Croatia U-21 coach Gračan: "Everything for a positive result"

Croatia U-21 will meet on Monday, 21 March in Zagreb to start preparations for the two upcoming matches in the EURO 2017 in Poland qualifying campaign.

Croatia will face Spain in Burgos on 24 March (18:00 kick-off) and host Estonia four days later, on 28 March in Zaprešić (19:00 kick-off).

Head coach Nenad Gračan called-up the following players: Dominik Livaković (Zagreb), Josip Posavec (Palermo), Marko Marić (Lechia Gdansk), Josip Juranović and Fran Tudor (Hajduk Split), Jozo Šimunović (Celtic), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Dino Perić, Luka Capan, Ivan Fiolić and Marko Kolar (Lokomotiva), Antonio Milić (Oostende), Josip Radošević (Eibar), Marko Rog, Ante Ćorić and Domagoj Pavičić (Dinamo), Filip Krovinović (Rio Ave), Mario Pašalić (Monaco), Petar Bočkaj (Inter) and Stipu Pericu (Udinese Calcio), while Dino Mikanović (Aarhus) will arrive for the Estonia encounter.

Additionally, Petar Brlek was called up after Mario Pašalić withdraw due to an injury.

 

Izbornik Nenad Gračan objavio je popis U-21 reprezentativaca na koje računa za predstojeće kvalifikacijske susrete sa Španjolskom i Estonijom. #U21 #Hrvatska #Croatia #mladiVatreni #Spain #Estonia #Euro #BeProud #BudiPonosan

A photo posted by Hrvatski nogometni savez (@hns_cff) on Mar 9, 2016 at 1:59am PST

"There were certain difficulties with injuries or lack of competitive matches, so we still have to see how things are going. Nikola Vlašić of Hajduk has only returned to training and it was agreed that he will skip these matches to allow him normal recovery", said Gračan.

"In Burgos we have a demanding test. Spain has proved its strength, they have a wide range of quality players and the coach can enable them continuity. However, Croatia is a time that can rise up to a challenge and we will do everything we can to achieve a positive result", he added.

Spain leads the qualifying Group 6 with 13 points, Croatia is second with 12, and third-placed Sweden has 10. Georgia follows with six, Estonia with four points, and San Marino has a single point. Nine group winners secure EURO 2017 berth, and four best runners-up will reach the play-off round.

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