Olić announces squad for the first European Championship qualifier

The young Vatreni will face Turkey away in Trabzon on 9 September 2025. Croatia’s U-21 team will compete in Group H, together with Ukraine, Hungary, Turkey, and Lithuania.

Olić has called up 23 players and issued 10 preliminary invitations.

“After two good preparation cycles and winning the tournament in Qatar, we expect this new generation to continue in the same direction. We are facing a demanding group, and the very first match against Turkey in Trabzon will be a big challenge. We're playing a strong opponent on their home ground, and we know it won’t be easy”, Olić said, adding that he is pleased to have Luka Vušković available again.

“We are happy to have Luka Vušković back — he is a key player for this team. At this moment, the most important thing for him is regular playing time, as emphasized by senior national team coach Zlatko Dalić. At the same time, there is always a possibility for him to rejoin the senior squad if needed. Mlačić and Čović will join us after they play for the U-19 team against Italy on 3 September. Our goal is to start the qualifiers in the right way and show that we can compete for a place at the European Championship”, the U-21 coach concluded.

 

 

 

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The team will gather on 1 September in Zagreb, where they will train until travelling to Turkey on 7 September. The match in Trabzon is scheduled for 9 September 2025 at 19:00.

After this opening game, the young Vatreni will play another qualifier in October, hosting Ukraine on 14 October, while in November they will play two matches, against Lithuania and Hungary.

Squad list for the match against Turkey

Goalkeepers

• Anthony Jacob Pavlešić (NK Rudeš)

• Toni Silić (HNK Hajduk)

• Josip Cundeković (Dubrava Tim Kabel)

Defenders

• Dominik Prpić (FC Porto)

• Moreno Živković (GNK Dinamo)

• Branimir Mlačić (HNK Hajduk)

• Teo Barišić (Lyon)

• Šimun Hrgović (HNK Hajduk)

• Domagoj Bukvić (NK Osijek)

• Luka Vušković (Tottenham)

Midfielders

• Luka Vrbančić (NK Osijek)

• Fabijan Krivak (NK Lokomotiva)

• Adriano Jagušić (NK Slaven Belupo)

• Luka Tunjić (Fortuna Sittard)

• Lovro Zvonarek (Grasshopper Club Zürich)

• Šimun Mikolčić (NK Osijek)

• Patrice Čović (SV Werder Bremen)

Forwards

• Mate Antunović (NK Varaždin)

• Fran Topić (GNK Dinamo)

• Filip Živković (NK Osijek)

• Roko Brajković (HNK Hajduk)

• Marin Šotiček (FC Basel 1893)

• Bruno Durdov (HNK Hajduk)

Preliminary call-ups

Ivan Šiško (NK Hrvace), Zvonimir Katalinić (NK Slaven Belupo), Noa Skoko (HNK Hajduk), Matija Subotić (NK Lokomotiva), Ante Kavelj (HNK Gorica), Gabriel Rukavina (HNK Rijeka), Šimun Butić (HNK Rijeka), Mirko Sušak (NK Lokomotiva), Phil Noah Pesch (1. FC Magdeburg), Lovre Kulušić (NK Bravo)

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