"A tattoo after the World Cup final? I have a free space on my forehead. God willing, we win, then I'll have a tattoo there. But first I'll ask my wife," Rakitic told journalists.

Croatia, who claimed the third place at the first World Cup they played in as an independent nation in 1998, also qualified for the finals of all but one subsequent World Cups.

The final between 1998 champions France and Croatia will take place at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday with the kick-off set for 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT).