Croatia release Real Madrid's Modric before Mexico friendly
The new national team coach has freed up Luka Modric along with others to return to their clubs ahead of the second international friendly against Mexico. The USA vs. Ecuador live and direct: Friendly FIFA Date
Ante Dalic, the new Croatia national team coach, has relieved Real Madrid's Luka Modric from international duty with a second game due to take place on Wednesday morning.
Early Madrid return for Modric
The midfielder had been expected to be one of the last players back with Zinedine Zidane as he prepared a matchday squad to travel to Las Palmas on Friday for Los Blancos' Liga game on Saturday. After coming through the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 victory over Peru unscathed, this will be further welcome news for the French coach, who'll also have one eye on the huge Champions League game in Turin just a few days after the island trip.
Croatia and Real Madrid teammate Mateo Kovacic will remain with the national team and is expected to play against Mexico, which may mean that he is left out of Saturday's Liga game.
Other players freed up to return to their clubs are: Subasic (Monaco), Mandzukic (Juventus), Perisic and Brozović (Inter Milan) and Kalinic (AC Milan).