Modrić Leads Croatia to Late Victory Over Slovenia
Luka Modrić needed only a glimpse. On a cool night at the Stadion Anđelko Herjavec in Varaždin, the Croatian captain stepped up from the edge of the box and swept in the kind of finish that has defined a generation of his country’s football. One touch to set, one to guide the ball beyond the goalkeeper, and Croatia’s World Cup preparations had their early spark.
This was no procession, though. The 2-1 win over Slovenia came wrapped in late drama, a reminder that even in friendlies, this team lives on the edge.
Croatia controlled long stretches, probing patiently, using Modrić as the metronome in midfield. The ball moved, the Slovenians chased, and the home crowd settled into the familiar rhythm of a side that expects to dominate possession.
Yet the second goal never arrived. Chances came and went, the tempo dipped, and the game began to drift. Slovenia stayed in it, clung on, and then struck.
In the 83rd minute, Andraž Šporar punished a rare lapse. Croatia switched off for a moment, Slovenia didn’t. Šporar found the equaliser and suddenly the friendly had teeth. The stadium, comfortable a few minutes earlier, turned anxious. A routine tune-up threatened to become an awkward story.
Croatia pushed again. They had to.
Deep into stoppage time, the pressure finally told. Mario Pašalić arrived with the kind of late, decisive contribution coaches dream of in these matches. In the 93rd minute, he grabbed the winner, restoring the lead and the mood in one swing. Relief, noise, and a hint of defiance rolled around the stands.
For Zlatko Dalić and his staff, the night delivered exactly what a pre-World Cup friendly should: minutes in the legs, a reminder of old strengths, and a warning about lingering frailties. The headline belonged to Modrić, but the timing of Pašalić’s goal said just as much about Croatia’s refusal to let go of a game.
England await on 17 June. Croatia arrive with a captain still dictating games and a squad that, once again, looks ready for the big stage.
Estupiñan Shines as Ecuador Sweep Aside Guatemala
In another corner of the World Cup build-up, Ecuador sent a clear message of their own. A 3-0 win over Guatemala did more than pad confidence; it showcased a side growing in authority, with Pervis Estupiñan at the heart of it.
Ecuador moved with purpose, sharper in the duels, quicker in transition, and ruthless when the chances opened up. The scoreline reflected their control, but the moment everyone will remember came from the left-back.
Spotting the goalkeeper off his line, Estupiñan didn’t hesitate. From long range, he lifted the ball delicately but decisively over the stranded keeper, a superb third goal that underlined both his vision and his nerve. It was the kind of strike that transforms a solid performance into a statement.
Ecuador’s camp will welcome that kind of swagger. With Ivory Coast looming on 15 June, they now carry not just momentum, but a sense of identity: aggressive, ambitious, and unafraid to take risks from anywhere on the pitch.
Bartesaghi Helps Italy’s Experimental Side Edge Greece
For Italy, the night was quieter but no less useful. In a more controlled, tactical affair, Davide Bartesaghi completed another full 90 minutes in an “experimental” side assembled by coach Baldini, as Italy edged Greece 1-0.
No fireworks, no late chaos. Just a disciplined display and another narrow win to follow their earlier success over Luxembourg.
Bartesaghi’s inclusion from the start, and his ability to see out the match, will please the staff as much as the result. Friendlies at this stage are about trust as much as tactics, and the defender is steadily earning both.
Italy close this run of games with a clean sheet and a clearer picture of their depth. Croatia, Ecuador and Italy all leave the night with victories, but each carries something more important into the weeks ahead: a sharper sense of who they are when the real pressure arrives.
