Croatia announce 23 man squad for Euros

Croatia go into this summer’s European Championships hoping to shake off the perennial tag of dark horses as coach Ante Cacic announced his final 23 man squad for the tournament.

The most high profile omission is that of Barcelona’s dynamic young midfielder Alen Halilovic, 19 who is currently on loan with Sporting Gijon. Dejan Lovren had already not been selected for the squad with Cacic citing disciplinary reasons due to Lovren refusing to warm-up in a friendly against Hungary in March.

Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, defender Duje Calet-Car and midfielder Domagoj Antolic were the other players who failed to make the cut with coach Cacic acknowledging the contribution of the players saying, “It was not an easy decision as all these players deserved to be here. However, it’s my job as coach to decide which players we need the most.”

Cacic has plumped for experience at the back with veteran defenders Darijo Srna and Vedran Corluka expected to marshal the troops and offer a calming influence to younger players such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Tin Jedvaj.

The axing of two midfield players is seen as a reflection of the quality available to Cacic in the middle of the park with Ivan Rakitic, the linchpin pulling the strings along with the highly experienced Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and supported ably by attack minded players Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic.

Cacic has included 5 strikers in his squad but is widely tipped to start with Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic up front on his own who will be heavily relied upon to provide the firepower for Croatia.

Croatia have been somewhat goal shy in their build up to the finals in France having drawn 1-1 away to Hungary in March and managing a 1-0 win over Moldova last Friday night. Cacic’s side have their final warm-up match against San Marino on Saturday before they get their EURO 2016 campaign underway against Turkey in Paris on 12^th June in their opening game in Group D.

Croatia squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Hadjuk Split), Ivan Vargic (Rijeka).

Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moskva), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kyiv), Ivan Strinic (Napoli), Gordon Schildenfeld (Dinamo Zagreb), Sime Vrsajlko (Sassuolo), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Ivan Perisic (Internazionale Milano), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Internazionale Milano), Marko Rog (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Coric (Dinamo Zagreb).

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Nikola Kalinic (Fiorentina), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Dinamo Zagreb), Duje Cop (Malaga).