Niko Kovač Names Squad for Switerland

Croatia coach Niko Kovač has named a squad of 27 on Monday ahead of its friendly with Switzerland as the road to Brazil starts…

Only one uncapped player, Rijeka’s Mate Maleš, features in the side named ahead of the clas with Switzerland in St. Gallen on 5 March, while there was no room in the squad for Getafe’s Sammir or Dinamo Zagreb’s Barcelona target Alen Halilović. Suspended Joe Šiminuić is also missing from the squad that faced Iceland in November.

“The journey begins now, we do not have long to prepare so that is why we have selected a big squad now so we can spend time with the players. Only 18 will travel though to Switzerland. This squad of 27 does not mean those players not on the list have missed out on Brazil. There is still time for them to play their way into the side.” Kovač said on Monday.

Squad

Stipe Pletikosa
Danijel Subašić
Darijo Srna
Igor Bubnjić
Vedran Ćorluka
Dejan Lovren
Danijel Pranjić
Gordan Schildenfeld
Šime Vrsaljko
Ivan Strinić
Hrvoje Milić
Ivan Rakitić
Luka Modrić
Ivan Perišić
Mateo Kovačić
Milan Badelj
Niko Kranjčar
Ivo Iličević
Mate Maleš
Ognjen Vukojević
Mario Manđžukić
Ivica Olić
Eduardo da Silva
Nikica Jelavić
Leon Benko
Ante Rebić