Croatia captain Luka Modric will be looking to inspire his compatriots at Euro 2024.
And if his past is anything to go by, his nation might just be in contention in Germany thanks to his exceptional leadership.
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Before the World Cup got underway in Qatar 2022, there were question marks over teammate Dominik Livakovic and whether he would be No. 1 for Croatia after some high-profile mistakes.
It got to the point where Modric intervened and handed the 27-year-old a stunning pep talk, helping him to go on and be a hero at the World Cup in late 2022.
In the documentary 'Captains', which was released on Netflix, Modric told a 27-year-old Livakovic: “The most important thing is that our teammates feel that someone is behind them and that they have support.
"The goalkeeper’s situation is very specific, you are alone. I wouldn’t be telling you this if I didn’t care about you but I see that you are not progressing with the national team.
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"Maybe it’s the pressure you’re under, maybe it’s not… but you’re radiating uncertainty and that rubs off on the team.
"Do you understand? Why can’t you make a mistake? We all make mistakes.
"I feel that your problem is that you’re afraid of making them… name one person who doesn’t make mistakes.
"I didn’t get to where I am by being scared, it only makes things worse. Look, you’re a great goalkeeper. You know that, right?”
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Some might call it tough love but whatever it is, it seemed to work as Croatia went on to reach the semi-finals before being beaten by eventual winners Argentina.
Along the way, they knocked out Japan and Brazil both in penalty shootouts where Livakovic proved the hero on both occasions.
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He made three penalty saves in the shootout, becoming just the third goalkeeper in World Cup history to do so after former Portugal star Ricardo and compatriot Danijel Subasic in 2018.
Croatia also took pre-tournament favourites Brazil to penalties in the quarter-finals where Livakovic made an incredible 11 saves during normal time.
It earned him a perfect 10/10 score in L'Equipe, who are notorious for low player ratings, making him just the 15th player in history to earn such a score, while he went on to make a crucial save in the shootout to help knock the Selecao out.
And there was a Modric intervention, too, as he told Livakovic exactly where Casemiro would plant his penalty.
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While Casemiro had signed for Manchester United in the summer just gone, Modric knew all about the defensive midfielder having played with him at Real Madrid for seven years.
However, despite his advice, Livakovic could not stop the Brazilian's effort, though he did thwart another Madridista in Rodrygo.
"Did I help Livakovic with Rodrygo's penalty? No, but I told him about Casemiro," Modric told El Chiringuito after the match.
"I know where he [Casemiro] would have shot his penalty. Livakovic went in the right direction but Case is too good."
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With Euro 2024 on the horizon, Modric will once again lead his country out as they look to go further than their previous attempt.
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While their last two World Cups have seen Croatia reach the semi-final and final in 2018, where they lost to France, they could not replicate their success at Euro 2020 when Spain knocked them out in a classic Round of 16 encounter that finished 5-3 after extra-time.
At the age of 38, this could well be Modric's last international tournament and the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner would love to win silverware with his country, having won everything at Real Madrid.