China Cup 2017: Croatia Name Youthful Squad

Ante Čačić (photo: HNS)

Croatia coach Ante Čačić has named his squad of 18 for the upcoming China Cup tournament in January 2017.

Čačić has given an opportunity for local based players with the majority of the squad coming from the Croatian first division.

All of Croatia’s stars will not travel to China for the tournament which takes place in Nanning city from 10 – 15 January 2017.

There are five players from top of the table Rijeka, four from Dinamo Zagreb, three from Osijek and two from Hajduk Split in the squad.

The side gathers in Zagreb on 7 January 2017 before flying out the same day to China.

Croatia will take part in the tournament with the hosts China, Iceland, and Chile. The tournament will see the four teams play semi-finals after the draw is made with the two winners of those matches playing a final on 15 January. Croatia faces Chile on 11 January.

Matej Mitrović (photo credit: HNS)

The first China Cup comes as China’s national team prepares to compete for a place in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. China is the world’s most populous soccer market and the Asian nation has invested a lot of money recently as they aim to a force in the game in the not too distant future.

Croatia’s 18-man China Cup squad

Goal keepers: Andrej Prskalo (Rijeka), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo)

Defenders: Matej Mitrović (Rijeka), Josip Pivarić (Dinamo), Borna Barišić (Osijek), Mateo Barač (Osijek), Josip Juranović (Hajduk), Jakov Filipović (Inter), Toni Datković (Koper)

Midfielders: Josip Mišić (Rijeka), Mate Maleš (Rijeka), Franko Andrijašević (Rijeka), Mario Šitum (Dinamo), Domagoj Antolić (Dinamo), Nikola Vlašić (Hajduk), Filip Ozobić (Gabala)

Strikers: Antonio Perošević (Osijek), Mirko Marić (Lokomotiva)