Modric, Mandzukic star names on Croatia's preliminary World Cup squad

Published May. 14, 2014 8:08 a.m. ET

foxsports

Southampton defender Dejan Lovren and Hull striker Nikica Jelavic have been named in Croatia's preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup.

The Premier League duo, as well as QPR's on-loan midfielder Niko Kranjcar and former Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva, will be hopeful of being included in Niko Kovac's final line-up, with the manager set to trim seven players from the list after a friendly with Mali on May 31.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic are the star names and will be hoping to make their mark against hosts Brazil, Mexico and Cameroon in Group A.

One man who has not been named is veteran defender Josip Simunic.

The 36-year-old is Croatia's third highest capped player of all time, having represented his country on 105 occasions, but he will not get the chance to add to his haul after losing his appeal against a 10-match ban imposed by FIFA following a fascist salute he made in November.

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Locomotive)

Defenders: Dario Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), John Strinic (Dnipro), Domagoj Vida (Dinamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa) Igor Bubnjic (Udinese)

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Niko Kranjcar (QPR), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Internazionale), Sean Lynch (HSV), Ivo Ilicevic ( HSV), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (River), Mario Pasalic (FC), Sammir (Getafe)

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina), Duje Cop (Dinamo Zagreb)