Rakitic & Kramaric set to miss Croatia’s final EURO qualifier against Slovakia

Zlatko Dalic (Photo: HNS)

ZAGREB, 11 November 2019 – After being left without the services of standard centre back pairing of Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida through suspension, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic is set to be left without vice-captain Ivan Rakitic and Andrej Kramaric for this weekend’s final EURO 2020 qualifier against Slovakia this weekend.

The Croatia squad gathered in the capital Zagreb today ahead of the final EURO 2020 qualifier against Slovakia in Rijeka on 16 November and this morning coach Dalic spoke to the press. 

Kramaric (Photo: HNS)

“Andrej Kramaric will arrive today, but will most likely return to his club as he has not trained for 7 days. So we do not want to risk him. Matej Mitrovic was due to play yesterday but during the final training he felt a problem again and he will be looked at today. If there are any doubts with him we will not risk him either,” Dalic said, before revealing that Rakitic, who has had problems with his achilles tendon, is also set to miss Saturday’s match. 

“Ivan Rakitic did not play for Barcelona, he felt his tendon. He will be here today and we will take a look at him and if there is a problem he will also return to his club,” said Dalic. 

Rakitic (Photo: HNS)

Cagliari midfielder Marko Rog has been called up to the squad to cover for Rakitic, whilst Hajduk defender Josip Juranovic joins the squad to cover for Mitrovic.

Marko Rog (Photo: HNS)

Croatia needs one point to guarantee qualification for EURO 2020, but coach Dalic says they will be seeking all three points on Saturday. 

“We are not going for a point, we must seek victory. We must not be overwhelmed by the result in Slovakia (4-0),” said Dalic.