Kramarić misses Croatia Nations League matches due to knee injury

Andrej Kramarić will miss Croatia's final national team action of 2026 due to knee and patella problems. The Hoffenheim forward will not be available for the upcoming Nations League matches against England and Czechia as he focuses on recovery.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilić stated he spoke with Kramarić following Hoffenheim's most recent club match. Bilić explained that the player detailed his injury issues and both parties agreed it was best for him to skip this international window to fully heal the problem.

Bilić emphasized that Kramarić remains an important part of the national team setup. The coach expressed anticipation for the forward's return once he is completely fit, noting Kramarić's significant past contributions and future value to the squad.

This absence continues a difficult period for Kramarić internationally. He did not play a single minute during the previous national team gathering while still returning to full training following abdominal wall surgery, and now misses this camp to resolve the new knee issue.

Bilić faces additional personnel shortages beyond Kramarić. Marin Pongračić has been ruled out due to a right hamstring injury, while Franjo Ivanović is unavailable because of a mild concussion.

The coach is scheduled to present the final squad list for the two upcoming fixtures at a media conference on Saturday, where he will discuss the staffing situation in greater detail. Croatia is set to play England on November 12 before facing Czechia three days later.