Luka Modric showed why he is still one of the best midfielders in the world as he led Croatia to a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-final on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old Real Madrid star scored a penalty in extra time to seal the win for his team, after setting up another penalty and creating several chances throughout the match. He also won the Man of the Match award for his outstanding performance.

Modric, the Ballon d’Or winner in 2018, played 119 minutes while scoring a penalty deep into extra time. He had the most touches (118) of anyone on the field. He also had two key passes and two tackles.

No wonder Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic heaped praise on Modric.With Modric edging closer to the end of a stellar career, Dalic was hopeful he would be able to call on the playmaker for some time to come.“He can be the one to help us win the gold medal,” Dalic told reporters, before addressing Modric’s future.

“Luka will decide for himself after the finals, but with him we are way better, we have far more quality.”

Croatia finished third at the World Cup in Qatar in December, four years after a runners-up medal at the tournament in Russia.

“It would be a great reward to win the gold medal, I think we have deserved it,” Dalic said.

“We have been a team of constant quality for the past six years.”

The Dutch, hosting the four-nation tournament, had forced extra time with a last-gasp equaliser to ensure it finished 2-2 after 90 minutes despite being largely outplayed in front of their home fans at the Feyenoord Stadium.

Donyell Malen handed the hosts a 34th-minute lead before Andrej Kramaric equalised from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half.

Croatia then went ahead through Mario Pasalic in the 73rd minute before Noa Lang side-footed the ball into the roof of the net to equalise six minutes into stoppage time.

The Netherlands’ first goal came against the run of play, but at the end of a swift series of passes that saw both quick feet and precise thinking.

Cody Gakpo set it up by winning possession and five passes later, Mats Wieffer teed up an unmarked Malen to fire home.

But it was the street-smarts of the Croatia captain that got them level, stealing the ball in the Dutch penalty area from Gakpo, whose instinctive reaction was to tug at the 37-year-old veteran who went tumbling to the ground to win a penalty.

Kramaric tucked it away comfortably, after which Luka Ivanusec played a pass into Pasalic, which he fired home on the turn despite a host of Dutch defenders around him to give Croatia a 2-1 lead.

“I really do not know what to say. We were fantastic tonight (Wednesday) and we are in the final once again. This is where we wanted to be,” Modric told uefa.com after the match.

“Barring probably the first 20 minutes we were brilliant. Those 20 minutes were not good but as the match progressed we played increasingly better. Particularly after the penalty Krama (Andrej Kramaric) converted.

“After that point, we were at our best and we were spectacular. It’s a shame that we conceded that second goal. But once again we showed our character in extra time,” he added.

When asked if the late equaliser by the Dutch unnerved Croatia, Modric said: “No, we were not afraid. But such moments can turn the match on its head, the second goal in particular. However, we reacted well.”

Written with inputs from Reuters