Modric, Rakitic lead Croatia squad for World Cup

ZAGREB: Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic headlined a preliminary 32-man World Cup squad named by Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic on Monday.

Croatia are appearing at the World Cup for the fifth time and have been drawn alongside two time former champions Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland in a tricky Group D.

"I hope everyone stays healthy... we will do everything to live up to the expectations of our supporters," Dalic said.

There are several players still involved in competition with Real Madrid duo Modric and Mateo Kovacic as well as Liverpool's Dejan Lovren all set to take part in the Champions League final on May 26 amongst them.

Croatia face Brazil in a pre-tournament friendly on June 3 at Anfield and take on Senegal five days later in Osijek before flying out to Russia.

World Cup squads must be reduced to 23 players by June 4.

Preliminary 32-man squad:

Goalkeepers (4): Danijel Subasic (Monaco/FRA), Lovre Kalinic (Gent/BEL), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Karlo Letica (Hajduk Split)

Defenders (12): Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscou/RUS), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas/TUR), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria/ITA), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool/ENG), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Josip Pivaric (Dinamo Kiev/UKR), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Matej Mitrovic (Club Brugge/BEL), Borna Barisic (Osijek), Zoran Nizic (Hajduk Split), Duje Caleta-Car (Salzburg/AUT), Borna Sosa (Dinamo Zagreb)

Midfielders (8): Luka Modric (Real Madrid/ESP), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona/ESP), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid/ESP), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina/ITA), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan/ITA), Marko Rog (Naples/ITA), Mario Pasalic (Spartak Moscou/RUS), Filip Bradaric (Rijeka)

Forwards (8): Mario Mandzukic (Juventus/ITA), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan/ITA), Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan/ITA), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim/GER), Marko Pjaca (Schalke/GER), Ante Rebic (Eintracht/GER), Duje Cop (Standard Liege/BEL), Ivan Santini (Caen/FRA)