It was very cold in basel. In the press box they lent blankets and coffee to combat the sub-zero temperatures, the Swiss city was totally snowed. Pekerman had aligned to Leo Messi in the starting eleven of the friendly Argentina against CroatiaLionel was 18 years old. In the starting team of Croatia, a 20-year-old blonde was making his debut with the national team, and the Croatian journalists told us that he played as Johan Cruyff: it was Luka modric.
MD witnessed that important game in the international career of the two cracks. Leo scored his first goal with the albiceleste on this stage and gave an assist in a team with a lot of prominence from Juan roman riquelme. Modric did not finish the game but he left details of the footballer he would later become. The match ended in victory for Croatia in the 92nd minute of the game.
Leo months later he participated in his first worldthe one of Germany. Messi He has participated in five World Cups, Modric in four. Both have reached a World Cup final, Leo in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that Germany won, Luka in the last 2018 World Cup in Russia that he won France. They reach this semifinal as leaders of their teams. 16 years ago, Leo was the hope of Argentina, Modric the little blond who in his country reminded them of Johan Cruyff.
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