World Cup: Injury rules Croatia's Niko Kranjcar out of finals in Brazil

Niko Kranjcar: Has seen World Cup dream dashed

Queens Park Rangers' on-loan playmaker limped out of Saturday's Championship play-off final, sparking fears that he would play no part in Brazil this summer.

Kranjcar lasted just 33 minutes against Derby County at Wembley before being forced from the field.

A hamstring problem prevented him from completing that contest, and has now dashed his World Cup dreams.

It has been revealed that the 29-year-old, who has 81 caps for his country, will require at least a month of rehabilitation in order to shake off the knock.

With the World Cup due to get underway on 12th June, Kranjcar has no hope of recovering in time.

A statement posted on the Croatian Football Association's official Twitter account read: "Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar will miss the World Cup due to hamstring injury."

National team doctor Boris Nemec told Jutarnji list: "Niko Kranjcar has ruptured his hamstring.

"The rupture is some inches wide and will need between four and six weeks to heal."