Luka Modric has decided to play on for Croatia after the veteran captain helped his team to bronze at the Qatar World Cup.
That could mean Modric remains at the heart of the Croatia midfield at Euro 2024, by which time he will be approaching his 39th birthday.
Real Madrid playmaker Modric is not looking quite that far ahead for now, but crucially he has not ruled out extending his career for his country through to that point.
The first step for Modric will be a tilt with his country at the Nations League Finals in the Netherlands next year, with Croatia joined in that four-team tournament by the hosts, plus Italy and Spain.
Thrilled with another World Cup medal, after a silver four years ago in Russia, Modric told beIN SPORTS: "This medal is very important for us, for me, for Croatia as a national team and as a country.
"We confirm with this medal that Croatia is playing an important role in the world of football, and we are leaving Qatar as winners.
"About my future, I don't know if I will be at the Euros in Germany. I need to go step by step.
"I'm enjoying the national team, I feel happy, I still think I can perform on a high level, and I want to continue at least until the Nations League, and then after there'll be more time to think about the Euros.
"But now it's go step by step and continue at least until the Nations League, and after we will see."
There had been concern in some quarters that Modric would retire from international football after this World Cup, but coach Zlatko Dalic expressed optimism he would play on through to the 2024 European finals in Germany.
Now, after Saturday's 2-1 win over Morocco in the third-place play-off, Dalic's wish is close to becoming a reality.
Croatia have Wales, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia in their Euro 2024 qualifying group, and they would be strongly favoured to come through that and reach the finals.
It remains to be seen whether Dejan Lovren plays on, with the 33-year-old centre-back left with some thinking to do about his own future.
Lovren said getting a World Cup bronze was "something special" and paid tribute to Modric, his long-time colleague in the national team.
"I get emotional, because it's for us the last World Cup, and I lived so many great memories with him," Lovren said.
He said it was "an honour" to play in the company of such a top performer, with Modric having won the Ballon d'Or award after Croatia's run to the 2018 World Cup final.
Lovren even said Modric had proven himself a superior performer to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the latter stages of World Cups.
Messi may have something to say about that after Sunday's final, when Argentina take on France.
"He's better than them in these moments," Lovren said of Modric. "There's not too many players who took the silver and the bronze.
"He can be proud and he knows that. He's a special guy."
As for his own future, with a view to the next Euros, former Liverpool defender Lovren said: "I wish I can tell you what will happen in two years. I'm just enjoying this moment, and we will see."
Gio Reyna's alleged fallout with United States head coach Gregg Berhalter at the World Cup was "a non-story", according to team-mate Tim Ream.
USA reached the knockout rounds on their return to the competition after eight years away, but saw their stay at Qatar 2022 curtailed after a last-16 loss to the Netherlands.
There was a limited role for Reyna, widely considered one of their best players, with just two appearances off the bench throughout the USMNT's run.
Reports pointed to a disagreement with Berhalter over a lack of effort in training, but Ream has moved to settle the story once and for all as the team continue to decompress.
"For us, it's a non-story," he said on his podcast Indirect. "We dealt with it in camp, things moved on, we moved past it and that's where we are. We can put that to bed.
"We addressed it in camp and [Reyna] did what he had to do, and obviously came on against the Netherlands and helped to drag us back into the game. For us, that's it. That's the end of it."
Meanwhile, USMNT team-mate Christian Pulisic also disclosed he has no current plans to leave Chelsea as it stands, though that could change further down the line.
A coaching turnover between Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge is yet to improve Pulisic's playing time, but speaking on the podcast, the forward stated he is not plotting an exit.
"Right now, I'm absolutely back at Chelsea," he said. "That's where my mind is at, ready to finish the season. But you know in football, things change. Anything can happen."
Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, which will give Argentina the advantage over France in the World Cup final, according to Emiliano Martinez.
Messi's appearance in Sunday's clash at Lusail Stadium will make him the all-time record appearance maker in World Cup history (26), while he could also become the first player to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final in a single edition of the tournament.
Having also played a key role in Argentina winning the Copa America last year, Martinez thinks Messi will again be the difference maker.
"I see him very happy as does every Argentinian, he feels very well on the pitch," the Albiceleste goalkeeper said.
"I saw a great Messi in the Copa America, he was exceptional and one of the best undoubtedly in the Copa America, and in this World Cup he took [another] step forward.
"He's playing better, both physically and in football terms. It was quite difficult to get that Messi from the Copa, but he did it.
"He's playing very well and it gives so much energy to the squad, because we have the greatest player. He's excited, he's full of joy and it helps us very much."
Messi was joint-top scorer at the 2021 Copa America with four goals, and is also joint-top scorer at the World Cup with five, level with France's Kylian Mbappe.
Martinez thinks defending champions France will be the favourites on Sunday, but believes Messi could tip things in his team's favour.
He added: "Obviously when we won [the Copa America] in Brazil, they were the favourites.
"It is the same now, people can say France are favourites. But we have the advantage, to have the greatest player of all time.
"We always like to hear that the opponent is the favourite, because we don't feel inferior or superior to anyone. But as I said, we have the greatest of all time and with a good defence we have a big chance to reach our goal."
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni had a more succinct view of Messi ahead of the game, with many expecting it to be the 35-year-old's final World Cup of an illustrious career.
"We hope this will be his final match and that he can lift this trophy, but the most important thing is to enjoy Messi," he said.
While the game is being billed as Messi v Mbappe, Scaloni does not want to focus on individuals, but thinks it will have to be a complete team effort for Argentina to lift their first World Cup since 1986.
"I think tomorrow's game will be more of a collective effort, not an individual effort," he said.
"Mbappe is a top player obviously but France also have a number of great players, they work for [Mbappe] and that makes him even better. Obviously he's one of the top players, he's still young so can improve for sure.
"The upcoming match will be beyond [Messi v Mbappe]. We have weapons, strengths, and the match will be defined by every player, not just these two.
"Messi is doing very well and we hope we win, but this is Argentina v France and there are many players who can define this game."
Lionel Messi's stunning performances at the 2022 World Cup "show the evolution of modern sport", according to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger made the observation while speaking alongside Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann at a press conference for FIFA's Technical Study Group.
The tournament in Qatar has seen a number of older players feature in starring roles for their national teams, with 35-year-old Lionel Messi set to lead his Argentina team out against France in the World Cup final.
Luka Modric, 37, impressed for Croatia as they reached the semi-finals, while Olivier Giroud will likely lead the line for France on Sunday having broken Thierry Henry's record as Les Bleus' all-time top goalscorer at the age of 35.
At the other end of the scale, 19-year-old Jude Bellingham was a driving force in England's run to the quarter-finals and Kylian Mbappe, at 23, can become the youngest player to win two World Cup finals since Pele if France are victorious against Argentina.
Wenger feels this World Cup is demonstrating how modern sport is advancing, with new technology helping participants to lengthen their careers.
"I managed [Arsenal] in 2006 against Barcelona in the Champions League final and Messi was already starting to play," Wenger said at the press conference.
"That’s 2006, we are in 2022 – that’s 16 years later and he’s still in contest for being player of the tournament.
"This tournament shows the evolution of modern sport.
"This tournament is the tournament of young players who are ready earlier and earlier in top-level sport, and as well the tournament of players who last longer and longer than ever before.
"We have not experienced World Cups with 35-year-old players being dominant, but we have Giroud, we have Messi, Modric – 37 – dominant players at this tournament.
"It shows that despite all the negativity about health and welfare of players, the life of a top-level sportsman lasts longer. They are ready earlier and they finish later."
Sunday's match likely represents the final chance for Messi to get his hands on the World Cup, the trophy that has eluded him for so long, including a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to Germany in the 2014 final.
With Messi potentially about to crown his career, Klinsmann believes there is a strong desire in the game for Argentina's star man to finally lift international football's top prize.
"Messi - everybody wants him to do well," Klinsmann stated. "We talked before the tournament about the big superstars who will put their stamp on the tournament and most of them delivered.
"Most of us are Messi fans no matter what. We want him to win the World Cup and be seen on the same level in his home country as [Diego] Maradona.
"We all know that for [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Messi it could be the last tournament. They have established themselves on the world stage for the last 15 years."
Klinsmann cited Mbappe as the potential heir to Messi and Ronaldo's throne, adding: "We talk about those big superstars towards the end of their career but also who is the next one taking over.
"Mbappe has the advantage because of his age.
"I was amazed about a lot of young players coming through, like [Cody] Gakpo from the Netherlands, or even with Germany going home early, there’s a special kid coming up with [Jamal] Musiala."
The World Cup in Qatar has come under intense scrutiny, particularly on the host nation's treatment of migrant workers and views on same-sex marriages.
With the end in sight, FIFA president Gianni Infantino labelled it "the best World Cup ever", with Klinsmann agreeing it had been a great tournament.
"It’s been wonderful," Klinsmann declared. "[A] huge success off the field and on the field.
"We all have many moments with people here, the atmosphere, the stadiums, the organisation itself.
"Every time you are at a World Cup you think it’s the best. I’ll leave that up to other people. It’s been an unbelievable experience and tomorrow will be an amazing final."
David Trezeguet admits Sunday's World Cup final will be "difficult personally" as the France World Cup winner with Argentine roots finds himself pulling for Lionel Messi.
Former Juventus star Trezeguet is torn by his loyalties to each country, but his feeling is that Messi deserves to be a World Cup winner and needs this more than Kylian Mbappe.
The Paris Saint-Germain team-mates are shaping to be the principal players in the Lusail Stadium drama that will unfold, with 35-year-old Messi seeking his first triumph at this level while 23-year-old Mbappe chases his second winner's medal.
Trezeguet was a champion with Les Bleus in 1998, having elected to play for France, where he was born, over Argentina, from where his parents hailed.
Looking at the position Messi finds himself in, Trezeguet told TyC Sports "I repeat it continuously, for me emotionally, knowing that it will be his last World Cup, Leo deserves to be champion.
"He makes people dream, this does not take away from France's ambition to want to keep the title.
"France came to be world champion, there is no doubt. Here the difference is age, Leo is at the end of his career, Mbappe has just started and will set all kinds of records.
"Together at PSG they are the perfect combination, but Argentina plays for Messi, everything goes through him.
"It's difficult personally, emotionally. Something I didn't want, but hey, this has to be a party and it's a great final.
"It is what we all expected, due to characteristics, history, they are the two best teams in the World Cup."
Trezeguet could be overtaken by Mbappe on the list of France's all-time highest goalscorers on Sunday.
Presently, Mbappe has 33 goals for his country from 65 games, one shy of Trezeguet's career haul of 34 in 71 international matches.
While Trezeguet will be able to celebrate either victory, there will be broken-hearted players on one side come the end of the final.
His admiration for Mbappe is fulsome, and Trezeguet believes the forward and his bullish ways only bode well for his long-term prospects.
"He has a healthy ambition, he wants to be better than Messi, that's his motivation," Trezeguet said. "Living in everyday life with Leo and Neymar [at PSG] makes him learn."
France coach Didier Deschamps is unperturbed about the prospect of Les Bleus playing the role of party poopers in Lionel Messi's quest to finally win the World Cup in Sunday's final.
Messi has already confirmed the showpiece game at Lusail Stadium will be his last ever outing at the World Cup.
In that sense, it is the last opportunity he has to win the only major trophy he is yet to lift, potentially cementing his status as the "greatest of all time".
For many, Messi needs to win the World Cup to ensure his legacy outstrips that of Albiceleste great Diego Maradona.
As such, there is undoubtedly huge anticipation surrounding Argentina's prospects in the final, but Deschamps – whose France side are bidding to become the first European side to retain the World Cup since 1938 – is not worried about the likelihood of it feeling like it is France against the world.
Asked if he got the feeling France were "alone" in that respect, Deschamps said: "I often get that feeling, but I'm fine being alone, that doesn't bother me. These uncertainties always arise.
"We are here, we've done all we can to be well-prepared for the game against Argentina.
"Lionel Scaloni has also had some challenges; they lost their first match to Saudi Arabia, of course, but they are still here.
"And like us, we haven't had to face everyone in this tournament, but in the games we've played, we've managed to come out as victors.
"I don't have any particular worries or stresses for [the final]. I think when you prepare for a game like this, you need to keep your focus, remain composed, and with a World Cup final in particular you have the match but also the context around it.
"The objective is to come out with the title. I know Argentina and many people around the world, perhaps some French people as well, will hope Messi will win the World Cup, but we will do everything we can to achieve our objective."
Ahead of the World Cup, there was uncertainty around the future of Deschamps.
Despite leading Les Bleus to the Euro 2016 final, Russia 2018 success and the final in Qatar, Deschamps is not universally popular among France fans.
There was a feeling before the tournament that an unimpressive campaign would lead to Deschamps' departure, with Zinedine Zidane lying in wait to replace his former team-mate.
French Football Federation (FFF) chief Noel Le Graet said at the start of the week that he wants Deschamps to stay, with Euro 2024 only 18 months away.
Regardless of what the future holds for Deschamps, he does not think everything hinges on the final.
"Being France manager has always been the most wonderful thing that's happened to me in my career," he said.
"I played for France and that was a wonderful achievement, but to be a coach for so long has been a tremendous opportunity.
"I'm delighted to be France coach but the most important thing is the team, not me, I'm at their service.
"It's all about the team, not me, I'm not the most important person here. It won't depend on tomorrow's result, that's not what I'm thinking about.
"I'm just focusing to ensure we do everything we can to win the World Cup."
France head coach Didier Deschamps says his team is "remaining calm and focused" despite an illness outbreak ahead of Sunday's World Cup final.
Les Bleus were without Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano for Wednesday's 2-0 semi-final win over Morocco due to a sickness bug among the squad.
The French Football Federation confirmed on Friday that defensive pair Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate had missed training through illness, after Deschamps said on Thursday that Kingsley Coman had felt unwell.
Speaking at a press conference on the eve of the final against Argentina, Deschamps seemed relaxed and confirmed he was feeling well himself.
"I'm absolutely fine," he said. "As for the players, I left quite early this morning, they were all still asleep so I have no recent updates.
"We are trying to manage the situation as well as we can, remaining calm and focused. I'll get more information today and think about it today and maybe even tomorrow.
"I don't want to go into details. I know it's a subject that's of interest to you and I fully understand that but we are doing our best to take precautions and adapt as necessary.
"We are trying to live with it without going too far, getting too carried away, just doing what's necessary.
"We'd have preferred not to face this difficulty but we are facing it as best we can with our medical staff."
France captain Hugo Lloris also seemed in fine shape when addressing the press, but also did not have any information on the condition of his team-mates.
"I have not got any more news since last night because everyone was still in their rooms when I got up, I haven't seen anyone," he said.
"I'm sure you'll get more info by the next training session.
"We never really prepared for this type of thing, but we will try to get ready for the match the best we can.
"These are things we weren't prepared for but we remain focused, and of course we are very excited about playing in a World Cup final."
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