Croatia confirm striker leaves World Cup squad | OneFootball

Croatia’s Nikola Kalinić has been sent home from the World Cup.

The 30-year-old reportedly refused to come off the bench in Croatia’s 2-0 win over Nigeria on Saturday.

It is now too late to call up a replacement so Croatia will have just 22 players for the remainder of the tournament.

“At the match with Nigeria, Kalinic warmed up and should have come in the second half, but he said he was not ready to go because he felt a problem with his back,” Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić explained on Monday.

“As he did against Brazil in England, he said he was not ready, he said the same yesterday’s training as well.

“I accepted it calmly and, as I need players who are healthy and available, I made this decision.”

Croatia’s opening match win has put them top of Group D.

Their next game is against Argentina on Thursday.