Captain Modric headlines Croatia squad for Malta World Cup qualifier

Captain Luka Modric is one of the big stars selected by coach Zlatko Dalic for the opening qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, including a match against Malta at the end of the month.

Runners-up in the previous edition of the World Cup, Croatia will open their commitments away at Slovenia on March 24 before a double-header on home soil in Rijeka against Cyprus (March 27) and Malta (March 30).

Dalic called up 24 players which besides Modric include also Inter duo Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic as well as Ante Rebic of fellow Serie A rivals Milan.

Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic and Mario Pasalic of Atalanta have also been called up.

Fresh from winning the Scottish Premier League title with Rangers, Borna Barisic has also earned the call-up alongside Dinamo Zagreb’s trio Dominik Livakovic, Bruno Petkovic and Mislav Orsic who faced Tottenham Hotspur in their Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers : Lovre Kalinic, Dominik Livakovic, Simon Sluga,

Defenders : Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Sime Vrsaljko, Borna Barisic, Duje Caleta-Car, Dario Melnjak, Filip Uremovic, Josip Juranovic,

Midfielders : Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Milan Badelj, Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic,

Forwards : Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Rebić, Josip Brekalo, Bruno Petković, Mislav Oršić, Ante Budimir,