SouthernWorldwide.com – Croatia has officially announced its squad for the upcoming World Cup, with veteran midfielder Luka Modrić set to participate in his fifth tournament.
The selection, revealed by head coach Zlatko Dalić, features a 26-man roster that also includes Ivan Perišić, a player who has a notable scoring record in the last three World Cups.
Despite suffering a fractured cheekbone last month, the Croatian captain, Modrić, is anticipated to be fully fit for their opening World Cup match against England, scheduled for June 17. Croatia is also slated to face Panama and Ghana in Group L.
The 40-year-old Modrić, a recipient of the Ballon d’Or in 2018, a year that saw him break the long-standing dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, made his international debut in 2006. He currently holds the record for the most appearances for Croatia, with 196 international caps. He is on the verge of reaching the 200-cap milestone during the World Cup.
Coach Dalić’s squad is characterized by its considerable experience. Notable inclusions alongside Modrić are goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, defender Josko Gvardiol, and midfielders Mateo Kovačić and Mario Pašalić, as well as forward Andrej Kramarić.
Croatia has a strong recent World Cup history, having reached the final in 2018 where they were defeated by France, and securing a third-place finish in the 2022 tournament.
In addition to the primary 26-player squad, Dalić has also named seven players on a stand-by list.
The full Croatia squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković, Dominik Kotarski, Ivor Pandur.
Defenders: Josko Gvardiol, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Martin Erlić, Luka Vušković.
Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina, Kristijan Jakić, Petar Sučić, Nikola Moro, Toni Friga.
Forwards: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Marko Pašalić, Petar Musa, Igor Matanović.
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Stand-by players: Lovro Majer, Franjo Ivanović, Dion Drena Beljo, Ivan Smolčić, Karlo Letica, Adrian Šegečić, Luka Stojković.
