23 names and five reserves
Head coach Dalić reveals Croatia play-offs squad
23.10.2017.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić has presented 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup play-offs clashes with Greece.
Seeking the 2018 FIFA World Cup berth, Croatia faces Greece on 9 November at home and on 12 November away. New head coach Zlatko Dalić, who took over on the eve of the Ukraine qualifier in Kiev, revealed the squad.
"I hope we can all stay positive and host Greece in front of a full crowd. We are analyzing previous Greek matches and Greek internationals' form, but the most important will be Croatia's performance. If we perform at a maximum level, as we did in the second half in Kiev, all will be well, regardless of the fact that Greece is the toughest possible opponent in the play-offs. Croatia has to be prepared for everything", says Dalić.
#Croatia squad list for November @EuroQualifiers play-off clashes with @EthnikiOmada.#BeProud #Vatreni #WCQ @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/qZXLlGfDVf
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) 23. listopada 2017.
"Croatia has to play attacking football and that's why I opted for young wingers Vlašić and Rebić, as they are very strong in one-on-one situations and can be used when trying to penetrate Greek defence. Furthermore, we need to stay mentally calm. I just hope all my players come fit to play, that is the key", he added.
Marcelo Brozović (Inter Milan), Marko Pjaca (Juventus), Duje Čop (Standard Liege), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), and Antonio Milić (Oostende) are among the reserves.
Croatia squad for Greece qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Danijel Subašić (Monaco), Lovre Kalinić (Gent), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo)
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Strinić (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Šime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivarić (Dynamo Kiev), Matej Mitrović (Besiktas), Marin Leovac (PAOK), Zoran Nižić (Hajduk)
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marko Rog (Napoli), Mario Pašalić (Spartak Moscow), Filip Bradarić (Rijeka), Nikola Vlašić (Everton)
Forwards: Mario Mandžukić (Juventus), Ivan Perišić (Inter Milan), Nikola Kalinić (AC Milan), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Rebić (Eintracht)
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