All posts tagged: beating

Modric primed for swansong as Croatia’s beating heart

Modric primed for swansong as Croatia’s beating heart

Published by Sam Flores

June 2 : Croatia head into the World Cup aiming to extend a run that has cemented their status as one of football’s most consistent overachievers, but their preparations have been clouded by concern over captain Luka Modric’s fitness. The 40-year-old midfield maestro underwent cheekbone surgery in April but is expected to recover in time to anchor the midfield in what will probably be his fifth and final World Cup. With Modric still the team’s heartbeat, the tournament will test Croatia’s ability to balance continuity with transition as the Balkan nation continues to defy expectations despite a population of just around 3.8 million. Modric, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner who lifted 28 major trophies with Real Madrid, will feature in his 10th major international tournament, bringing unmatched experience with 196 caps. Around him, Croatia boast a squad that blends experience and emerging talent with central defenders Josko Gvardiol and Luka Vuskovic the bedrocks of the team. STANDOUT PERFORMER Gvardiol, 24, one of the standout performers at the 2022 World Cup, returned to action only in …

Socialist Antonio José Seguro elected president, beating far right

Socialist Antonio José Seguro elected president, beating far right

Published by Sam Flores

Socialist Antonio José Seguro, after the announcement of the presidential election results in Caldas da Rainha,Portugal, on February 8, 2026. PEDRO NUNES/REUTERS Antonio José Seguro, a Socialist, was elected president of the Portuguese Republic on Sunday, February 8, with 66.8% of the vote, defeating far-right leader André Ventura (33.2%), the founder of the Chega (“Enough”) party. While the wide margin reflected strong voter turnout, Ventura’s score was higher than his party’s result in the May 2025 parliamentary elections, confirming that Chega is entrenched in Portugal and that Ventura is a disruptive, central actor in the changing state of the country’s political scene. Seguro, 63, a former secretary general of the left-wing Socialist Party (2011-2014), had already come out ahead in the first round, winning 31.1% of the vote on January 18. Running for the presidency after having stepped back from politics for years, he managed to rally support from well beyond his own camp. Throughout his campaign, he benefited from endorsements by figures from the far left, the center and the right, including ex-president and …