 2031, extending his previous deal that was set to expire in 2028, and ending speculation about moves to Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Croatia qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a comfortable qualifying campaign and will field one of the tournament's oldest squads, with roughly half or more of starters in their 30s, including 40-year-old captain Luka Modric. Manager Zlatko Dalic plans to deploy a back-four formation as the primary setup, with the Manchester City duo of Gvardiol and Kovacic key to the team's strategy.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Scotland qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a 4–2 victory over Denmark at Hampden Park, their first appearance at the tournament since 1998. Manager Steve Clarke faces the challenge of a squad with aging players and limited goal-scoring depth outside of midfielders, though recent defeats without scoring against Japan and Côte d'Ivoire have tempered early euphoria.
7 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Croatia's head coach Zlatko Dalić announced a preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, featuring experienced internationals and emerging talents. Ghana's group opponent Croatia will face England, Ghana and Panama in Group L of the tournament.
18 May 2026 · Joy Online →