Gračan and Bačić: “There are always surprises in football”

Head coach Nenad Gračan and captain Doris Bačić previewed a demanding encounter against a strong Icelandic side, highlighting their players’ motivation and belief in their own abilities.

Nenad Gračan: “We will try to put in a quality performance”

“We have a really difficult game ahead of us. We are playing against one of the best teams in Europe, a side that is very aggressive and very strong from set pieces. It will certainly be a demanding task for our players to deal with all of that. However, there are always surprises in football, so we will try to give our best and put in a quality performance. I believe we have the quality to do that, and the girls are motivated as well,” said head coach Gračan.

Croatia have made two changes to their squad ahead of the game. Petra Mikulica and Ella Ljuština have withdrawn due to injuries, with Antea Guvo and Valentina Akrap called up in their place.

“There have been some changes, but the most important thing is that we have a good selection of players. Mikulica and Ljuština are injured, while the other players are available. The training sessions are going well, the conditions in Medulin are good, and we expect to confirm that in the game as well. It is important that we are organised and disciplined and that we try to make up for some of Iceland’s strengths with our aggression,” Gračan added.

Doris Bačić: “We are all really looking forward to the game”

Captain Doris Bačić stressed that the team had been eagerly awaiting the start of the play-offs and that the atmosphere within the squad is excellent.

“Finally, the play-off is here. We have been waiting for it for a long time. Iceland are a very complete and physical team. We have watched them several times, and all the girls know what awaits us. Our team is quite new, and we already entered the Nations League with new and younger players.

The atmosphere is excellent. I don’t know when it has been better since I’ve been here. We are all really looking forward to the game, everyone is giving their maximum in training, and you can see that the girls can’t wait to get out on the pitch. I hope that our youthfulness won’t carry us away too much, but everyone is ready and looking forward to the game.

Anything can happen in football. We believe in ourselves, our abilities and everything we have been working on over the past year,” said Bačić.

Following the first leg in Pula, Croatia will travel to Iceland for the return leg on 13 October in Reykjavík. The match at Laugardalsvöllur Stadium will kick off at 17:30 CET.

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