Some see them as mascots, encouragers, motivators – but most of the World Cup Methuselahs like Lionel Messi or Luka Modric are still the masterminds of their team. But probably for the last time in Qatar.
When things got really serious, Luka Modric was only in demand as an encourager. Before the penalty shoot-out against Japan, the Croatian players formed a circle again, put their arms on each other’s shoulders – and Modric gave a short motivational speech. The world footballer from 2018 could no longer shoot himself because he had already been substituted in the 9th minute of extra time.
Before that, however, he had played a really good game, throughout the preliminary round he still seemed very strong for his 37 years, easy to play, shone with game shifts, which he still like hardly anyone else on this planet just as well with the outside as with can play on the inner instep.
Luca Modric – no greed for the hero role
The fact that Modric will be in the starting XI against Brazil on Friday (December 9th, 2022, 4:00 p.m., live radio report and live ticker on sportschau.de) is a matter of course in Croatia, especially since he was never the type to deal with greed puts himself under pressure after a heroic role. It was also an honor for him to simply pose as a decorative accessory in photos with match-winner goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic and applaud him after the victory over Japan.
Croatia’s Luka Modrić (left) claims the ball – he is still a fixture of his team.
Brazil’s Dani Alves – without a club to the World Cup?
In terms of sport, he is no longer quite in this role, but he has a similar level of responsibility for the climate in his team. Long a Barcelona superstar and the epitome of the modern right-back, Dani Alves has been called up for the World Cup in Qatar despite not even having a club anymore. But he is by no means just an extra or a pure mood maker.
Almost dream goalscorer
Dani Alves was the captain of the starting XI in the last group game against Cameroon (although it was no longer decisive). In the round of 16 ceremony against South Korea he was the first player to come on under Coach Tite in the 63rd minute and almost scored a dream goal: Two minutes before the end he launched a Richarlison-style side kick and hit the ball perfectly – but defender Kim headed the ball for his beaten keeper Kim just from the angle.
Lionel Messi is working on the last missing title
On Friday evening (8 p.m., live stream, live radio report and live ticker at sportschau.de), the tallest active footballer in the world by far, despite his 169 centimeters, carries the hopes of an entire country: Lionel Messi should Argentina to victory over the Lead the Netherlands and thus continue to write his own history of the gods, which is still unfinished in one single point: The “flea” still lacks the World Cup title.
Messi, as always, with great respect
In view of the 1,000 competitive games in his bones, it can be assumed that this tournament will be his last chance. But he is still in the right shape at the right time, in the round of 16 against Australia he had six shots on goal, scored the lead, had a stable 80 touches and a pass rate of over 90 percent.
Ahead of the duel with Holland, Messi shows himself respectful as always in his grandiose career: “It’s going to be a hard game. It’s a great team, with great players and a brilliant coach. It’s going to be tough.”
Van Gaal has a crystal clear goal
The brilliant coach mentioned is Louis van Gaal. In all likelihood, you won’t see him again at a World Cup, although – it’s never certain with him. His current engagement is his third as a Bonds coach, and the 71-year-old comes across a bit differently with respect than with Messi.
Louis van Gaal, coach and ruler of the Elftal
His “weakness” in the game against the ball is Elftal’s big chance, says van Gaal boldly. And anyway: “We want to be world champions. I said that early on and my players accepted that goal.”
Giroud plays and feels 20
To become world champion. Unlike Messi and van Gaal, Olivier Giroud knows exactly how to do that. At 36, he has just become France’s all-time top scorer, scoring 52 goals for the team, replacing Thierry Henry. On Saturday evening against England (8 p.m., live radio report and live ticker on Sportschau.de) Giroud can extend his lead and he would do well to do so – so that he is at least another year or two ahead before Kylian Mbappé intercepts him again.
At the World Cup, Mbappé is already leading 5: 3 in an internal duel with Giroud, but this gives the oldie a huge boost: “I’m hungry for goals and my body seems to take it”finds the Milan striker. “I was once told that we are all 20 years old, the rest is experience. I really play like I’m 20. With the joy of a child.”
Pepe celebrates record goals
Giroud has that joy in common with Messi, also with Modric or Dani Alves. Only Cristiano Ronaldo does not always look like he enjoys the game, even in the very late autumn of his great career he usually seems as if he is forced to fulfill a mission.
However, the mission has changed over the course of the tournament. At the 6-1 gala on Tuesday evening against Switzerland, CR7 was only on the bench for the first time after 31 games in a row with Portugal, but another oldie legend cheered all the more intensely: Pepe scored his Rambo header to make it 2-0 with 39 Years and 283 days as the oldest player in history in a World Cup knockout game and should be the first choice again on Saturday against Morocco (4 p.m., live radio report and live ticker at sportschau.de). CR7, on the other hand, almost certainly not.