Croatian Football Federation president Davor Suker has told ESPN he believes midfielder Luka Modric should win the Ballon d'Or as Croatia prepare for their World Cup semifinal against England on Wednesday.

Suker, part of the Croatia team that reached the semifinals of the 1998 tournament, hailed Real Madrid's Modric as an inspiration.

"My captain does a great job in the dressing room -- he's a role model on and off the pitch for all kids, not only in Croatia. If I had a vote, I would vote for Luka," he said.

He said Modric and his teammates had plenty in common with the 1998 team, adding: "Quality. First and foremost, quality. And physical preparation... if the player is not in good physical shape, he will not play well in a World Cup.

"I'm OK in the stands because I know there is a very thin line between winning and losing. We could have been eliminated against Denmark [in the round-of-16 tie they won on penalties]. I could be with my parents, eating and drinking and watching the game on TV. That's football

"Only football can make all Croatians go out to the streets. Football is sacred. We built the foundation for our house in 98, and now we're building the second floor."