Ante Cacic’s Croatia dominated throughout, twice hitting the bar in the second half. But it only Modric’s 41st-minute strike — his 11th international goal — that separated the teams at the final whistle.
Victory gave Croatia revenge for their elimination on penalties by Turkey in the quarter-finals at Euro 2008, although they had previously beaten them in a qualifying play-off prior to Euro 2012.
Fatih Terim’s Turkey now have it all to do ahead of their meeting with defending champions Spain in Nice on Friday.
Croatia can already go into their game against the Czech Republic with one eye on the last 16.
The talent in both line-ups had raised hopes of an open contest and it took Croatia less than two minutes to threaten. Ivan Rakitic flung himself at Darijo Srna’s cross and hooked a volley across goal.
But the two teams’ determination to play through the middle of the pitch made for a narrow, niggly encounter at the Parc des Princes home of French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
When Croatia did procure sights of goal, their efforts went either too close to Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Babacan or too far from the target.
Turkey’s only opportunity of note in the first half saw Ozan Tufan meet Gokhan Gonul’s right-wing cross with a downward header that was awkwardly fielded by Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic.
Modric illuminated the game with his deft flicks and surefooted touches, and with half-time approaching he provided the breakthrough.
Selcuk Inan appeared to have cleared the danger by hooking the ball high to the edge of the Turkey box, but Modric watched it drop before spearing an emphatic, dipping volley past Babacan from 25 yards.
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