England face tall task in stopping world’s ‘best’ midfielder Modric - Jenas

It will be difficult for England to stop Croatia star Luka Modric, says former Three Lions international Jermaine Jenas, who also believes the midfielder is the world’s best in his position.

Croatia captain Modric has been an instrumental figure in his nation’s run to the World Cup semi-finals having scored two goals in the group stages and assisting Domagoj Vida’s goal in the quarter-final victory over Russia.

His performances have had some calling for him to be in the mix for the tournament's Golden Ball. 

Now he will turn his attention to England, as the two sides meet Wednesday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for a spot in the World Cup final.

While it is easy to say England has to stop the Real Madrid star, his former Tottenham team-mate Jenas warns in a column for BBC.com that will be no easy task for the Three Lions.

“I've not met many players as driven as Luka, and I've seen even fewer who are as talented as him,” Jenas wrote.

Jenas talked about his experience in training when the two played with Spurs, thinking he could mark the midfielder but discovering Modric would find ways to get free time and time again.

“He would go into areas just in front of the full-backs where, if I was playing against him, I would think, 'I am going to go out there and mark you',” Jenas said.

“But he would get the ball and all of a sudden he would be at you - and past you. Every time I thought I had him pinned down, he just got away from me. I've seen him do the same thing time and time again at this World Cup.

“So it is going to be hard for England to shut him down on Wednesday because he is quicker than most people think, and a lot stronger too. For a player who is only 5ft 6in, he has got the biggest calves I have ever seen in my life.”

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Jenas doesn’t just believe Modric is among the best – he thinks the Real Madrid man is the top midfielder in the world and is only denied accolades because he doesn’t rack up goals like some other stars do.

However, Jenas thinks Modric’s other qualities have a massive influence on the success of his sides – evidenced by the titles he has won with Real Madrid.

“When you consider how well balanced he is, I just don't see a better player in that area of the pitch anywhere on the planet right now,” Jenas said.

“Bearing in mind he has won the Champions League four times with Real, I don't think he always gets the wider accolades he deserves.

“That is probably because he does not get more goals. He has got two at this World Cup, but throughout his career he has never scored in big numbers, and that is something some people use to judge how good a player is.

“I think differently. Like his Real Madrid team-mate Toni Kroos, Spain's Andres Iniesta or another Croat, Ivan Rakitic, Luka is a rhythm-type player who sets the tempo of games and gives his team control of them.”

Modric and his team-mates could better their nation’s best-ever World Cup performance, in 1998, when Croatia finished third after losing to France in the semi-final.

A victory against England could set the stage for a rematch in the final as Les Blues face Belgium for the other spot in the tournament decider.