Roko Rogić, who did not play at the tournament in the Czech Republic, had already left the national team earlier and now the coach removed and thanked Pavlo Marčinković, Mateo Drežnjak and Goran Filipović.
Croatian Basketball National Team Coach Damir Mulaomerović (Photo: HKS / Marin Sušić)
The Croatian jersey will be worn like this during the next weeks:
- 1 Toni Perković
- 3 Jaleen Devon Smith
- 4 Roko Prkačin
- 7 Krunoslav Simon
- 8 Mario Hezonja
- 9 Dario Saric
- 10 Lovro Gnjidic
- 17 Karlo Matković
- 27 Ivan Ramljak
- 30 Dominik Mavra
- 40 Ivica Zubac
- 44 Bojan Bogdanović
Biggest surprise for many is probably the nomination of american national Jaleen Devon Smith. The 193cm guard who just extended his contract with ALBA Berlin after winning the german championships against Euroleague team Bayern Munich in the finals has been naturalized (a fancy word for beeing granted Croatian Nationality which you would not be granted if the country did not expect to benefit from it). The decison came after the dissolution of the National Federation’s so called “Expert Council for Men’s Basketball”, which acted as an advisory body of the Board of Directors. The group, headed by Dino Rađa was expressly against bringing a foreigner into the national team. The association led by Stojko Vranković, however hopes that a new American in the position of play maker can make the nation’s problems disappear. Slobodna Dalmacija reported in detail on July 22nd, 2022 but until now the newly added Croatian’s debut has not been given.
Croatia’s new No. 3 Jaleen Devon Smith (Photo: ALBA Berlin / Daniel Löb)
After dropping out of the World Cup 2023 Qualification by finishing last in its group with Slovenia, Finnland and Sweden, Croatia now needs to first earn the right to be allowed to try to qualify for the World Cup in 2025 in a group with Poland, Switzerland and Austria. The official matches for Croatia that are now coming up, are: two pre-qualification matches for EuroBasket 2025 (August 25 in Poland and August 28 against Switzerland in Opatija) and the European Championship from September 1 to 18.
Tickets for Croatia – Switzerland (August 28 at 20:00) can be purchased through the udnice.hr system or at the box office of the ‘Marino Cvetković’ hall in Opatija on the day of the match.
The pre-qualification matches are broadcast by Sport Klub, and the European Championship by Sport Klub and HRT.
OFFICIAL MATCHES OF CROATIA
PRE-QUALIFICATIONS FOR EURO 2025
• August 25, 2022 Poland – Croatia August 25, 2022 at 18:30 (broadcast available on SK 3)
• August 28, 2022 Croatia – Switzerland August 28, 2022 at 20:00
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP, 1.-18. September 2022
• Croatia – Greece September 2, 2022 at 17:00
• Great Britain – Croatia September 3, 2022 at 14:15
• Croatia – Estonia September 5, 2022 at 14:15
• Italy – Croatia September 6 2022 at 21:00
• Croatia – Ukraine September 8, 2022 at 14:15
