Croatia will be without Ivan Perisic for their Euro 2020 last-16 match against Spain after the 32-year-old winger tested positive for Covid-19.

But coach Zlatko Dalic has little time to waste and so he has urged his team to quickly get over the news and focus on the match.

“Perisic is hard to replace and he’s been our key player in the group stage but this can happen and we have to adapt,” the 54-year-old coach told a media conference on Sunday.

“Fortunately, we have more options in Perisic’s position than in any other at this tournament, so whoever steps in should be able to do a good job.

“They also like to press high up the field when they don’t have the ball, it’s their style rooted in how Barcelona and Real Madrid play.

“It’s going to be tough but I am confident that we have it in us to beat them.”

Centre back Dejan Lovren will also miss the game through suspension and Dalic confirmed that Duje Caleta-Car, who played in the opening 0-1 defeat by England, would be recalled into the starting eleven.

Spain, on the other hand, have finally clicked into gear with a 5-0 win over Slovakia. But Croatia will not be so generous.

“In every sport they play, Croatians are always very competitive, they are lion-hearted and give everything for their country,” said Spain forward Dani Olmo, who spent five years at Croatia’s premier club Dinamo Zagreb.

Former Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta, in his column for uefa.com, has advised Enrique’s side to play at “high tempo” and to “make Croatia run”. Will that be enough?