Croatia's Dalic cuts World Cup squad to 24 players

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Croatia Training - Karaiskakis Stadium, Athens, Greece - Novemeber 11, 2017 Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic during training REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has slashed his provisional World Cup squad to 24 players from 32 and axe one more player by the June 4 deadline for next month's tournament in Russia.

There were no real surprises with household names such as Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic expected to carry Croatia's main hopes of reaching the knockout stages.