Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic has confirmed that Ivan Rakitic will not be available for Sunday's crucial Nations League clash with England at Wembley.
Group A4 remains finely balanced as a result of Croatia's win over Spain on Thursday night, which means that any of the three teams in the group could still finish top.
The winners at Wembley would progress through to the semi-finals while the losers would be relegated, but if it is a goalless draw then Spain win the group and Croatia will be relegated on goal difference, while a score draw would see England demoted due to their head-to-head record.
However, Croatia will go into the showdown without one of their key men after Rakitic returned to Barcelona due to an unspecified injury.
"We have the solutions and we go to Wembley to enjoy the football," Dalic told reporters.
Rakitic has won 101 caps for his country, scoring 15 goals.
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
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