Maybe the greatest pass of the 2018 World Cup.
Croatia. Denmark. Round of 16. Extra time. 114th minute.
A visionary ball slotted through the gap from Luka Modrić.
A sure goal on the way from Ante Rebić.
And then, that foul. An (outrageously) absent red card.
A missed penalty.
And the assist that wasn’t.
Update to the Luka Modrić story:
In December he won the Ballon d’Or…
The first time since 2007 the award didn’t go to either Messi or Ronaldo.
It makes very little sense (Messi finished fifth), until you consider:
Might the committee have sat around for weeks, watching nothing but this pass?
Luka Modric is a modern day Pirlo. Every pass is pinpoint. Magic.
— John Ondrasik (@johnondrasik) July 1, 2018
The only imperfection was what followed:
Modrić stepping up for the penalty, and coming up short.
WHAT A SAVE!
Schmeichel saves Modric's penalty to keep it level late in extra time. pic.twitter.com/0jee6ViAqS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 1, 2018
The game stayed tied.
Then all ended well for Croatia, winning in penalty kicks.
Moving on to the World Cup quarterfinals.
But, man.
Imagine if Jørgensen had stayed on his feet.
Rebić had scored.
And Modrić had gone down in history…
With an assist like that.
Modric can't be blamed for this. He made this chance himself out of no where. The pass that created the penalty was divine
— Umer Rauf (@TyrionTribbiani) July 1, 2018