Coach Budimir announces squad for the World Cup in Qatar

The young Croatian team will play in Group C, together with Senegal, Costa Rica, and the United Arab Emirates.

Coach Budimir has called up 21 players, along with six preliminary call-ups.

“The last two months we played two tournaments and six quality matches against strong and well-known opponents. We won five, drew one, scored 16 goals and didn’t concede a single one. All players showed quality and all of them deserved to go to the World Cup. We used 27 players, but the rules allow only 18 outfield players plus three goalkeepers, so we had to do that difficult job and select those 18 players and three keepers.

I think we made good decisions. We hope to play as many matches as possible. My staff and I carefully evaluated everything and selected what we believe is the best team — players who will give their maximum for the squad.

Our gathering is next on 25 October, when we will train for four days in Osijek, at Pampas, where excellent conditions await us. On 29 October we fly to Qatar, where on 3 November we face Senegal, the group’s top seed and one of the favourites of the entire tournament. That is the most demanding match in the group, but we will prepare well.

We are good and we have quality — we have shown that we can play against anyone. The most important thing is that everyone stays healthy, and I am looking forward to this World Cup with great joy and optimism. I hope we will show our true selves and represent Croatian football in the best way”, said Budimir.

 

 

 

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Squad List for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar

Goalkeepers:
Matej Grahovac (Osijek), Petar Nemet (Istra 1961), Vito Kovač (Rijeka)

Defenders:
Petar Zvonimir Kostelac (Lokomotiva), Leon Jakirović (Dinamo), Raul Kumar (Istra 1961), Karlo Pajsar (Parma), Lukas Murica (Rijeka), Mateo Čupić (Hajduk), Nikola Radnić (Dinamo)

Midfielders:
Roko Vojvodić (Hajduk), Krešimir Radoš (Dinamo), Pavle Smiljanić (Lokomotiva), Niko Horvat (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Duje Slišković (Union Berlin), Jona Benkotić (Dinamo)

Forwards:
Tino Kusanović (FC Nürnberg), Patrik Horvat (Dinamo), Andrija Burcar (Parma), Ivan Križić (Hertha BSC), Gabrijel Šivalec (Slaven Belupo)

Preliminary call-ups:
Borna Ivanda (Tenerife), David Kalem (Osijek), Davor Bistre (Hajduk), Jona Ježić (Osijek), Bruno Mišura (Hajduk), Matko Bošković (Fiorentina)

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