Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka has apologised to Croatia fans after he was red-carded against Belarus and forced to miss Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against England.

Corluka was given a second yellow card for time-wasting in Croatia's 1-0 win over Belarus and said he was upset about having to sit out the important clash with the Three Lions at Wembley.

"I apologise to my team-mates, the coach, the fans and the nation because I have left them in the lurch going into a difficult game," he said.

"I'm very upset, but, together with Luka Modric, I will be a fan against England and I will be hoping we get a positive result.

"Belarus was an important game for us and an important win, but it is the England game we have all been thinking about and looking forward to.

"Maybe with Luka and I both out England will underestimate us. But we still have enough quality players to do well at Wembley.

"We are not expected to win, but we will go there to fight and to try. We will not surrender because everything is possible."