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Harry Kane: Croatia star Luka Modric makes huge Kane claim
LUKA MODRIC believes that if Harry Kane continues to score goals at his current rate he will soon join the world’s footballing elite.
Real Madrid star Modric was crowned the world’s best player this summer when he won the Golden Ball for the Best Player of World Cup 2018.
The little former Tottenham player, who inspired Croatia’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final win in Moscow which ended England’s dreams, also won Fifa’s Player of the Year award, and Uefa’s Men’s Player of the Year.
He is also favourite to lift the coveted Ballon d’Or in December.
Kane, who won the Golden Boot award for his six goals at the World Cup, will once again lead the England attack when they take on Croatia in the Nations League in Rijeka on Friday.
[Harry Kane] is already one of the best in the world
The pair have only once played together, when a youthful Kane played for 71 minutes alongside Modric in a Europa League game at PAOK which Spurs lost 2-1 in November 2011.
Modric said last night: “If you look at the number of goals Harry is scoring for Tottenham, taking them into the Premier League title race which isn’t easy because other clubs are investing more money, then he’s proved himself one of the world’s best forwards already.
“If he continues to develop, he can achieve even more.
“But he’s already one of the best in the world.”
England squad train ahead of Nations League matches
Modric moved to Real at the end of that season in a £30 million deal.
The 33-year-old, who was the subject of a bid from Inter Milan in the summer, was the lynchpin for Croatia in Russia, as they reached the final before losing to France.
Croatia started their Nations League campaign in embarrassing style, however, with a 6-0 hammering by Spain in Elche last month.
They now have to play Friday’s game behind closed doors after a swastika was painted on the pitch in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy in June 2015.
Modric said: “This is an important game, especially after Spain.
“We want to feel better about ourselves. We’ll see if England are better.
”Maybe the game against Spain came a bit early for us.
“Friday will be better, a great test, a great team against us.”