Croatian FA chief fumes over Modric injury

Croatian FA chief Vlatko Markovic is concerned that his country’s Premier League-based stars have been targeted for rough treatment after Luka Modric suffered a broken leg playing for Tottenham.

Modric will miss Croatia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley on September 9 after suffering the injury in a challenge with Birmingham’s Lee Bowyer on Saturday.

Markovic was furious when he heard Modric would be out for two months as it brought back memories of the broken leg suffered by Arsenal striker Eduardo – also against Birmingham – in February 2008, which meant he was unavailable when Croatia faced England in Zagreb last September.

Markovic told The Sun: “First Eduardo, now Luka Modric. This is horrible. I can only ask myself if it was really an accident.

“I’m close to thinking it was done to us deliberately before the England match. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what happened to Luka. He is irreplaceable.”