Modric to miss Levante visit?

The Real Madrid midfielder was withdrawn at half-time of Saturday’s 3-0 victory in Zagreb which kept Croatia’s hopes of an automatic qualifying spot alive.

Luka Modric will not be able to feature in Croatia’s match against Malta next week, according to the following statement released by the Croatian national team.

Luka Modric set up Perisic in the six-yard box and the Inter Milan winger beat Bulgaria goalkeeper Bozhidar Mitrev to score his fifth goal in eight games for his country.

Croatia were playing their first match under coach Ante Cacic, who replaced Niko Kovac last month, and he enjoyed the ideal start to his tenure when the hosts took a second-minute lead.

Bulgarians had one shot on the target and one off the target in the first half, leaving Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic soaking in a heavy rain.

Kalinic’s want to carry his scoring type from Fiorentina to national workforce was granted in 81st minute.

Nikola Kalinic, replacing the injured Mario Mandzukic, nearly doubled their lead a few minutes later, they had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside and Bulgaria defender Georgi Terziev rattled his own post attempting a panicked clearance.

The only downside to Croatia’s victory was a red card shown in the 89th minute to Malaga forward Duje Cop who came as a substitute and will miss a match at Malta.

Saturday’s result left Croatia, who have claimed at least a playoff spot, third with 17 points from nine games, two behind Norway, who beat Malta 2-0, and four adrift of leaders Italy, who booked a place at the finals with a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan.