Croatia national football team awaits the final qualifiers at the second place in Group, trailing two points to Russia. Croatia hosts Russia on 14 November in Split, but first has to visit Malta on 11 November, the day that Russia hosts Cyprus.
The top team from each group will secure a ticket to the World Cup, and the second-placed team will join the play-off paths in March 2022.
foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
The Vatreni will meet on 8 November in Zagreb, travel to Malta on 10 November, and arrive in Split on 12 November.
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić believes in players who have won 11 out of 15 points this autumn.
"Lovren and Juranović are back, since they have recovered. There is no reason for major changes, this team has performed well in the previous months and earned the trust with its performances, approach, and unity".
🇭🇷 Head coach @DalicZlatko presents #Croatia squad for the decisive @FIFAWorldCup qualifiers in November! ❤️🔥#BeProud #WCQ #Family #Vatreni pic.twitter.com/E80JuHx65J
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) October 25, 2021
"The most important thing is that Croatia does not depend on other outcomes. Two victories will get us to Qatar, that is our objective, and we will give everything to accomplish this mission. First, we have to stay focused on Malta encounter - that is now the key match that has to be approached seriously and at the maximum level. Only then we can think about Russia, and the fan support at Poljud Stadium - that will be our advantage, alongside our quality and team spirit", Dalić said.
Croatia squad for Malta and Russia qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković (Dinamo), Simon Sluga (Luton Town), Ivo Grbić (Lille)
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Dejan Lovren (Zenit), Borna Barišić (Glasgow Rangers), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Marseille), Josip Juranović (Celtic), Joško Gvardiol (Leipzig), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Marin Pongračić (Borussia Dortmund), Josip Stanišić (Bayern)
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Nikola Vlašić (West Ham), Luka Ivanušec (Dinamo), Kristijan Jakić (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Forwards: Ivan Perišić (Inter), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Josip Brekalo (Torino), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo), Marko Livaja (Hajduk)
Stand-by: Lovre Kalinić (Hajduk), Mile Škorić (Osijek), Filip Uremović (Rubin Kazan), Antonio Mirko Čolak (Malmo), Kristijan Lovrić (Gorica), Nikola Moro (Dinamo Moskva)
