Kranjcar will line up on the left-hand side of Pompey's midfield for the Wembley clash with Cardiff.

He doesn't need reminding that no Croat has ever lifted the FA Cup before.

No surprise then the size of the following back home watching the encounter hoping that disappointing statistic can be banished.

It's a feeling Kranjcar knows only too well.

He was one of that same fascinated television audience when Silvio Maric became the first-ever Croat to appear in the FA Cup final.

The winger featured for Newcastle in their 1999 clash against Manchester United, coming on as substitute after 68 minutes.

Yet, Maric couldn't help prevent Ruud Gullit's side tumbling to a 2-0 defeat.

Now Kranjcar has the opportunity of achieving what his countryman failed to do – and the 23-year-old is relishing it.

He said: 'There are nerves but the nerves are always positive. You live for those moments, you live for stadiums like that and matches like that.

'I must say, it's going to be probably the biggest day of my career, especially in club football.

'The FA Cup final is massive over in Croatia – it's been broadcast every year.

'People love football back home, so whenever there's a big football match on they watch it. I always did.

'When I was younger I dreamed of winning it.

'Since winning in the semi-finals, you live with the thoughts of what could happen in the Cup final.

'You only think about the good things and hopefully they can come to reality.

'When you lift the trophy, I think all your dreams come true.

'It's a chance for me to make Croatian history.

'It's only me and Maric who have got this far and I remember watching him at the time.

'He had a great chance early on as well after appearing as a substitute.

'The Cup is popular anyway, but obviously the Croatian people are going to be a bit more interested now because there's another Croatian player involved.

'It makes me happy that people back home will be watching so, for me to win, it would be a great honour. It would mean a lot to me.

'Everybody will be watching it and hopefully the team puts in another great performance and we can win it.'

Kranjcar's no stranger to success, despite his relatively tender years in football.

He picked up silverware back home with both Dynamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split and tasted UEFA and Champions League football with them.

The 23-year-old has also amassed 39 caps and six goals for Croatia, featuring in the 2006 World Cup, and is currently booked in to appear at Euro 2008 this summer.

But he claimed the FA Cup would be the ultimate.

He added: 'We've been waiting for this. You try to stay cool and as calm as possible, but it's always at the back of your mind.

'Back home you are expected to win trophies bec-ause you play for teams who do that regularly.

'But when you come to Portsmouth, no-one is expected to win trophies.

'It's a one-day game and it's a game in which you forget the whole season. It's behind you.

'That game is the only game that matters.

'And, hopefully, it will be us who gets to lift it.'