ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Luka Modrić was named by coach Slaven Bilić in the Croatia squad on Monday for the Nations League to continue his standout international career.
When Croatia plays at Czech Republic in its opening Group A game of the Nations League on Sept. 26, Modrić will earn his 203rd cap at age 41. In July he signed up for one more club season with AC Milan.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has more international games (233) for Portugal and Lionel Messi who announced his retirement from international soccer with Argentina a week ago had 207.
“I did not have to persuade him,” Bilić said. “He is passionate about Croatia and the national team, so this is a win-win situation.”
Croatia also faces World Cup champion Spain and England in the group as England in the 2026-27 Nations League group phase that runs from September to November.
Bilić suggested Modrić won't be used in all group matches.
“He will play at a pace that suits both him and us, similar to his rhythm at Milan,” he said. “We have to respect that, and it will be the best for everyone.”
Milan announced the news about Modrić’s contract after he returned from his fifth World Cup, where he started all four games leading Croatia and passed 200 appearances for the national team.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner was still on the field after 109 minutes when Croatia’s tournament controversially ended with a disallowed goal in a 2-1 loss to Portugal in the round of 32.
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Croatia's Luka Modric (10) in action during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Croatia and Ghana in Philadelphia, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Monday announced the closure of the German consulate in St. Petersburg, the latest in a cycle of tit-for-tat moves following an attempted drone attack in Leipzig that Germany blamed on Russia.
The ministry said the German consulate must stop operations and its workers must leave Russia by Sept. 18. It reaffirmed the previously announced decision to shut German Goethe-Institut cultural centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg and said their employees must leave no later than Sunday.
The ministry's statement cast the moves as retaliation for Germany’s “unfriendly” decision Wednesday to close both the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in the German capital, Berlin.
Germany said Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4, when an explosives-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian plane.
The airport is a major international freight hub used for providing support to Ukraine. The drone was later defused.
Moscow has denied involvement in the drone attack and cast it as a provocation.
“It was the German authorities who once again provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “All responsibility for the consequences lies entirely with the German government.”
Western officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of conducting a campaign of sabotage and disruption in their countries with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations, accusations Russia has rejected.
FILE - A woman walks past the German Consulate General building in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)
