The Croatia U-21 national football team will play a European Championship qualifying match against Turkey in Osijek on 31 March. Ahead of the gathering, head coach Ivica Olić announced the list of players.
“After quite a long break of five months, we have another gathering ahead of one of the most important matches in these qualifiers. Two teams that have slightly pulled away from the rest are meeting, and both have every right to hope for first place. I expect an extremely difficult match, very important for us, as well as for Turkey,” said head coach Olić.
There are certain problems with injuries, but the head coach remains optimistic and stresses that there will be enough time to prepare for Turkey.
“We have certain issues when it comes to players. Quite a few of them have changed clubs and do not have continuity in matches, but we have one game and enough days to prepare. I hope we will approach the match in the best possible way and, with the support of our fans, continue our positive run towards our goal, which is the European Championship,” Olić added.
The match is scheduled for 31 March at 17:30, and the team expects great support from the stands.
“In Osijek we play in a very good atmosphere at a very good stadium. We expect great support in the stands and we are looking forward to that match,” Olić concluded.
Squad list:
Goalkeepers: Toni Silić (Hajduk), Anthony Pavlešić (Rudeš), Jozo Vukman (Hrvace)
Defenders: Moreno Živković (Vukovar), Branimir Mlačić (Udinese), Dominik Prpić (Porto), Matia Barzić (Cultural Leonesa), Teo Barišić (Rijeka), Šimun Hrgović (Hajduk), Filip Krušelj (Slaven Belupo)
Midfielders: Lovro Zvonarek (Grasshoppers), Ivan Katić (Lokomotiva), Adriano Jagušić (Panathinaikos), Šimun Mikolčić (Osijek), Ante Kavelj (Gorica), Marin Šotiček (Basel), Fabijan Krivak (Sigma Olomouc), Ivan Canjuga (Varaždin), Roko Brajković (Hajduk)
Forwards: Anton Matković (Osijek), Fran Topić (Dinamo)
Preliminary call-ups: Josip Cundeković (Dubrava), Luka Hodak (Hajduk), Noel Bodetić (Rijeka), Sven Lesjak (Varaždin), Filip Mažar (Slaven Belupo), Noa Skoko (Hajduk), Mirko Sušak (Lokomotiva), Gabriel Rukavina (Rijeka), Antonio Verinac (St. Gallen), Luka Tunjić (Fortuna Sittard)
The Croatia U-21 national team will gather on Monday, 23 March at 12:00 in Zagreb, where they will train until 29 March, when they will travel to Osijek and hold two training sessions at Opus Arena ahead of the match against Turkey.
Croatia will play Turkey on 31 March at 17:30 and will host their main rival, who has taken the top spot in the standings with one game more played.
Group H
Turkey – 11
Croatia – 10
Ukraine – 4
Hungary – 3
Lithuania – 1
