Rangers star Borna Barisic was powerless as Croatia and Luka Modric fell to a devastating penalty kicks UEFA Nations League Final defeat to Spain.
Spanish goalie Unai Simon was the hero on the night, saving two spot kicks to earn a resurgent Furia Roja a first international trophy since the golden era’s European Championship victory of 2012.
The match would finish 0-0 after 90 minutes, with Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic missing from the spot for Croatia and Aymeric Laporte hitting the bar for Spain.
Dani Carvajal would then net a stunning chipped penalty into the top corner to bring the prize back to Spain.
Rangers star Borna Barisic was an unused substitute in the match, which potentially sees the end of an era for a Croatia team who have consistently punched above their weight on the global stage.
End of an era for Rangers star’s Croatia after Spain blow?
Despite boasting a population smaller than Scotland’s, the nation are a regular feature in the latter stage of competitions and finished 3rd at the 2022 World Cup after finishing 2nd in 2018.
But being nearly men threatens to be the mark of this larger than life story as the nation’s evergreen captain Luka Modric threatens to bow out empty-handed with that final chance of silverware passing him by.
The Real Madrid legend earned his 166th Croatia cap in the UEFA Nations League Final defeat to Spain and after the game claimed that he’s made a decision on his international future, which he’ll be keeping to himself for now.
“My future with the national team?” Modric said. “I have decided my future, I am clear about it but I’m not going to say it today.”
The penalty kicks heartbreak – a pain all Rangers fans are far too familiar with – doesn’t just end with heartbreak for Croatia and jubilation for Spain.
It threatens to be the end of an era for Borna Barisic and his teammates as the aging Croatia squad, led by 37-year-old Luka Modric, look set to lose a golden generation of big names for whom the last decade has promised so much but just fell that tiny bit short of glory.
