Tuesday 12 April 2016 16:54, UK
Dejan Lovren will be left out of Croatia's Euro 2016 squad over his demand to be in the starting line-up.
The Liverpool centre-half rowed with Croatia boss Ante Cacic during last month's international break after he was named among the substitutes for a friendly against Hungary.
Lovren later threatened to snub this summer's finals unless he was given a guarantee he would start, but that move has backfired and he will not now be considered for selection.
Cacic, who met the defender over the weekend, said: "I already said when appointed as coach that the Croatia squad is above any individual. I will not give up that view for anyone.
"In Croatia's locker room there is no place for ultimatums, there should be respect for the Croatian jersey, teammates and coach."
Lovren has been told the door is open for a return to the squad in future, and Cacic said: "I hope he will accept the decision in a mature manner and realise that even the best players put themselves in the service of the collective first and then think about themselves".
