Slaven Bilic hailed Croatia’s Luka Modric as the best midfielder in the world at the moment as he looked ahead to the upcoming World Cup Finals in Qatar.

As coach of the national team for six years between 2006 and 2012, Bilic has worked at close quarters with 37-year-old Modric, who has made more than 750 career appearances for Real Madrid, Tottenham and Dinamo Zagreb as well as earning another 154 international caps.

“If you ask me, Luka Modric is the best,” said Bilic.

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“He was the best five years ago, two years ago, and now he’s still the best. He’s not one of the best at the moment: he is the best.

“Nobody plays midfield like Luka Modric. Nobody. None of the English players play like Luka Modric, no way.”

A five-times Champions League winner with Madrid, Modric has also won the Ballon D’Or and was voted FIFA Best Mens Player in 2018, the year that Croatia were beaten in the World Cup Final by France having knocked England out in the semi-finals.

“What new can I say about Luka?” said Bilic.

“I’m probably the person who has said more things about Luka than anyone else. I’ve been with him since Under-21s in Croatia.

“Luka is unique, not just for Croatia but in the world of football. He’s still so hungry, so enthusiastic, just like he was when he was 17 or 18.

“Then there’s his skill and vision, the rear-view mirror he has that lets him see the whole pitch.

“He is one of the best midfielders ever to play football. He comes into that category, definitely. He’s there with the likes of Zidane: the top, top players.

“Luka has the mindset and character that he just loves to play football. A couple of days ago he played 90 minutes for Real Madrid against Cadiz. He’s not one who wants to miss a game because the World Cup is coming up.”

A few weeks ago, at a press conference after the game at Wigan, Bilic was asked about Croatia’s World Cup chances and told the assembled media to “have a bet on us”.

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His opinion on their chances hasn’t changed since, even though the Watford head coach lamented the fact his nation are rarely tipped by anyone.

“Croatia are never among the favourites for any tournament. The media and the pundits always reserve their top spots for the big nations,” he said.

“But make no mistake, nobody likes playing against us. We have a team that on the one hand is very experienced, but we also have a few young players who are protagonists, who are not just there to make up the squad.

“We have young players who are there and ready to start, who bring you energy and they are not afraid of taking risks.”

Bilic cited the Croatian midfield of Modric, Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) and Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) as the key to their potential success in Qatar.

“No midfield is better than what we have: Brozovic, Kovacic and Modric. Nobody has anything better. We have Ivan Perisic too.

“We can go far and the biggest quality of the Croatia national team – and I know this because I played and then coached them for six years – has always been and still is now, regardless of who is manager, is the group is always unbelievable.

“They are friends. They don’t just talk when they meet, they are talking all the time. They like to spend time together.

“Some national teams, after they’ve spent three weeks together, they are bored of each other. But these guys they would like to stay with each other for ages.”

The mood in Croatia is one of confidence, Bilic said, and he feels they could go one better than four years ago.

“Every time we play in a tournament the expectations at home in Croatia are big,” he said.

“Sometimes that’s realistic, sometimes it’s not. But this time we are going there full of confidence.

“Very recently we qualified for the final four of the Nations League, and the guys are confident but not big headed. All the ingredients are there.”