The Croatia water polo team is in Pula, beginning its cycle of preparations before leaving for the World Championships in Hungary from June 18 to July 3. Croatia will play its first game on June 21.
“We gathered on Sunday night, after the Champions League. We don’t have much time; our goal is to rest the players and psychologically prepare them for the first big competition this summer. The team is new, with a lot of work to do and little time, but I believe the real test will be the matches against the Italian national team, with which we will play two official matches, the first in Trieste and the second on June 14 in Pula.
We will end this cycle of preparations, give the boys two days off, and gather again on June 17. Then the selected thirteen players will be revealed, who will start in Budapest on June 18 for another match, this time against the national team of Hungary, after which I believe we will be ready to welcome the start of the World Championships,” announced coach Ivica Tucak.
After bad news about the injuries of defender Hrvoje Benić and goalkeeper Ivan Marcelić, Tucak is traveling to the World Championships without these two players.
The Croatia national team currently includes:
Toni Popadić (Jug Adriatic osiguranje), Jerko Jurlin (Mladost), Josip Vrlić (Radnički), Ivan Krapić (Noisy-le-Sec), Lovro Paparić (Vouliagmeni), defenders Marko Žuvela (Jug Adriatic osiguranje), Matias Biljak (Mladost), Rino Burić (Jadran), forwards Konstantin Kharkov (Jadran), Ivan Domagoj Zović (Szolnok), Jerko Marinić Kragić (Jadran), Loren Fatović (Jug Adriatic osiguranje), Franko Lazić (Mladost), Ante Vukičević (Marseille), Luka Bukić (Jadran), Andrija Bašić (Palermo), Dario Rakovec (Mladost) and Kristijan Milaković (Szolnok).
Tickets for the Croatia – Italy friendly match in Pula on June 14 are already on sale at the Pula City Pool.
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