Croatia sent their player back home

Published on June 18 2018 by Ayodele Gbenga B.

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has sent striker Nikola Kalinic home from the World Cup in disgrace.

The Vatreni won their opening match on Saturday night against Nigeria by defeating them 2 goals to nill.

The AC Milan striker who was a former player of Blackburn Rovers, was a substitute during the encounter.

It was the fourth successive international fixture where he had been left on the bench.

But the coach asked him to come on in the 85th minute, it was claimed the player complained of a back problem and refused to enter the fray something which didn’t convince his manager.

Marko Pjaca, nominally a wide player, came on instead and Kalinic’s subsequent exit means Croatia have just Mario Mandzukic left within their squad as an out-and-out No.9.

There is a press conference this afternoon where the coach will discuss the situation further.

Kalinic secured a big-money move to AC Milan from Fiorentina last summer, but the 30-year-old scored just six times.