Kovač: "We are aware of high stakes against Norway"

Kovač selected 25 players for the key qualifier against Norway, a team that sits in third position, a point behind Croatia in qualifying Group H.

Croatia national team will gather in Zagreb on Monday, 23 March, at noon, with head coach counting on all available players:

"It is nice to see Luka Modrić and Ivan Perišić back in action. Other injured players have also recovered and I hope they will avoid injuries during the next weeks so we can face Norway in full strength".

Both Croatia and Norway have made a good start into the qualifying round, which makes the Zagreb encounter one of the decisive matches.

"Norway has earned full respect in the previous qualifiers. This is a quality, hard-to-break team that requires the highest level of play. We have analysed them, found their strengths as well as some weaknesses we shall try to exploit. We are aware of the high stakes in this qualifier, and we are looking forward to the challenge".

Head coach Niko Kovač chose 25 players for the match against @NFF_info #BeProud #EuroQualifiers pic.twitter.com/XrVvIUB87C

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) March 16, 2015

Croatia will once again count on the young, talented players such as Kovačić, Halilović, Pjaca, Rebić or Brozović.

"During my time at the helm of Croatia U-21, I have seen that our boys know much and can do much. They all deserve a call-up. They are not just the future, but also the present", said Niko Kovač.

Croatia's list of candidates for Norway qualifier:

Goalkeepers: Danijel Subašić (Monaco), Lovre Kalinić (Hajduk), Ivan Vargić (Rijeka)

Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar), Šime Vrsaljko (Sassuolo), Ivan Tomečak (Rijeka), Vedran Ćorluka (Lokomotiv), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Danijel Pranjić (Panathinaikos), Marin Leovac (Rijeka)

Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Mateo Kovačić (Inter), Alen Halilović (Barcelona B)

Strikers: Ivica Olić (HSV), Mario Mandžukić (Atletico), Ivan Perišić (Wolfsburg), Andrej Kramarić (Leicester), Ante Rebić (Leipzig), Marko Pjaca (Dinamo), Anas Sharbini (Rijeka)

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