Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić confirmed the final FIFA World Cup squad. As expect, it was one centre-back that had to be left out, and it was Matej Mitrović of Club Brugge.
"It was more difficult to make this decision than to witness our defeat against Brazil. I am sad for him, he is a top professional, and of course he was disappointed, but he realized that Ćaleta-Car had played more games in continuity. Ćorluka, Lovren, and Vida were safe. I thought about this very long, even made some other combinations, and if there is an injury, Mitrović will come back. However, I stand by my choice and I believe I've made the right decision", said Dalić.
🇭🇷#Croatia final @FIFAWorldCup squad#BeProud #Family #WorldCup🌍 #Vatreni🔥 pic.twitter.com/eFnr04S0KR
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) 4. lipnja 2018.
Croatia play Senegal on 8 June in Osijek, and departs to Russia on 11 June.
Croatia FIFA World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Danijel Subašić (Monaco), Lovre Kalinić (Gent), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo)
Defenders: Vedran Ćorluka (Lokomotiv), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinić (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Šime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivarić (Dynamo Kyiv), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg)
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Filip Bradarić (Rijeka)
Forwards: Mario Mandžukić (Juventus), Ivan Perišić (Inter), Nikola Kalinić (Milan), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebić (Eintracht)