Luka Modric confirmed to be heading to fifth World Cup as Croatia announce squad

[p]While the core of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a] squad remains built around the national legends, Dalic had to make some tough decisions and settle major debates across the country.[/p][p]As expected, the ever-reliable captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/modric-luka/bZWyoJnA/"]Modric[/a] will lead the team, supported by the usual midfield pillars [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kovacic-mateo/4f084TL7/"]Mateo Kovacic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pasalic-mario/ld4iyqYa/"]Mario Pasalic[/a]. Along with Modric and Kovacic, four further players from the historic run to the final at the 2018 World Cup have been selected: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/livakovic-dominik/OOasPX9j/"]Dominik Livakovic[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/caleta-car-duje/K44QNA2A/"]Duje Caleta-Car[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/perisic-ivan/4AbKyVr9/"]Ivan Perisic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kramaric-andrej/6V0rWuu1/"]Andrej Kramaric[/a].[/p][p]Nevertheless, Zlatko Dalic continues to bring in fresh blood. The new wave, led by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gvardiol-josko/86K1f1fd/"]Josko Gvardiol[/a], is strengthened by the addition of young talents such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baturina-martin/0WWy1lhR/"]Martin Baturina[/a] (Como), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vuskovic-luka/QLMh9ouh/"]Luka Vuskovic[/a] (Hamburg), and midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fruk-toni/G4BedhkN/"]Toni Fruk[/a] (Rijeka).[/p][h2]Bold choices[/h2][p]The announcement of this squad has already sparked intense debate in Croatia, especially regarding the attacking options.[/p][p]The case of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/drena-beljo-dion/YNWUGRaD/"]Dion Drena Beljo[/a], the top scorer in the Croatian league, is a hot topic: he will have to settle for a reserve role. Asked about this decision, Dalic explained at a press conference:[/p][p][b]"Congratulations to Dinamo and Beljo, he was very close, but the competition is fierce. Kramaric and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/budimir-ante/IeVXGQOi/"]Budimir[/a] are undisputed, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musa-petar/2JMpq78N/"]Petar Musa[/a] is performing very well in MLS and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/matanovic-igor/j5PxPTVi/"]Igor Matanovic[/a] is shining in the Bundesliga. The only reason he is not among the 26 is the level of competition."[/b][/p][p]Another major absence is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/petkovic-bruno/rqo6lDk9/"]Bruno Petkovic[/a]. Hampered by injuries at the end of the season, the striker was not selected, with the coach deciding after discussion that he was not at 100% fitness.[/p][h2]Croatia's 26-man squad:[/h2][p][b]Goalkeepers[/b]: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kotarski-dominik/lSEheXlN/"]Dominik Kotarski[/a] (FC Copenhagen), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pandur-ivor/O2IVI9D4/"]Ivor Pandur[/a] (Hull City).[/p][p][b]Defenders[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stanisic-josip/SfawK0Y3/"]Josip Stanisic[/a] (Bayern Munich), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jakic-kristijan/QkJGjOO2/"]Kristijan Jakic[/a] (Augsburg), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/erlic-martin/n9FYAE96/"]Martin Erlic[/a] (Midtjylland), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sutalo-josip/2aSozh6l/"]Josip Sutalo[/a] (Ajax), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pongracic-marin/OSXlKkv9/"]Marin Pongracic[/a] (Fiorentina).[/p][p][b]Midfielders[/b]: Luka Modric (AC Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vlasic-nikola/4ryWOtME/"]Nikola Vlasic[/a] (Torino), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sucic-luka/p6f9CgsE/"]Luka Sucic[/a] (Real Sociedad), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moro-nikola/SOva7ZCL/"]Nikola Moro[/a] (Bologna), Martin Baturina (Como), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sucic-petar/dMS6iFY2/"]Petar Sucic[/a] (Inter Milan), Toni Fruk (Rijeka).[/p][p][b]Forwards[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pasalic-marco/6wSPewNt/"]Marco Pasalic[/a] (Orlando City), Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Ante Budimir (Osasuna).[/p][p][b]Reserves[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/letica-karlo/biqPzLN1/"]Karlo Letica[/a] (Lausanne), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smolcic-ivan/lERs93ft/"]Ivan Smolcic[/a] (Como), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/majer-lovro/444Jw1Mr/"]Lovro Majer[/a] (Wolfsburg), Dion Drena Beljo (Dinamo), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ivanovic-franjo/ldJFtfPD/"]Franjo Ivanovic[/a] (Benfica), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stojkovic-luka/8zXDvL9t/"]Luka Stojkovic[/a] (Dinamo), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/segecic-adrian/zPPIPN4B/"]Adrian Segecic[/a] (Portsmouth).[/p]