Off to Bulgaria
Croatia U-17 squad for European Championships
02.05.2015.
Photo by: Alan Srčnik
Head coach Dario Bašić selected 18 players to represent Croatia at EURO 2015, scheduled to start next week in Bulgaria.
Coach Bašić had 25 players available for training sessions in Osijek, including two friendly matches against Belišće and Croatia Đakovo.
Upon return to Zagreb, the coaching staff selected the following 18 players to travel to Bulgaria on Monday.
Adrian Šemper (Dinamo), Matej Hudećek (Dinamo), Matko Babić (Lokomotiva), Branimir Kalaica (Dinamo), Martin Erlić (Parma), Vinko Soldo (Dinamo), Josip Brekalo (Dinamo), Neven Đurasek (Varaždin), Karlo Igor Majić (Dinamo), Nikola Moro (Dinamo), Davor Lovren (Dinamo), Ivan Nevistić (Osijek), Mihael Briški (Dinamo), Marko Gjira (Dinamo), Saša Urošević (Istra 1961), Dino Halilović (Barcelona), Borna Sosa (Dinamo) and Adrian Blečić (Dinamo).
Croatia head coach was satisfied with his players' attitude and devotion.
"I congratulate to all may players from the preliminary squad, for their football skills and their behaviour and attitude. They could not all make it to the final squad, but they have all shown that they deserve to be in the national team and that they do not lack in quality. Everyone has given his contribution".
Besides head coach Bašić, Croatia coaching staff includes technical director assistant Ilija Lončarević, coach Petar Krpan, goalkeeping coach Marjan Mrmić, fitness coach Luka Krklješ, doctor Želimir Orkić, physios Goran Beloglavec and Zlatko Mihalić, secretary Josip Tomaško and kitman Milan Vincek.
Foto: Alan Srčnik
Croatia will play its opening match in Bulgaria against the host nation on 6 May at 19:00 in Stara Zagora, with matches against Austria and Spain to come in the group stage.
Bašić believes Croatia is ready for the challenge.
"The atmosphere in the squad is excellent, we have done everything that was planned during the preparation phase. We have tested all the players, in order to have a wide choice and a strong team, and we have succeeded. In the final training sessions we shall try to reach our peak and be at our best for the first, very important match. Of course, it would mean a lot to start with a positive result, but we have to take one match at a time, as we did up to now".
EURO 2015 is also the qualifying tournament for the FIFA World Cup in Chile. Six best teams will represent Europe.
Croatia fixtures:
6 May, 19:00: Croatia - Bulgaria (Stara Zagora)
9 May, 13:00: Croatia - Austria (Sozopol)
12 May, 17:00: Croatia - Spain (Sliven)
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