A wisp of a playmaker, Luka Modric can ruin Brazil's day

Brazil at previous world cups guaranteed magic through the presence of a stocky jet-propelled Romario or portly universal genius Ronaldo. The (diving) left-footed deity Rivaldo. Or silky but moody Robinho. A graceful, evangelical Kaka or an elastic-footed buck-toothed Ronaldinho.

Players all over the field with outrageous gifts were the norm. The scrappers, the flair-less, the Dopey Dungas who "did a job" were the exception.

This year, as well-drilled as they look: with a settled defense; Hulk using his ginormous posterior like a block of marble for hapless defenders to bounce off; Oscar who matches a 10/10 work-rate with a 7/10 jack-of-all-trades skill-set and Neymar drifting in and out of games but lighting up the Milky Way whenever the hell he wants to...Brazil in central midfield seem a little, well how do I say it, boring?

Whichever combination Scolari chooses -- Paulinho and Luiz Gustavo; Fernandinho and Ramires... these are players who seem to epitomize the identity of this team: It's a strong, steady, unspectacular central midfield. A garage full of excellent BMW 5-series cars with no accessories.

Brazil seem have everything that their opponents Croatia do not...except for Luka Modric.

The Real Madrid midfielder is like a small rare bird, with a physique to match. Until he had his haircut recently he looked like one of those flat-chested, twig-armed grunge music-loving kids with what looked like dirty hair that you were always a little afraid to talk to at school -- until you realized he was equally terrified of you. Modric looks completely out of place on the football field. That's until you see him play of course.

Brazil's central midfielders' role is to break up play and quickly get the ball forward to Oscar to launch attacks, or wide to Marcelo or Dani Alves marauding down the flanks. Modric is different. Everything Croatia does beautifully goes through him, beautifully. He gets to create some art. Because he can.

At Madrid Carlo Ancelotti's European Champions gave Modric the perfect platform to play to his strengths. One of Xabi Alonso (deep lying distributor) or Sami Khedira (stockpiles of nuclear energy and gung-ho serial opponent-harasser) complimented Modric (artist) and allowed the brilliant Angel Di Maria, the third of three, to drive forward with the ball and supply the monstrous goal-scoring appetites of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. Similarly, Croatia's midfield cannot be underestimated because of the range of talents Niko Kovac can call upon.

A midfield three of Inter's 20 year old wonder-boy Mateo Kovacic, so gifted he can sit deep or burst forward, Ivan Rakitic's multifunctional talents and thrust (which could make him the Di Maria of the troika) and Modric would be formidable. It's hard to imagine that when Modric first joined Tottenham from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008, he was used as a classy, if not truly blockbuster left winger who liked to drift inside on his right foot (even harder to imagine Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale often played left back behind him). Using him as a playmaker, Real has established him as one of the most imaginative, intelligent and indispensable midfielders of this era.

Modric made 44 key passes in La Liga this past season at a 90% success rate. In the Champions League he made 14 key passes at 92%.

He'll never be a prolific scorer, or someone who explodes past players after a tricky step-over, but there's a touch of England legend Paul Scholes in his vision and long passing, a hint of Italy’s unflappable maestro Andrea Pirlo in his calmness under pressure and reading of the game, an intensity and metronomic capacity to keep the midfield ticking over that has echoes of Spain’s great master Xavi. He gets fouled and always gets up. He has that little split-second look over his shoulder or round the corner even before he receives the ball already certain of where he's going to send it next. Little Luka, what a player.

Brazil don't have a player who can do that. Which is why, even though Brazil should win and overwhelming underdogs as they may be, if Croatia can play to their strengths and overload the central areas of midfield on Thursday, then little Luka can stitch things together for the Balkan nation, help Croatia frustrate the hosts and maybe even sneak a shock win. Now that will get us off to a stunning start to this World Cup, wouldn't it?