#Luka Modric

#Luka Modric

Marco Asensio kept Real Madrid's faint hope of retaining their La Liga title alive with the winner against Getafe.Carlo Ancelotti made eight changes as Madrid warmed up for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at Manchester City.It resulted in a disjointed performance against a Getafe side in the relegation zone, before Asensio's deflected strike with 20 minutes remaining.

Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 sports extra, the BBC Sport website & app; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app.Some of Wales' players have called it a "new era," while boss Robert Page has talked of "resetting and reframing".For Wales this is the new reality, life after Gareth Bale, life after the men's top goalscorer and greatest modern day footballer... life after their leader.

Feb 20, 2023



Mark OgdenSenior Writer, ESPN FC



Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said "nothing in the world can justify" the treatment of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior following a number of recent incidents of the player being subjected to racist chants and insults in Spain.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Carlo Ancelotti thinks their Champions League last-16 tie is over after Real Madrid trounced the Reds 5-2 at Anfield in Tuesday's first leg.The Reds blew an early two-goal lead after Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah's early strikes to suffer the heavy defeat, which leaves them with a mountain to climb in the second leg in Madrid on March 15.

Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.Day-by-day TV listings  - Full coverage details  

Argentina and Morocco's fans have been the loudest at this World Cup but can they help their sides win their semi-finals against Croatia and France?

Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.Day-by-day TV listings  - Full coverage details  

The World Cup loves an unlikely hero - the difference with Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic is that he has now played that role twice in five days.

Franck Kessie scored a dramatic late winner as Barcelona took a significant step towards LaLiga glory with a 2-1 Clasico victory over Real Madrid on Sunday.Blaugrana midfielder Kessie stroked home in the 92nd minute at Camp Nou to send Xavi's side 12 points clear of Madrid, who thought they had won it earlier when Marco Asensio saw an 81st-minute strike ruled out.

Real Madrid's title hopes suffered a further setback after being held by 10-man rivals Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu.Jose Gimenez gave the visitors a shock lead, not long after Angel Correa had been sent off for elbowing Antonio Rudiger.But teenager Alvaro Rodriguez earned Real a point with his first goal for the club.

May 1, 2023 Sociedad face Madrid on Tuesday / Real Sociedad de Futbol / Visionhaus / Contributor Real Madrid need to carry on winning to keep up the pressure on Barcelona in La Liga, although time is more than likely running out for Los Blancos.Carlo Ancelotti's team will hope to build on victory over Almeria last time out when they face Real Sociedad on the road this week.

Real Madrid's board were disappointed by coach Carlo Ancelotti's tactics in the side's 1-0 Copa del Rey semifinal first-leg defeat to Barcelona on Thursday, sources have told ESPN.Some senior figures at the club criticised the manager's lack of a plan B, sources said, after a performance in which Madrid dominated possession at the Bernabeu but were unable to muster a single shot on target.

Mar 1, 2023 Real Madrid have a few injuries to contend with / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages The Copa del Rey draw has been kind to us this year with El Clasico rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid facing off over two legs for a place in the competition's showpiece event.Los Blancos overcame Atletico Madrid in the previous round to advance into the last four, but they were held by their crosstown rivals in La Liga at the weekend which meant they only gained a point on Barcelona at the top of the table.

Carlo Ancelotti has called for "zero tolerance" for racism after Vinicius Junior was subjected to racist abuse by fans -- but stopped short of criticising LaLiga, after the Real Madrid winger accused them of failing to act on the issue.Videos posted on social media showed Vinicius, 22, being insulted as he walked past fans after being substituted in Madrid's 2-0 win at Real Valladolid on Friday.

Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Monaco defender Axel Disasi ahead of a possible summer move for the France international, the Daily Mail says.The paper adds that the 25-year-old has been on Erik ten Hag's radar since January.In more Red Devils gossip, the Daily Mirror reports Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar is set to up his bid to 5.5billion for the club in a bid to blow rival Sir Jim Ratcliffe out of the race.

It really looked like Liverpool had turned a corner.After two straight 2-0 wins in the Premier League, the Pool Boys came into Tuesday's Champions League round of 16 first leg against Real Madrid on fire.In a rematch of last year's final, Liverpool pressed the reigning champions all over the field, bringing a level of intensity that called back to better days, days when Liverpool was fighting against perfection, not against the mid-table of England's first division.

Feb 23, 2023



Sam MarsdenBarcelona correspondent



Sergio Ramos has announced his reluctant retirement from international football after being told he is not part of new Spain coach Luis de la Fuente's plans.Ramos, 36, revealed that De la Fuente phoned him on Thursday and said he would not be selected regardless of his form with his club side Paris Saint-Germain.

FIFA have named their 2022 World XI and five Premier League players have made the cut, including stars from Manchester United, City and Liverpool.The FIFA 2022 World XI has been announced and it's difficult to argue too many of the choices.It's a surprise not to see more Argentinian representation after their impressive World Cup campaign, however.

5:00 AM ET



Julien LaurensCorrespondent



AL DAAYEN, Qatar -- When Luka Modric made his international debut for Croatia in March 2006, at the age of 21, Argentina and a 19-year-old Lionel Messi were his opponents.That day, Modric won the friendly encounter 3-2, Messi scored his first international goal and it was the beginning of a career-long rivalry for club (Real Madrid vs. Barcelona) and country.

The Latest from the World Cup semifinal match between Argentina and Croatia: ___ Argentina plays Croatia on Tuesday in the first World Cup semifinal match, and the winner will face either defending champion France or Morocco in Sunday's final at Lusail Stadium.Lionel Messi and Luka Modric have led Argentina and Croatia to the final four with stellar performances, and both are looking to cap their careers with a World Cup title.

Croatia and Morocco provide the prelude to Sunday's final with the third-place play-off in Qatar.Meanwhile, France have been hit by a sickness bug ahead of their bid to defend their 2018 title against Argentina.Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what lies ahead from the final two days at the World Cup.

Canada will try to win a match at the World Cup for the first time in the history of the national team when the Canadians square off against Croatia in a crucial Group F match on Sunday at Khalifa International Stadium in Ar-Rayyan, Qatar.Canada, ranked No. 41 in the world, has previously played in one World Cup, in 1986 in Mexico.

Teams badly in need of three points collide when Croatia and Canada meet in a crucial Group F match of the 2022 World Cup on Sunday at Khalifa International Stadium in Ar-Rayyan, Qatar.After playing Morocco to a scoreless draw to open group play, Croatia are tied with Morocco for second in the group with one point.

Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.Day-by-day TV listings - Full coverage details  

Midfielder Luka Modric wants Croatia to write a new chapter in their World Cup history when they face Morocco in their 2022 tournament opener on Wednesday.

MADRID -- Real Madrid beat Cadiz 2-1 in LaLiga on Thursday to close the gap on leaders Barcelona to two points going into the World Cup break.Eder Militao put Madrid ahead in the 40th minute at the Bernabeu, heading Toni Kroos' delivery into the bottom corner.Kroos doubled the home side's lead in the second half with a spectacular finish, volleying in from outside the box, before Lucas Perez pulled a late goal back for the visitors.

Real Madrid beat Celtic 5-1 at home to finish top of their Champions League group on Wednesday as they bounced back from their first loss of the season against RB Leipzig last week.Goals from Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde - the first two from the penalty spot - ensured the holders topped Group F with 13 points, one ahead of second-placed Leipzig with both teams reaching the round of 16.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.) Celtic finished bottom with two points.

Luka Modric has said Real Madrid's Champions League record -- winning the competition five times in the last nine years -- could give them the edge in Wednesday's semifinal second leg with Manchester City.City are still looking for their first Champions League trophy, despite years of domestic success, while Madrid are the most successful club in the tournament's history with 14 European Cups.

With Toni Kroos and Luka Modric nearing the end of their illustrious careers, Real Madrid is going to have to do some serious digging to eventually replace that type of talent and quality in the midfield.According to a report from Abendzeitung journalists Philip Kessler and Mano Bonke (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Real Madrid has its sights - eventually - set on a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich:

Real Madrid are eyeing Joshua Kimmich for the era after Kroos and Modrić (2024).

What the Bundesliga makes, the world takes (or something like that).When it comes to looking for talent, many of the world's superpowers are casting an eye toward Germany - and not just at Bayern Munich 's loaded roster.Whether it is RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku, Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani, Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz - or any number of other Bundesliga stars, attention is being drawn toward Germany's top division.