Andrej Kramaric

Analysis: Kramaric was a doubt coming into Wednesday's opener due to a knock, and is only available on the bench. The midfielder is a nice depth option to have, he can play anywhere in the attack or midfield and could come on to chase the game if Croatia fall behind. Mario Pasalic got the start ahead of him for Wednesday's clash.

Jun 17, 2026

Could be on bench for opener

Kramaric (undisclosed) is managing fitness issues and could be on the bench for Croatia's World Cup opener against England, according to Sportske Novosti.

Analysis: Kramaric saw limited minutes in the pre-tournament friendlies, managing just 19 minutes and only the first half against Slovenia in Croatia's final warm-up match. Recent reports linking him to a health issue could explain the reduced workload. Even so, he remains a key part of Croatia's attacking setup, and if he starts on the bench he is expected to slot straight back into the lineup once he is deemed fully fit.