Luka Modrić Leads Croatia to Victory Over Slovenia

Luka Modrić bends Croatia to his will again. Different stadium, same story.

At the Stadion Anđelko Herjavec in Varaždin, the captain’s touch of class set Croatia on their way to a 2-1 win over Slovenia in a World Cup warm-up that felt anything but gentle. With England looming on 17 June, this was about rhythm, sharpness, and a reminder of who still runs the show in Croatia’s midfield.

Modrić struck first, gliding into space on the edge of the box and drilling home the opener with the kind of precision that has become his signature. One touch to set, one to punish. No fuss, no hesitation. The crowd rose as if on cue; they have seen this script before.

Croatia controlled long spells, but the game refused to settle. Slovenia hung in, waited, and finally pounced. In the 83rd minute, Andraž Šporar levelled the match, turning late tension into genuine jeopardy. For a side preparing to face England, dropping their grip so close to full-time would have stung.

The response was ruthless.

Deep into stoppage time, in the 93rd minute, Mario Pašalić arrived with the winner, stabbing home to restore Croatia’s lead and their mood. A friendly on paper, a statement in reality. The clock read 90+, the legs were heavy, yet Croatia still found a way. That matters in tournament football.

Estupiñan lights it up for Ecuador

On another continent, another World Cup hopeful sent out a different kind of message.

Ecuador dismantled Guatemala 3-0, a scoreline that reflected their control and their growing confidence ahead of their 15 June opener against Ivory Coast. The performance had structure, but it also had a flourish — and that came from Pervis Estupiñan.

The left-back impressed from first whistle to last, driving forward, timing his runs, and reading the game with authority. His night deserved a highlight. He delivered one.

Spotting the goalkeeper off his line from long range, Estupiñan lifted the ball audaciously over him for Ecuador’s third. It was a finish that combined awareness, technique, and a touch of arrogance — the good kind, the kind you need on the biggest stage. A friendly goal, yes, but the sort that lingers in the mind of opponents.

Momentum is a fragile thing before a World Cup. Ecuador just gave theirs a serious push.

Italy’s experimental edge

For Italy, the tone was different but the outcome just as useful.

In an “experimental” side selected by coach Baldini, Davide Bartesaghi earned another start and made the most of it, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Greece. No fireworks, no thrashing, just a controlled, professional job that rounded off their friendly run after another narrow victory over Luxembourg.

These are the matches that rarely make headlines but quietly shape squads. Bartesaghi’s full outing underlines the trust placed in him and adds another layer to Italy’s depth chart. The margin was slim; the value, anything but.

Across Varaždin, Ecuador, and Italy’s testing ground, the pattern is clear: the dress rehearsals are over. The next time these sides step out, the lights will be brighter, the stakes higher, and there will be no such thing as “just a friendly.”