Tainted Modric key to hopes

Croatia will hope Real Madrid star Luka Modric can carry the nation to the World Cup finals as they go into the first leg of a tricky play-off with Greece on Thursday.

The 32-year-old captain has faced a tumultuous year, with his shining reputation tarnished by a scandal in June over allegedly false testimony he gave at a major corruption trial. But anger from the fans appeared to be forgotten after his brilliant performance in the 2-0 victory against Ukraine in Kiev in October, which secured Croatia a play-off place.

The national team now hopes the midfielder will be at his best to help them beat the 2004 European champions and secure a place in the tournament in Russia.

Modric was popular in Croatia until he testified in the multi-million-euro corruption trial of former Dinamo Zagreb boss Zdravko Mamic. Mamic, considered the most powerful man in Croatian football, is accused of abuse of power and corruption.

They allegedly deprived the former Croatian champions of more than 15 million euros, and the state of 1.5 million euros.

While testifying, Modric was visibly uncomfortable and confused. After prosecutors said his statement differed from the one he gave during investigations in 2015, Modric went from being a witness to a suspect. He is being probed over false testimony, which is punishable by up to five years in jail.

If Croatia qualifies it would be Modric's sixth tournament. He has played in two World Cups and three European championships, including France 2016.

N Ireland relishing underdog status

Northern Ireland forward Jamie Ward says the team will thrive as underdogs against Switzerland in the Russia 2018 play-offs as they seek to qualify for their first World Cup since 1986.

Northern Ireland, ranked 23rd by FIFA, take on the 11th-ranked Swiss in Belfast on Thursday, with the return leg on November 12 in Basel.

Vladimir Petkovic's team arrived in Belfast on Tuesday ahead of the first leg, and Ward said: "They've got to take their chances. Everyone is expecting them to win in the football world.

"They're obviously the seeded team, so the pressure's more on them than us. We're always great as the underdogs, so I think it was a bit of a bonus us not being seeded.

"If you're seeded, you get a little more pressure on yourself so we'll go into this game as underdogs again. Hopefully we can be worthy winners."

"If we play the way we can play, I don't see why we can't take a lead out there or at least a positive result," he added.