Modric is a brain of Croatia, without him a team won't play well in attack.
Rakitic is a soul/balance of Croatia.
Without him, a team is losing some degree in attack and a lot of defending/balance/logic in defense.
You know that feeling when we used to play with Iniesta-Rafinha CM duo and the balance just felt odd and is we are all over the pitch and as if something is weird positionaly and as if we are leaving giant holes behind Rafinha's/Iniesta's back.
Rakitic is the opposite of that.
His first touch is not silky, but defending and positional wise, when he is on a field, the opponents won't run through you like through butter.
And I'll never forget this, we know from Barca team how hard is to score pens in key moments:
Interesting.
I was always always slaughtered among local fans for not liking Modric prior to 2018.
I always used to say that he disappeared on Euros and WCs when we needed him and played hide and seek, especially in 2014 and 2016.
I was not happy with him as a captain and a leader.
On the other hand, I was never disappointed by Rakitic, though.
Until 2018, they were like Messi and Cr7 for me.
Modric was way more talented, but often plays hide/seek when you need him and doesn't deliver as much as he can.
Rakitic was like Cr7, way less talented, but often played at 120% of his abilities due to running, covering, playing both in attack and defense, never getting injured.
Modric started to step only only in 2018 and later for an NT team.
