Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva praised Croatia captain Luka Modric as his footballing idol and a major inspiration before their World Cup last-32 match. Silva said, "Luka is actually an idol for me, not only because of the way he has played and remained at the highest level, but also because of the way he has conducted himself throughout his career. He's a huge inspiration to me and I imagine to almost every footballer" [1].
Modric, 40, has been vital for Croatia in recent World Cups, helping them finish runner-up in 2018 and third in 2022 [1, 2, 3]. Silva noted he had asked for Modric’s shirt after a Manchester City vs Real Madrid game and values it highly, calling it "one of the most special shirts I have at home" [2]. He added with a smile, "I wish him all the best -- just not in two days as we want to beat him!" [2].
Portugal placed second in Group K behind Colombia after draws against Congo DR (1-1) and Colombia (0-0), plus a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. Silva acknowledged the team’s World Cup form had drawn criticism, saying, "Criticism is part of the process. We are all doing our best. We wanted to finish first in our group and we didn't get it done. We wanted to do better but it's not the end of the world. We feel ready" [3].
He also reflected on the challenge of adapting within the national team, where players come from leagues with diverse football styles. "Tournament football is decided by fine margins and is about more than just tactical adaptation," Silva said [1, 2]. He highlighted how international football has evolved over the past decade with increased use of analysis [3].
Silva remains confident Portugal can win the World Cup, saying, "Without a doubt. Otherwise we wouldn't be here. We arrived in the U.S. with great ambition, knowing that there are others with the same ambition. We're still a long way from thinking about that, but I have a lot of faith in this team" [3].
Portugal will face Croatia in the knockout last-32 match on July 2 in Toronto [3]. The fixture pits Silva against his idol Modric in a clash that promises to test Portugal’s hopes of advancing.
