Rakitic, out for Croatia due to an injury in the Aquiles tendon!

The Barcelona player, Ivan Rakitic, without almost any place in the Barcelona team this season, neither will he play with Croatia during the international break.

"I regret that I am not able to help the team, but I am convinced that my teammates will have also have success without me. They beat Slovakia in the first game and I believe that they will also do the same in Rijeka. I will be with them with all my heart," Rakitic told 'Novi list'.

The inflammation in his Aquiles tendon requires a minimum of one weeks rest, and Rakitic felt pain on Sunday during a training session with Barcelona.

This week, the Barcelona player will travel to Zagreb, but not to play, only to be checked by the national team doctors.

Led by Madrid's Luka Modric, Croatia occupies first place in Group E of the classification for the next Eurocup.

The Balkans, runners-up at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, have 14 points, ahead of Hungary with 12 points, Slovakia with 10 points, Wales with eight points and Azerbaijan with one point.