Modric and Mandzukic lead Croatia

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, May 14, 2014

[WORLD CUP 2014] Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic highlight the 30-man roster named by Croatia coach Niko Kovac.

Mandzukic, who has scored in more than half of his Bundesliga appearances in the last two seasons, is suspended for Croatia’s opener against Brazil for a red card he received in the final game of qualifying, during which he led Croatia in scoring with four goals.

Brazilian-born Eduardo, Croatia’s second all-time leading scorer behind is headed to his first World Cup, having been left off the 2006 squad and it failed to qualify for South Africa 2010.

Croatia (30)
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov/RUS), Danijel Subasic (Monaco/FRA), Oliver Zelenika (Locomotive)
Defenders: Dario Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk/UKR), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow/RUS), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos/GRE), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos/GRE), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro/UKR), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa/ITA) Igor Bubnjic (Udinese/ITA).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid/SPA), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla/SPA), Niko Kranjcar (QPR/ENG), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg/GER), Mateo Kovacic (Inter/ITA), Milan Badelj (HSV/GER), Ivo Ilicevic (HSV/GER), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (HNK Rijeka), Mario Pasalic (Hajduk Split), Sammir (Getafe/SPA)
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich/GER), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg/GER), Eduardo da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk/UKR), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City/ENG), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina/ITA), Duje Cop (Dinamo Zagreb).