Croatia squad announced for important EURO qualifier against Slovakia

by croatiaweek
October 28, 2019
in Sport

ZAGREB, 28 October 2019 – Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić has announced his squad which will take on Slovakia in the final EURO 2020 qualifier next month.

Croatia will meet Slovakia in their final EURO 2020 qualifier at HNK Rijeka stadium on 16 November. Croatia are currently two points clear at the top of Group E and need a draw to cement a spot at EURO 2020.

Dalić on Monday named his squad for the important match and also a friendly against Georgia which will be played three days later in Pula.

Missing from the squad is experienced centre-back pairing Domagoj Vida and Dejan Lovren with both ruled out due to suspension. Marseille defender Duje Ćaleta-Car has been recalled to the squad as cover.

Andrej Kramarić also returns after a break through injury. Šime Vrsaljko, Marko Pjaca and Josip Pivarić are still unavailable for selection.

Croatia beat Slovakia 4-0 away in their first encounter in qualifying, but Dalić says they will not be resting on their laurels.

“A big game in Rijeka awaits us and I fully trust these players that they will respond to such a challenge in the right way. We will not be fooled by the match in Trnava, the Slovaks are a very good team and can be a very dangerous opponent, but Croatia has higher quality, has experience and huge ambition to once again cheer people up like we did in Russia. With the support of a full stadium, I do not doubt the positive and successful completion of qualifications,”said coach Zlatko Dalic.

Croatia squad announced on Monday:

Goalkeepers: Lovre Kalinić (Aston Villa), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo), Simon Sluga (Luton Town)

Defenders: Tin Jedvaj (Augsburg), Matej Mitrović (Club Brugge), Borna Barišić (Glasgow Rangers), Karlo Bartolec (Kobenhavn), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Marseille), Mile Škorić (Osijek), Dario Melnjak (Rizespor), Dino Perić (Dinamo)

Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Nikola Vlašić (CSKA Moskva)

Strikers: Ivan Perišić (Bayern), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Rebić (Milan), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg), Bruno Petković (Dinamo), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo)

Stand-by: Marko Rog (Cagliari), Filip Bradarić (Hajduk), Marin Leovac (Dinamo), Josip Juranović (Hajduk)