The record Modric broke and his time warp with Bilic

Croatia captain Luka Modric is 41. He has 202 international appearances behind him, more than two decades of Croatia duty in his legs, and very little left to prove.

Yet the old master keeps finding ways of making his presence felt.

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Modric scored as Croatia beat Czechia 2-1 away in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday, marking his 202nd international appearance in style. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 234 caps, has played more times for a European national team.

The goal was Modric’s 30th for Croatia, but the number that mattered most was perhaps his age. At 41y and 17d, he became Croatia’s oldest goalscorer, taking the record from Ivan Perisic (37y 5m 1d).

The goal also moved Modric into Croatia’s top five all-time scorers. Davor Suker leads the list with 45, followed by Perisic on 39, Andrej Kramaric on 36, Mario Mandzukic on 33 and now Modric on 30.

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There was another reason the night felt familiar.

Slaven Bilic was back in the Croatia dugout, taking charge of the national team for the first time since 2012.

When Bilic took charge of Croatia for the first time in 2006, Modric was a 20-year-old midfielder just beginning to make his mark. In Bilic’s first match as coach, Modric scored his first international goal as Croatia beat then world champions Italy 2-0 in a friendly in Livorno.

Twenty years later, with Bilic back at the helm, Modric scored again.

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The midfield maestro put Croatia ahead two minutes after the break in Prague before Adam Karabec levelled for the hosts in the 54th minute. Mario Pasalic then restored Croatia’s lead with 13 minutes remaining to give Bilic a winning return.

It was a new beginning for both sides. Bilic returned after Zlatko Dalic left following Croatia’s last 32 World Cup defeat against Portugal, while Spaniard Santi Denia took charge of Czechia after their group-stage exit.