Croatia Names 32-Man World Cup Squad

Croatia names 32-man squad as build up starts to the World Cup (Photo: HNS)

Croatia football coach Zlatko Dalić has announced a 32-man squad on Monday ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Croatia’s next warm-up match is against Brazil on 3 June at Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC, at 3 pm local time. Croatia will then face Senegal at Gradski Vrt in Osijek on 8 June 2018 which will be their final warm-up match before they head off to Russia.

Croatia 32-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Danijel Subašić (Monaco), Lovre Kalinić (Gent), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo), Karlo Letica (Hajduk)

Defenders: Vedran Ćorluka (Lokomotiv), Domagoj Vida (Bešiktaš), Ivan Strinić (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Šime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivarić (Dynamo Kijev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Matej Mitrović (Club Brugge), Borna Barišić (Osijek), Zoran Nižić (Hajduk), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg), Borna Sosa (Dinamo)

Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Marko Rog (Napoli), Mario Pašalić (Spartak), Filip Bradarić (Rijeka)

Strikers: Mario Mandžukić (Juventus), Ivan Perišić (Inter), Nikola Kalinić (Milan), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebić (Eintracht), Duje Čop (Standard Liege), Ivan Santini (Caen)

Zlatko Dalic (HNS)

I am happy that we have a large number of players are fighting for titles at the end of the season and I congratulate those who have become champions or cup winners in their countries. We are proud that again, for the sixth time in a row, we will have a European champion. I want to wish Luka, Mateo and Dejan all the best for the Champions League final, and Sime for the Europa League final,” Dalić said, before adding.

“On this list are mostly players who we have relied on so far, who have shown the burden of qualification and took Croatia to Russia. There are also several new names, Sosa and Letica, who were not yet in the A team, and players who are close to being named such as Brekalo, Vlasic, Livaja, Benković and Halilovic – this is a confirmation that we believe in their talent and recognize their work and that they are surely the future of our team with the young players already involved.”

The final squad of 23 which will travel to Russia has to be named by 4 June 2018 with Dalić set to name it next week. The squad will gather in Rovinj on 26 May.

Croatia will meet Argentina, Nigeria, and Iceland when the World Cup starts in Russia in June.