Luka Modrić Leads Croatia to Victory Against Slovenia in World Cup Warm-Up

The lights at Stadion Anđelko Herjavec felt a little brighter the moment Luka Modrić put his foot on the ball. Croatia’s captain needed only one clear sight of goal to tilt a tight friendly against Slovenia, and he took it with the kind of assurance that has defined his career.

From the edge of the box, Modrić opened his body and drove a precise strike beyond the goalkeeper, a reminder that even in a so-called warm-up game, his standards do not dip. Croatia, building towards their World Cup opener against England on 17 June, suddenly had the control and rhythm they wanted.

For long spells, that seemed enough. Croatia managed the tempo, rotated sensibly, and looked to move through the gears without burning too much energy. The match had the feel of a rehearsal: patterns tested, partnerships checked, the crowd in Varaždin content to watch a side easing towards tournament mode.

Then came the late sting.

In the 83rd minute, Andraž Šporar punished a lapse, levelling the match and briefly silencing the home support. Slovenia, who had chased for most of the evening, finally found a reward for their persistence. Croatia, so close to a routine victory, suddenly stared at an awkward result in the final stages of their preparation.

The response was ruthless.

Deep into stoppage time, in the 93rd minute, Mario Pašalić arrived with the kind of timing every coach craves from midfield. His winner restored Croatia’s lead and flipped the narrative back in their favour. One friendly, two late twists, and a reminder that this team still knows how to close out a game when the pressure tightens.

The scoreboard read 2-1. The message to England was louder than the margin suggested: Croatia are sharpening up, and their leaders are already delivering.

Across the globe, Ecuador sent their own signal of intent with a commanding 3-0 victory over Guatemala. This was not just a win; it was a controlled performance that grew in authority as the minutes ticked by.

Pervis Estupiñan stood out from the first whistle. The full-back surged forward relentlessly, stretching Guatemala’s shape and dictating the left flank. His energy never dropped, his delivery stayed sharp, and his influence only grew.

The moment that defined his night came with Ecuador already in control. Spotting the goalkeeper off his line, Estupiñan took a bold decision from long range. The execution was exquisite: a lifted effort that sailed over the stranded keeper and dropped into the net for Ecuador’s third.

It was the kind of goal that changes a routine friendly into a statement. Ecuador now roll towards their World Cup opener against Ivory Coast on 15 June with momentum, confidence, and a reminder that they carry a genuine threat from deep.

In Italy, the night belonged less to spectacle and more to structure. Davide Bartesaghi, handed another start in an “experimental” Azzurri line-up under coach Baldini, delivered exactly what was required: reliability.

Italy’s 1-0 win over Greece will not echo through the ages, but it served its purpose. After another narrow victory over Luxembourg, this was about fine-tuning, not fireworks. Bartesaghi played the full 90 minutes, a clear sign of trust from the bench and a valuable run-out in a side still being shaped and tested.

The scoreline stayed tight, the margins small, yet Italy again found a way to edge across the line. For Baldini, that’s another data point. For Bartesaghi, it is another step towards cementing his place when the matches stop being friendlies and the stakes rise.