Hooked after an hour – did Vuskovic boost his Spurs chances?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Luka Vuskovic played 66 minutes in the middle of Croatia’s back three against EnglandByAlex BysouthBBC Sport senior journalistPublished59 minutes agoTottenham Hotspur fans are more familiar with Luka Vuskovic’s Bundesliga goal compilations than how the centre-back defends, but where the 19-year-old will line up next season has already become one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer stories.
Vuskovic is yet to play a senior minute for Spurs – having spent last season on loan at Hamburg – but was subject to a bid from Brighton earlier this week that Spurs rejected, and is highly regarded across Europe as well as in the Croatia national team.
“If he stays healthy enough, he will be one of the top superstars for the future, for sure,” Romeo Jozak, former technical director of the Croatian Football Federation, tells BBC Sport.
England’s World Cup opener against Croatia gave fans an opportunity to watch live for the first time a defender who was shortlisted for the Bundesliga Player of the Season and Rookie of the Season awards last term, also catching the eye with six goals from centre-back.
“Vuskovic is definitely one of those new ones who together with Josko Gvardiol are going to be the continuation of the Croatian national team,” adds Jozak.
“Being a defender, you want these stable, John Terrys in the team who are going to be fighters and leaders in the locker room.
“If he ends up there [at Tottenham], I think he will be an asset. Even in the World Cup he is going to get some serious minutes.”
Vuskovic, replaced after 66 minutes with Croatia trailing 3-2, started in the middle of a back three between Manchester City’s Gvardiol and Ajax’s Josip Sutalo.
Harry Kane got a run on the young defender to head England’s second from a corner in the first half, while there were questions over his positioning as Jude Bellingham dashed through for the third after the break.
He did, however, record more clearances – five – than any other player on the pitch, while England’s Elliot Anderson was the only player to win possession on more than his six occasions.
