How Croatia could line up against Morocco

Inter Milan lynchpin Brozovic had to come off early in the second half against Argentina with discomfort, while Gvardiol has needed injections to play through the pain of a foot problem.

Dalic has insisted that he will put out an XI capable of coming up trumps, but he is also not prepared to rush Gvardiol and Brozovic, who both missed training on Wednesday.

Dejan Lovren could therefore be partnered by Josip Sutalo in front of Dominik Livakovic, who could be inundated with offers after a remarkable World Cup campaign.

Borna Sosa only lasted 45 minutes in the semi-finals following his return from illness, but the Stuttgart man should continue on the left as Josip Juranovic earns another start on the opposite side.

Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic will be joined by a new face in the midfield if Brozovic is ruled out, and the defensive-minded Kristijan Jakic may be preferred over Lovro Majer.

Mario Pasalic was rather ineffective against Argentina and could now cede his place on the right to Nikola Vlasic, although Mislav Orsic is also pushing for inclusion out wide.

Andrej Kramaric has started all six of Croatia's World Cup games and will hope to make that seven here, although his spot is far from secure, while Ivan Perisic will aim for a seventh World Cup goal to take him past Davor Suker at the top of the Checkered Ones' all-time charts.

Croatia possible starting lineup: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Sutalo, Sosa; Modric, Jakic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Kramaric, Perisic