The coach of the Croatian national team, Zlatko Dalić, called 24 players for the upcoming matches against the Faroe Islands and Montenegro as part of the European qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
Croatia welcomes the end of the competition in qualifying group L in an excellent situation after winning the six rounds played 16 points with a great goal difference of +19. The Vatreni are three points behind the second-placed Czech Republic, and one point separates them from the mathematical confirmation of placement in the seventh world championship in Croatian history, HNS announced.
In November, Croatia is waiting for a domestic test Faroe Islands in Rijeka on November 14, and then a guest appearance in Podgorica at Montenegro November 17.
Coach Dalić invited 24 players, and at the same time sent 12 guesses which can be activated in case of need.
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For the most part, we stayed faithful to the staff who won the winning position we are in because those players deserved to celebrate their placement in the World Cup, and in addition, we want to use every gathering for further teamwork and strengthening togetherness, Dalić explained and added:
Of course, at the same time we want to consider new options as well and give an opportunity to players who deserve it with good games in continuity, which is why we sent 12 pre-invitations and in the next two weeks we will see who else will possibly win their call to the national team. The World Cup is ahead of us, we have strong competition in all lines and everyone needs it take advantage of the following months to fight for the best possible status in the national team with minutes and form in their clubs, which, of course, is deserved by the performance so far in the national team.
Before Croatia are the last two games in group L, against the Faroe Islands and Montenegro.
We are aware that one point separates us from the mathematical confirmation of placement at the World Championship, and of course that one we want to ensure placement and celebrate with their fans in Rijeka. If the results of the Faroe Islands are not enough of a warning, then that difficult match in Tórshavn is certainly proof that the Faroese are a very tough, demanding and unpleasant opponent, and that only with a maximum approach can we expect our undoubtedly greater quality to come to the fore. The same is true for the match in Montenegro, because regardless of apparent placementwe want to finish the qualifications in style, while still fighting for the first strong group – it’s up to us to do what we can, register two victories and thus end these qualifications as the best in historyconcluded coach Dalić.
The national team will gather on November 10 in Zagreb, from where they will immediately leave for Rijeka, where they will prepare for the match with the Faroe Islands, which is scheduled for November 14 at the HNK Rijeka stadium. On the afternoon of November 16, Vatreni will travel from Krk to Podgorica, where the last match in group L awaits them against Montenegro a day later.
The winner of the group will secure a direct placement at the World Championship, while the runner-up will win additional qualifications.
List of invited players for the matches with the Faroe Islands and Montenegro:
Gatekeepers: Dominik Livaković, Ivica Ivušić, Dominik Kotarski
Defensive: Joško Guardiol, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Martin Erlić, Luka Vušković
Midfielder: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pasalić, Nikola Vlašić, Kristijan Jakić, Petar Sučić, Nikola Moro, Toni Fruk
Strikers: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Marco Pasalić, Franjo Ivanović, Igor Matanović
Pre-calls: Lovro Majer, Mislav Oršić, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina, Petar Musa, Domagoj Bradarić, Ivan Smolčić, Adriano Jagušić, Franko Kovačević, Karlo Letica, Ivor Pandur, Moris Valinčić
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: Igor Kralj/PIXSELL)
