Croatia s Modric, Rakitic, Kovacic included in 24-man World Cup squad
Tuesday - May 22, 2018 1:56 pm ,
Category : SPORTS
Croatia s Modric, Rakitic, Kovacic included in 24-man World Cup squad
Zagreb May 22 (IANS) Real Madrid midfielders Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic as well as Barcelona s Ivan Rakitic and Atletico Madrid s Sime Vrsaljko were included in Croatia s 24-man list for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
During a press conference here on Monday coach Zlatko Dalic said he plans to exclude one defender from the final list due June 4 given Vedran Corluka and Aleksandar Mitrovic s injuries reports Efe.
"We will assess their situation during the preparations " Dalic said.
The coach also said he prefers Mario Mandzukic to play as striker rather than a winger as he does with Juventus.
"I see our versatile striker Mandzukic leading the line because that s his natural position " Dalic added.
Croatia s training camp is to start May 26 and the national team is set to tune up for the World Cup with two friendlies: Brazil on June 3 and Senegal on June 8.
Croatia s first World Cup match is to be against Nigeria on June 16 in group D which also includes Argentina and Iceland.
The team s list is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (Monaco) Lovre Kalinic (Gent) Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb).
Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow) Domagoj Vida (Besiktas) Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria) Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid) Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kijev) Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen) Matej Mitrovic (Bruges) Duje Caleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid) Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) Milan Badelj (Fiorentina) Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) Filip Bradaric (Rijeka).
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus) Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan) Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan) Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim) Marko Pjaca (Schalke) Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt).
--IANS tri/bg
During a press conference here on Monday coach Zlatko Dalic said he plans to exclude one defender from the final list due June 4 given Vedran Corluka and Aleksandar Mitrovic s injuries reports Efe.
"We will assess their situation during the preparations " Dalic said.
The coach also said he prefers Mario Mandzukic to play as striker rather than a winger as he does with Juventus.
"I see our versatile striker Mandzukic leading the line because that s his natural position " Dalic added.
Croatia s training camp is to start May 26 and the national team is set to tune up for the World Cup with two friendlies: Brazil on June 3 and Senegal on June 8.
Croatia s first World Cup match is to be against Nigeria on June 16 in group D which also includes Argentina and Iceland.
The team s list is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (Monaco) Lovre Kalinic (Gent) Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb).
Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow) Domagoj Vida (Besiktas) Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria) Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid) Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kijev) Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen) Matej Mitrovic (Bruges) Duje Caleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid) Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) Milan Badelj (Fiorentina) Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) Filip Bradaric (Rijeka).
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus) Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan) Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan) Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim) Marko Pjaca (Schalke) Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt).
--IANS tri/bg
