A hamstring injury will prevent striker Mario Mandzukic from playing in Croatia's Euro 2016 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta.
Croatia host Bulgaria on Saturday and then travel to Malta for their final Group H match on Tuesday, but they will have to do so without their first-choice striker.
"Unfortunately, Mandzukic cannot play due to a hamstring injury," Croatia national team doctor Boris Nemec told the Croatian federation's website.
"He has been examined on Wednesday and concluded that he will not feature in these matches."
The 29-year-old will now return to Juventus to continue his rehabilitation.
"He will be back to full training in two weeks, without risking injury recurrence," Nemec said. "Of course, he was not happy with these news, bit his health comes first."
Croatia are third in Group H with 14 points from eight matches, four points behind leaders Italy and two behind Norway, but in position to advance to the playoffs for the last four spots at next summer's 24-team tournament.