Atletico Madrid want to stop Croatia defender Sime Vrsaljko from facing England in Wednesday's World Cup 2018 semi-final.

Atleti's Vrsaljko suffered a blow to his left knee in extra-time of Saturday's quarter-final win over Russia and was replaced by Croatia's fourth substitute.

He remains in discomfort but has made it clear to coach Zlatko Dalic he wants to play in the Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday.

However, Atleti boss Diego Simeone is insistent that the right-back is not selected due to the risk he could suffer a more serious injury, leading to a potential standoff between club and country. Vrsaljko injured the same knee in March 2017 playing for Atletico and was ruled out for four months.

Spanish media reported on Wednesday that Vrsaljko would miss the match but, as of this morning, he remained hopeful of playing, although the final decision will come down to Dalic.

The Croatia coach is known to only select players when fully fit and he has already shown his uncompromising side at this tournament by sending home striker Nikola Kalinic after he complained of back pain.

If Vrsaljko is deemed unfit, former Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka is expected to start at centre-half, with Domagoj Vida switching to right-back.

Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, the hero of the penalty-shootout wins over Denmark and Russia, is expected to start in Moscow, despite a persistent hamstring problem.

Meanwhile, Croatia have sent home Ognjen Vukojevic and revoked his World Cup accreditation after the former international appeared to make pro-Ukraine comments in a video.

The video, posted after Croatia beat hosts Russia in the quarter-final, shows Vida alongside Vukojevic. Vida shouts “glory to Ukraine”, a statement associated with nationalism in Ukraine, before Vukojevic, who has travelled with the side as an observer, adds “this win is for Dynamo [Kyiv] and Ukraine … go Croatia.”

Vida, who spent five years at Dynamo Kyiv but now plays for Besiktas, escaped with a warning, and insisted the video was not meant as a political statement.

England fans celebrate World Cup quarter-final victory 26 show all England fans celebrate World Cup quarter-final victory 1/26 An England supporter is held aloft as fans celebrate in the street beside Borough Market AFP/Getty Images 2/26 England fans set off smoke bombs after the match in front of The Shard REUTERS 3/26 Red flares are let off in London Bridge REUTERS 4/26 England fans celebrate as the second goal is scored against Sweden AFP/Getty Images 5/26 Fans sing their joy from traffic lights Twitter 6/26 Celebrations in London Bridge @ProfoundPervert 7/26 Three jubiland fans jump onto a bus in London Bridge @FlexInTheCity 8/26 Another two take a ride on the top of a bus @FlexInTheCity 9/26 'It's coming home': England fans supported their team at bars and pubs across the UK AFP/Getty Images 10/26 England faced Sweden in their quarter-final match of the World Cup on Saturday AFP/Getty Images 11/26 Fans watch the Sweden game in Millennium Square, Leeds REUTERS 12/26 A fan cheers on England during the game REUTERS 13/26 England fans in the stands during the FIFA World Cup PA 14/26 Jubilant scenes erupt s at Ashton Gate World Cup fans village at the Bristol City football club Getty Images 15/26 Supporters celebrate as England's defender Harry Maguire scores the opening goal AFP/Getty Images 16/26 Joyous fans celebrate England's goal AFP/Getty Images 17/26 Londoners watching from a public screen were overjoyed EPA 18/26 The Three Lions were playing for their spot in the last four of the tournament for the first time in 28 years REUTERS 19/26 Flat Iron Square in London was filled with happy fans REUTERS 20/26 Fans watch the nail-biting game REUTERS 21/26 England fans celebrate as England's defender Harry Maguire scores the opening goal AFP/Getty Images 22/26 Fans react to England's second goal from Dele Alli PA 23/26 World Cup fever is building among England fans Getty Images 24/26 There were raucous scenes at Croydon Boxpark during the match Getty Images 25/26 Fans were also seen celebrating in Manchester Getty Images 26/26 England fans react during the game REUTERS 1/26 An England supporter is held aloft as fans celebrate in the street beside Borough Market AFP/Getty Images 2/26 England fans set off smoke bombs after the match in front of The Shard REUTERS 3/26 Red flares are let off in London Bridge REUTERS 4/26 England fans celebrate as the second goal is scored against Sweden AFP/Getty Images 5/26 Fans sing their joy from traffic lights Twitter 6/26 Celebrations in London Bridge @ProfoundPervert 7/26 Three jubiland fans jump onto a bus in London Bridge @FlexInTheCity 8/26 Another two take a ride on the top of a bus @FlexInTheCity 9/26 'It's coming home': England fans supported their team at bars and pubs across the UK AFP/Getty Images 10/26 England faced Sweden in their quarter-final match of the World Cup on Saturday AFP/Getty Images 11/26 Fans watch the Sweden game in Millennium Square, Leeds REUTERS 12/26 A fan cheers on England during the game REUTERS 13/26 England fans in the stands during the FIFA World Cup PA 14/26 Jubilant scenes erupt s at Ashton Gate World Cup fans village at the Bristol City football club Getty Images 15/26 Supporters celebrate as England's defender Harry Maguire scores the opening goal AFP/Getty Images 16/26 Joyous fans celebrate England's goal AFP/Getty Images 17/26 Londoners watching from a public screen were overjoyed EPA 18/26 The Three Lions were playing for their spot in the last four of the tournament for the first time in 28 years REUTERS 19/26 Flat Iron Square in London was filled with happy fans REUTERS 20/26 Fans watch the nail-biting game REUTERS 21/26 England fans celebrate as England's defender Harry Maguire scores the opening goal AFP/Getty Images 22/26 Fans react to England's second goal from Dele Alli PA 23/26 World Cup fever is building among England fans Getty Images 24/26 There were raucous scenes at Croydon Boxpark during the match Getty Images 25/26 Fans were also seen celebrating in Manchester Getty Images 26/26 England fans react during the game REUTERS

Meanwhile, Croatia centre-half Dejan Lovren has said he wants to prove he is one of the best defenders in the world by shackling nemesis Harry Kane tomorrow night.

Liverpool's Lovren endured a nightmare afternoon up against Kane in Tottenham's 4-1 win at Wembley back in October, when he was substituted after just 31 minutes, before Kane scored a last-minute penalty to rescue a point for Spurs at Anfield in April.

“He deserves every credit he gets," Lovren said of Kane. "The last few seasons he has always scored more than 25 goals. He is one of the best strikers in the world but I like to challenge these strikers and to show to everyone that I am one of the best defenders."