Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric wants his Croatia team to have secured a place in the knockout stages of Euro 2016 before they take on champions Spain in their final Group D clash.
Modric was part of the Croat side that went out in the group stages after a defeat by Spain four years ago. He believes it would be "a failure" if they did not progress this time with four of the third-placed teams going through.
Ante Cacic's men open their account against Turkey in Paris on Sunday and take on the Czech Republic five days later in Saint Etienne before the big clash with Spain in Bordeaux on June 21.
"We have a very difficult group," Modric said.
"The key will be our first game, because if we win, it would ease our path. That was not enough for Croatia four years ago.
"It would be a failure for us not to progress from the group stages."
At Euro 2012, Croatia won their opening game against Ireland 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Italy. But they went out of the competition after a late Jesus Navas goal in a 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Modric, who played in that match, said: "It was Spain's most difficult game of that whole tournament. We played well but we were unlucky.
"Spain are one of the top teams in the world. I hope that when we play Spain in our final group game, we are already through to the next round."
Ghosts of four years ago haunt modric
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric wants his Croatia team to have secured a place in the knockout stages of Euro 2016 before they take on champions Spain in their final Group D clash.
Modric was part of the Croat side that went out in the group stages after a defeat by Spain four years ago. He believes it would be "a failure" if they did not progress this time with four of the third-placed teams going through.
Ante Cacic's men open their account against Turkey in Paris on Sunday and take on the Czech Republic five days later in Saint Etienne before the big clash with Spain in Bordeaux on June 21.
"We have a very difficult group," Modric said.
"The key will be our first game, because if we win, it would ease our path. That was not enough for Croatia four years ago.
"It would be a failure for us not to progress from the group stages."
At Euro 2012, Croatia won their opening game against Ireland 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Italy. But they went out of the competition after a late Jesus Navas goal in a 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Modric, who played in that match, said: "It was Spain's most difficult game of that whole tournament. We played well but we were unlucky.
"Spain are one of the top teams in the world. I hope that when we play Spain in our final group game, we are already through to the next round."
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