For England’s first meeting with Luka Modric you have to go back 20 years. Croatia were managed by Slaven Bilic, who has returned for a second spell in charge of the national team, and dominated in Zagreb. They eased to a 2-0 win, Steve McClaren’s doomed attempt to qualify for Euro 2008 took a turn for the worse and, as well as Modric giving England’s midfield the runaround, the game was remembered best for a horror mistake from the Three Lions No 1.
Paul Robinson must have wanted the ground to swallow him up when he kicked at thin air and let Gary Neville’s backpass bobble into the net. Robinson, his aura diminished, never really recovered. The goalkeeper made 10 more appearances but after another crucial error against Russia in October 2007, he never won another cap.
Goalkeepers live a fragile existence. Joe Hart experienced a sharp decline and Jordan Pickford is under real pressure for the first time since becoming No 1 just before the 2018 World Cup. James Trafford played the first two of England’s games in Nations League Group A3 and did well against Spain and Czechia.
However, Pickford will return when England face Croatia and Modric in Rijeka on Saturday evening. Thomas Tuchel has divided the games. Pickford is due to continue when England close this camp by hosting Czechia on Tuesday.
Tuchel’s explanation is that he wanted to test Trafford against elite opposition. He says Pickford has done nothing wrong. The 32-year-old has helped England reach two major finals and shone in shootout wins over Colombia [at the 2018 World Cup] and Switzerland [at Euro 2024].
Pickford will win his 92nd cap against Croatia and has broken Peter Shilton’s record for England appearances at the World Cup. He made the save of the 2025-26 Premier League season, pushing a vicious Sandro Tonali volley over during Everton’s win against Newcastle last February. Yet the threat from Trafford is real, not least because Pickford wobbled last summer.
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