Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic are two of the world’s finest creative midfielders.
With a sublime range of passing, dynamic running with the ball at feet, especially by Modric,
and the ability to score from anywhere, these two are central to Croatia’s chances of
progressing in the World Cup in Russia.
It has not all been plain-sailing for the pair so far, though, leading to some comparisons
with other midfield duos that have tried, unsuccessfully, to play two similar, albeit
brilliant, players together.
At Real Madrid, Modric lines up in a midfield three, with Casemiro protecting and doing
much of the donkey work, freeing Modric and Toni Kroos to get forwards or sit off and
play passes.
Similarly, at Barcelona Ivan Rakitic plays alongside Sergio Busquets, a superb positional
defensive midfielder, and Andres Iniesta often tucks inside from the left to add additional
midfield cover.
For their club sides, therefore, both Modric and Rakitic are assisted by a positionally
secure, defensively-minded midfielder, and a formation or system that affords them more
cover.
Croatia’s first game in Group D saw them defeat Nigeria 2-0, setting up as a 4-2-3-1.
Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic played as the double pivot, behind a front four of Andrej
Kramaric in the middle behind Mario Mandzukic, and Ante Rebic and Ivan Perisic flanking.
In the first half especially, this set up did not work well for Croatia.
Rakitic and Modric sat back, trying to find space in between the Nigerian forward and
midfield lines to gather the ball off the centre backs or full backs.
This meant that they were often very deep, and there was too much of a gap between them
and the front four, who either had to drop off, affording Nigeria’s quick defenders
a high line and compressing the space in which Croatia could play, or being easily marked
by Nigeria’s back line if they stayed high.
While Modric and Rakitic both played some sumptuous passes long to free Ante Rebic,
Ivan Persisic, and Andrej Kramaric, it too often felt like the team was disjointed.
In defence, both players were caught out trying to guard the midfield area; neither are great
ball-winners and, again, either Croatia had to sit deep, which made countering difficult,
or they defended as a 4-2-4, which left them exposed in the middle of the pitch.
Occasionally it worked, with Modric snapping into a good tackle that allowed Rakitic to
play a long ball out that ended in a great chance for Mandzukic, but these instances
were few and far between.
A change two third of the way through the Nigeria game solved these issues.
Marcelo Brozovic came on and rather than using Kramaric, a forward, to link play, Modric
pushed up into the ten role, while Rakitic played alongside the more combative Inter
Milan midfielder.
Modric could then link play far more naturally, and Croatia’s midfield area was more secure.
There was a greater connectivity between the parts of the team and Croatia comfortably
won the match.
It’s hard to read too much into Croatia’s 3-0 defeat of Argentina, in part because Jorge
Sampaoli’s team were so poor but Croatia, and Modric and Rakitic in particular, were
superb.
Zlatko Dalic countered Sampaoli’s variation on a 3-4-3 with a 4-1-4-1, which allowed Modric
and Rakitic to dictate the tempo of the game from central midfield, covered ably by Brozovic
with the full backs getting up in support.
Rebic and Persisic could push high to make a sort of 4-3-3 in possession.
Modric and Rakitic could sit off or push up, safe in the knowledge that Brozovic was covering,
along with whichever player had not pushed up.
Modric could surge forwards with the ball at feet more, while Rakitic had short passing
options to work himself space for his long, raking passes to players accelerating into
space.
For Argentina’s incompetence, Croatia were very good, and none more so than their two
midfield stars, both of whom finished with goals.
Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic are brilliant players and have been among the best in La
Liga for years.
What the first half against Nigeria shows, though, is that great players need to fit
into a system well or the system needs to be built around them.
Dalic made the mistake of assuming his two midfield stars could work as a defensive double
pivot without support – that is neither of their strengths, and they couldn’t.
But Dalic learned, adapted, and Modric, Rakitic, and Croatia flourished.
Croatia reached third place in France ’98.
This tournament, quarter-finals will be the bare minimum expected, and with this midfield,
they could go further.