2018 FIFA WC: The amazing journey of a war fighter
XtraTime Web Desk: Croatia beat England 2-1 to reach the final of 2018 FIFA World Cup for the first time. Croatian captain Luka Modric having a great World Cup but, he has a very sad past. Modric was just 6- years-old when his entire existence was rocked by the shooting of his beloved granddad at the hands of militant thugs and he was forced to live life as a refugee in his war-torn homeland.
Despite such hardship, that didn't stop the ambitious kid from going on to become one of the best players on the planet and, now aged 32, a global superstar.
On December 8, 1991, during the Balkan Wars, violent Serbian militia stormed Modrici, a small village near the Velebit Mountains in northern Dalmatia and wrought terror on Croatian families who hadn't escaped.
One of those caught in the crossfire was Luka Modric Snr, who was walking his cattle up an abandoned street when he was cornered by a group of Serbians who brutally executed him along with five other locals.
The idea was to send a message to other Modrici residents that they must leave their town behind, but it robbed the future Real Madrid midfielder of his grandfather.
It hit Luka hard.
He was being raised by Luka Modric Snr while his parents Stipe and Radojka worked long hours in a knitwear factory to support the family financially.
After the incident, his parents were forced to leave Modrici and they sought refuge at the Hotel Iz in the town of Zadar.
Without any electricity or running water, the sound of grenades and bullets became a daily occurrence for little Luka and his sister Jasmina, not to mention avoiding landmines potentially buried around any corner.
But that didn't stop the boy from kicking a small, punctured football around the hotel car park, dreaming that one day he would be able to leave his war-torn existence behind.
It's a rags-to-riches tale that's testament to the four-time Champions League winner's dedication and determination to succeed in the wake of an awful tragedy.
Modric rarely talks about his hardship, but when he signed for Spurs back in 2008, he briefly addressed the issues that blighted his childhood.
“When the war started we became refugees and it was a really tough time,” Modric revealed.
“I was six years old. These were really hard times. I remember them vividly but it’s not something you want to remember or think about.
“We lived in a hotel for many years as we struggled financially, but I always loved football. I remember my first shin pads had the Brazilian Ronaldo on them and I loved them. “The war made me stronger, it was a very hard time for me and my family. I don’t want to drag that with me forever, but I don’t want to forget about it either.” [caption id="attachment_70118" align="aligncenter" width="580"]When he was 6, his grandfather was shot dead.
His family became refugees, in a warzone. He grew up to the sound of grenades exploding. Coaches said he was too weak and too shy to play football. Today, Luka Modric just led Croatia its first ever #WorldCup final.#CROENG pic.twitter.com/plOsy9nQcq — Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) July 11, 2018
