Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić has published a list of players for the upcoming games against Azerbaijan and Hungary.
Zlatko Dalić has released a list of players for the Croatia national team games against Azerbaijan and Hungary, set to take place on March 21 and 24. These are Croatia’s first two qualifiers for Euro 2020, reports Gol.hr on March 4, 2019.
“The qualifications are ahead of us, two tough and demanding matches. We will gather on March 18 in Zagreb and do light training, and we will have two more important trainings before the match against Azerbaijan,” said Dalić.
Due to the recent operation and the long recovery ahead for Šime Vrsaljko, Dalić has to find a solution for the right defensive position. There were talks about the return of the 37-year-old Darijo Srna, though Dalić did not have that solution in his plans.
“With our full respect for Darijo Srna as a player, man, and captain, we decided to go to the qualifications with a younger and longer-term solution for the right back. Our goal is to advance to the Euro and our second goal is to create the team for the European Championship.”
How long will Vrsaljko’s absence be from the national team?
“He’s definitely out for all qualifications, his recovery will last six to seven months, and that’s why I said we need to find a long-term solution in a younger player. We hope that he will be ready for the Euro, but during this time we have to find some other solution. We have some ideas, but let us be, we will find a solution. Injuries are unfortunately an integral part of the sport.”
What emphasis will Dalić put on the preparations?
“Well, we do not have much time, only two training sessions. We are serious and responsible. We are the favorites, but if we do not understand the opponent, we will have serious problems. Now the situation is turning; we are the ones that have to dominate. We will have the ball at our feet, and we must be patient. That is what I expect, it will be difficult to break the block in the first game, and we have to look at counters and semi-counters.”
Lovren cannot play in the first game as he serves a one game suspension.
“I hope he will get in shape and that he will play a game for Liverpool before we get together.”
You can find Dalić’s full list below.
Goalkeepers: Lovre Kalinić (Aston Villa), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo), Simon Sluga (Rijeka)
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (Bešiktaš), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Olympique Marseille), Antonio Milić (Anderlecht), Borna Barišić (Glasgow Rangers), Marin Leovac (Dinamo)
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Milan Badelj (Lazio), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Marko Rog (Sevilla), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Filip Bradarić (Cagliari)
Attackers: Ivan Perišić (Inter), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Rebić (Eintracht), Marko Pjaca (Fiorentina), Nikola Vlašić (CSKA Moskva), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg)
Potentials: Karlo Bartolec (Nordsjaelland), Bruno Petković (Dinamo), Marin Pongračić (RB Salzburg), Josip Posavec (Hajduk)
?? Squad list
??? (21 March)
??? (24 March)#BeProud #Croatia #Family #Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/2EnqQGMIqX— HNS (@HNS_CFF) March 4, 2019
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