Such is Croatia’s wealth of World Cup experience led by the timeless artistry of Luka Modric there is a temptation to bill them as the cast of Dad’s Army.
Modric is the second-oldest outfield player at this summer’s tournament, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, and with 198 caps is one of four centurions in Zlatko Dalic’s squad. Along with his next five most experienced teammates – Ivan Perisic (154), Andrej Kramaric (116), Mateo Kovacic (113), Mario Pasalic (85) and Dominik Livakovic (75) – they can boast 741 caps and the know-how of finishing as runners-up in Russia in 2018 and third in Qatar in 2022.
In the centre of their defence, however, is one of the freshest and most exciting prospects in world football. Luka Vuskovic is 19 years old and a Tottenham player although he is yet to play a competitive game for the Premier League club.
Tall, strong and athletic with an eye for a spectacular goal, Vuskovic sparkled in the German Bundesliga last season on loan at Hamburg. Bayern Munich and Barcelona are among an ever-expanding list of illustrious admirers, and Brighton have made an ambitious £30million move to sign the teenager as Spurs tried to negotiate a deal for their Dutch centre back Jan Paul van Hecke.
Vuskovic is thought to be interested in the Brighton project. They are in Europe with an excellent track record of identifying and developing young talent. Spurs insist he is not for sale. They want him to focus on the World Cup, then spend time with Roberto De Zerbi before the new season so the new boss can assess him properly.
Vuskovic is under contract until 2030, and Spurs are expected to offer him a new deal with improved terms to reflect his progress. At the same time, De Zerbi is stockpiling centre halves. Marco Senesi has signed on a free and Van Hecke is expected to join the ranks currently populated by Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin.
Luka Vuskovic will look to keep Harry Kane quiet in Dallas – and impress his Tottenham bosses
Vuskovic played in pre-season for Spurs last summer, scoring away at Reading, before being sent out on loan again
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi is closing in on a deal for his former Brighton centre back Jan Paul van Hecke
There are sure to be departures, but uncertainty around Vuskovic is fuelled by the feeling his camp were not enamoured by his treatment in north London last summer when then-manager Thomas Frank played him in preseason before deciding to send him out on another loan, because he did not want his progress to stall by not playing regularly.
This was to be his third loan after Spurs struck the deal to sign him from Hajduk Split for £12m in 2023. The first was in Poland with Radomiak Radom, followed by a year in Belgium at Westerlo because he could not complete his transfer to England before he turned 18. Another loan spell will only risk enhancing the suspicion that he is not wanted or truly valued in N17. De Zerbi must convince Vuskovic otherwise.
There is an interesting parallel to draw with William Saliba, who joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019 at the age of 19 and spent the next three seasons back in France on loan at different clubs. His impatience was clear and he attracted would-be suitors from elsewhere.
Saliba was 22 when Mikel Arteta brought him into the Arsenal squad four years ago, by which time he was ready for the Premier League and has not looked back. It seemed to be a triumph of good sense and patience and enabled a gifted defender to learn his trade in a less demanding environment.
Whether Spurs can convince Vuskovic to follow a similar path remains to be seen, and his performances in the World Cup will impact on the range of his options.
He left Germany at the end of the season with an armful of awards as the team survived their first season back in the topflight. He won Rookie of the Month four times and made Team of the Season in the Kicker magazine.
His first goal was Hamburg’s first after returning to the top flight and his stunning scorpion kick in the ‘Nordderby’ against Werder Bremen was voted Goal of the Month for December and second in the Goal of the Season poll.
Fans took him to their hearts. He played with a sense of adventure and wore the No 44 jersey of his brother Mario, a former Hamburg player who has been serving a three-year doping ban and is set to return in November. They are the fourth generation of footballers from the family.
Vuskovic has a penchant for the spectacular, scoring a wonderful overhead kick for Westerlo in December 2024 and a scorpion kick for Hamburg a year later
Vuskovic’s brother Mario is also at Hamburg but currently serving a three-year doping ban
There are parallels with William Saliba (left), who Arsenal sent out on three loans before he was ready to play in the Premier League
Vuskovic found a natural home from home in Hamburg. He made clear his affection for both the club and the city, and his desire to ensure they would be safe in the Bundesliga when 24-year-old Mario returned to action. Supporters voted Luka as their player of the year. ‘I couldn’t have imagined it going any better,’ he said.
Hamburg boss Merlin Polzin spoke of their mutual bonds of trust and praised the teen’s attitude as enthusiastically as his natural talent.
‘What truly sets Luka apart is his incredible will to win,’ said Polzin. ‘He always wants to improve. His attitude towards being a professional footballer is top-notch. I’ve only had the privilege of working with a handful of players who have such a mindset.’
Last year, he made his Croatia debut. In March, he scored his first international goal. Now for the World Cup stage surrounded by legends of Croatian football including Modric, who spent four years at Spurs before moving to Real Madrid in 2012.
‘I don’t want to limit him,’ said Polzin, in an interview with Hamburg’s website in May. ‘When you have such a leadership role at 19 and your career takes off like this, I believe he’s capable of anything.’
