Olić announces squad for three European Championship qualifiers

The Young Vatreni will first host Hungary in Varaždin on 26 September before facing Ukraine in Hungary on 2 October. They will conclude their qualifying campaign away against Lithuania on 6 October.

“We have reached the final stage of the qualifiers, with three matches remaining, and we continue to pursue our goal of qualifying for the European Championship. At the moment, our full focus is on our first and most important match, against Hungary. Another three points would further strengthen our position and leave our destiny in our own hands heading into the closing stages of the qualifiers.

The squad also includes several new and slightly younger players who have earned their place through their performances at club level.

Due to injury, we are still without Leon Grgić, Teo Barišić and Anton Matković, who are recovering from cruciate ligament injuries. Filip Krušelj and Ante Kavelj will also miss this international window through injury,” said head coach Ivica Olić.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Toni Silić (Hajduk), Anthony Pavlešić (Sigma Olomouc), Luka Savatović (Lokomotiva).

Defenders: Moreno Živković (Rijeka), Luka Hodak (Hajduk), Šimun Hrgović (Hajduk), Niko Šepić (Istra 1961), Branimir Mlačić (Watford), Dominik Prpić (Porto), Ivano Kolarik (Osijek), Raul Kumar (Istra 1961).

Midfielders: Lovro Zvonarek (Estrela da Amadora), Luka Vrbančić (Osijek), Branko Pavić (Rijeka), Ivan Canjuga (Varaždin), Adriano Jagušić (Panathinaikos), Ivan Katić (Lokomotiva), Adrian Segečić (Portsmouth), Domagoj Bukvić (Osijek), Marin Šotiček (Hajduk), Fabijan Krivak (Sigma Olomouc).

Forwards: Antonio Verinac (Austria Lustenau), Fran Topić (Dinamo).

Standby players: Antonio Rajić (Kustošija), Marko Zebić (Rudeš), Ivan Cvetko (Slaven Belupo), Stjepan Davidović (Korona Kielce), Kristijan Čabrajić (Lokomotiva), Lovre Kulušić (Lokomotiva), Matija Subotić (Lokomotiva), Filip Mažar (Slaven Belupo), Šimun Mikolčić (Osijek).

The team will assemble in Zagreb on 21 September, where they will prepare for the upcoming matches.

Match schedule:

26 September 2026, 17:00
Croatia – Hungary, Varaždin

2 October 2026, 18:00
Ukraine – Croatia, Miskolc (Hungary)

6 October 2026, 19:00
Lithuania – Croatia, Druskininkai (Lithuania)

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