Today’s open thread. We’re going to try and do this daily for the remainder of the World Cup, just to give you a platform to discuss the games, while allowing the rest of the comment-sections to stay relevant to their respective articles.

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Notes & Quotes

Kova’s shoulder is “all good”

After Croatia’s penalty shootout win over Denmark, it was revealed that Mateo Kovacic was playing through a painful injury. Kovacic remained on the field and helped his team win, despite the scary fall which resulted in his injury.

Modric will keep taking penalties for Croatia, per Dalic

There has been a ton of talk that Ivan Rakitic should be Croatia’s go-to when it comes to penalties — a discussion which has amplified after Modric missed one of his two penalties against Denmark on Sunday.

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic spoke about Modric’s bravery:

“Luka Modric is our captain, our leader, and he showed great responsibility and courage that after he missed the penalty he again took it during the penalty kicks and he scored. That showed the class that he has,” he said.

”That’s the difference between an average player and a player like Luka. He scored, it wasn’t easy for him, he didn’t shoot it much better in the penalty shoot-out, but he was more lucky.

”That’s what happens when you are brave and you show courage during the game. Yes, if there’s another opportunity like that, he will shoot.”

Sergio Ramos, on Spain’s ‘instability’

Sergio Ramos took to Instagram to send a message after Spain’s premature World Cup exit. He spoke about ‘instability’, and going from ‘more to less’ following Julen Loetegui’s sacking.

“I will not judge acts or decisions, but instability is never a good companion,” Ramos said in a lengthy Instagram post.

”Even so we maintained the cohesion, the strength of the group, the energy of a group of colleagues and friends, but the truth is that we have gone from more to less.

”And although many think we could have done more, we did not know how to do more. Because we leave ourselves on the pitch until the last drop of sweat, the last bit of energy and bravery.

“We do not confront a whole trajectory by some stumbling blocks of our profession, our sport, our life,” Ramos added.

”Unfortunately, most times you do not win, but the loser is the one who wins before they beat him, the one who lowers his arms in the storm, the one who turns his back on the difficulty.

”We could do better, we should have done better, but not only am I’m not ashamed, I’m proud to be the captain of this huge selection.”

”A special reminder for a friend and friend in adventures and misadventures, that made us feel what we never imagined,” Ramos continued. “Andres, it has been a pleasure to walk this road with you in red. Like I said yesterday, I wish you could have taken a better memory of your farewell.

”If you want to think about failure, you are free to do so. We prefer to think that it is a new opportunity to cry, to learn, to get up, to grow and to continue struggling. We will do it, that’s for sure.”

More Ramos social media stuff, this time about Zinedine Zidane

“Today our season ends and it’s time to look back on the season as a whole,” Ramos posted on Instagram.

”Don’t think we don’t analyse things and that we’re not conscious of our mistakes and of what we got right. We are, and all the more because of the difference it makes to all of you who follow us and support us. We live everything with passion and with responsibility.

”With Real Madrid it was a season with lows, that is certainly true, but also one great high. In domestic competitions we were unsuccessful, but we conquered Europe winning the Champions League for the third year in a row, which was an historic achievement.

“Zidane’s goodbye was a bitter way to follow it up but everyone is free to make their own decisions. We’ll be forever thankful to our coach.”