MADRID, 25 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric entered the Euro Cup history books this Monday by becoming, with his goal against Italy, the oldest player to score in a continental event, a record tarnished by the almost certain elimination of his team in which seems to be the Madrid player’s last major tournament.
The one from Zadar marked the start of the second half, in the 55th minute and just after having missed a penalty, to put his team ahead and surpass the record of the Austrian Ivica Vastic, who until then was the oldest to score in a phase final of a continental event, with 38 years and 257 days in the 2008 edition. The Croatian captain did it with 32 days more (38 and 289).
Behind them, the Macedonian Goran Pandev, who scored in the previous EURO against Austria at the age of 37 years and 321 days, while the Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who is playing in the tournament at the age of 39, could surpass Modric if he manages to find the net.
However, his historic goal was of no use since a goal in the 98th minute by Mattia Zacagni meant the tie and his team remaining with two points in third place in Group B, and probably out of the equation of entering between the best third parties since it needs Slovenia or Denmark to lose this Tuesday by the greatest number of goals possible and that neither Georgia nor the Czech Republic add.