With two victories at the beginning of the qualifying round and a clean sheet, Croatia awaits the match at San Marino and accepts the role of favourites, says head coach Nenad Gračan:
"Of course we start as favourites, but we have to be serious and prove it on the field of play. I believe in this group of players, we have shown that we have quality and we have to keep winning. Considering what we have seen against Estonia and Georgia, and in friendlies, these players can cope with all tasks".
Croatia is away to San Marino on 7 October, while on 12 October Croatia hosts Russia in a friendly in Zaprešić.
"Since we are preparing for the qualifier against Spain, we wanted a stronger opponent at this time. This match with Russia will give many players the opportunity to prove themselves. We need to have as much players as possible, since we have to produce both results and players for the senior national team", explained Gračan.
foto: Slobodan Kadić
Head coach Gračan announced the squad list:
Marko Mikulić (Dinamo), Dominik Livaković (Zagreb), Josip Posavec (Inter Zaprešić), Dino Mikanović (Aarhus), Fran Tudor (Hajduk), Jozo Šimunović (Celtic), Denis Kolinger (Zagreb), Duje Ćaleta Car (Red Bull Salzburg), Filip Benković (Dinamo), Antonio Milić (Oostende), Josip Radošević (Rijeka), Petar Brlek (Slaven Belupo), Marko Rog (Dinamo), Mario Pašalić (Monaco), Ante Ćorić (Dinamo), Andrija Balić (Hajduk), Marko Kolar (Lokomotiva), Nikola Vlašić (Hajduk), Alen Halilović (Sporting Gijon), Mirko Marić (Lokomotiva).
