HNS announced on May 20, 2019, that Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić revealed the list of players for the games against Wales and Tunisia in June and announced the continuation of qualifications for the European Championship in 2020. 

Zlatko Dalić emphasized on this occasion that the team is aware that they must target three points against Wales:

“The players are aware of the situation and know that we were not good enough against Azerbaijan and Hungary. After Hungary, it is clear that we have to target three points against Wales, and I'm sure the great fans will help us."

June has long been regarded as a problematic term for qualifying matches, as Dalić pointed out:

"This is a tough match that we will play in a difficult time. Experiences in June are not the most enjoyable, but we do not have a lot of choices, and we will certainly not justify this. I hope the players will be ready for the preparations, and I'm glad we have more than a week to prepare for the game."

Some of the players, like those who play in the German Bundesliga, will have a ten-day rest before the gathering and should be fully prepared for the qualifying match against a tough opponent.

“The players who ended club competitions received programs to get ready for the gathering, but I'm sure many of them will have a few days of rest before we get together. It is clear to me that they are exhausted and have given their maximum to the clubs, but the players know what awaits them against Wales and know they have to be in good form. We must not underestimate Wales. Each player has a special motive, and Bale is especially dangerous. However, we will find a solution and we will try to stop them," Dalić said.

Dalić also spoke about the new names on the list, Filip Benković and Dario Melnjak:

"Over the past few months we've examined the players and we see this as a chance to strengthen the team. Melnjak is the only Croatian left-back player who has played the standard for the last six months. We watched him play and spoke to people in Turkey, and everything we heard was positive. Benković played a good season at Celtic and recovered from injury. I believe that we have not made mistakes with the new players."

Dalić also listed four players who will travel to the U-21 European Championships in Italy and San Marino in June, and added Mijo Caktaš and Mile Škorić to join the Vatreni for the friendly against Tunisia:

"I spoke with the players, and we arranged a time when they would join the preparations. The young players of the team will leave with coach Gračan immediately after June 8th to prepare for the U-21 European Championship. For the friendly against Tunisia, Caktaš and Škorić will join us, who are on the call-up list.” 

You can find the full list of players below.

Goalkeepers: Lovre Kalinić, Dominik Livaković, Simon Sluga

Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Tin Jedvaj, Borna Barišić, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Karlo Bartolec, Filip Benković, Dario Melnjak

Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, Mateo Kovačić, Milan Badelj, Marcelo Brozović, Marko Rog, Mario Pašalić, Filip Bradarić

Attackers: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Rebić, Nikola Vlašić, Josip Brekalo, Bruno Petković

Call ups: Mile Škorić, Mijo Caktaš, Josip Posavec

?⬇ Croatia ?? squad list for June matches
1⃣ June 8 ➡ @EuropeanQualifiers match against @FAWales 2⃣ June 11 ➡ friendly match against Tunis#BeProud #Family pic.twitter.com/88bFHkAVwC

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) May 20, 2019

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 24, 2019 - Croatia and Hungary met in Budapest on Sunday for their second qualifier for the European Championship in 2020. Recall, Croatia defeated Azerbaijan in their first game 2:1 in Zagreb. Around 1,500 Croatian fans attended the Groupama Arena in Budapest for Sunday’s game. 

Unlike in Croatia’s first game against Azerbaijan which was played on Thursday in Zagreb, Croatia’s composition looked a bit more familiar in Budapest. Namely, coach Zlatko Dalić could count on Tin Jedvaj in the defense, as well as Dejan Lovren who missed the first match due to a one-game suspension. Dalić also rested Marcelo Brozović in the first game, and only introduced Ante Rebić towards the end of the second half against Azerbaijan. This time around, these four players were part of the starting lineup. 

Croatia started the game with possession and had their first chance already in the third minute from a Luka Modrić free kick. Lovren’s header, however, went over the goal. Perišić shot in the 5th minute but hit right at the Hungarian keeper. Just moments later, Barišić crossed to Kramarić who hit over the goal. Vida saved Hungary ’s chance from a free kick in the 7th minute.

Kalinić had to make a brilliant save in the 9th minute after Hungary capitalized on a quick counter down the right side. And then it happened in the 12th minute - Hungary’s defense fell apart after Modrić crossed the ball into the box. Kramarić got his foot on the cross which found the boot of Rebić who scored for 0:1!

Hungary threatened Croatia’s goal in the 19th minute, but the goal soared across the box without any problems. 

The next ten minutes went without any real excitement and pretty boring play by both sides. After the 30th minute, Hungary picked up their game and seemed to be keeping possession more than Croatia. And then it happened for Hungary - in the 34th minute, they rushed down the right side and Szalai snuck past Vida to equalize for 1:1.

Croatia looked anything but the World Cup finalists we know in this first half, and spent the better part of 45 minutes trying to sort out their form… with what looked like a lot of confusion. It was a pretty painful first half that luckily ended 1:1. 

The second half began with no changes for either side. 

Croatia’s first real chance of the second half came in the 58th minute, though Perišić was unable to make anything of it. The game carried on uneventfully, forcing Dalić to sub Rebić for young star Brekalo in hope of some action. 

Croatia started picking up their game in the 70th minute, with Brekalo making a run but failing to release a shot in time. But it was Hungary to get lucky, and they scored from a corner in the 75th minute. Hungary now led 2:1. 

Vida had a chance in the 78th minute from a corner, though his header went way over the goal. Croatia was lucky that Hungary didn’t score again in the 80th minute, and the incredible effort of Kalinić and Rakitić saved the team from total embarrassment. 

Croatia tried picking it up in the last 10 minutes, though Hungary also picked up their pace, making it anything but easy for Croatia to capitalize on their chances. The players were frustrated and tired, and it showed. Modrić had a chance in the final minutes but struck wide of the goal, and in the last minute, Croatia received a corner which left them empty-handed. The game ended 2:1 for Hungary.  

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

The Croatia national team will play yet another friendly game to close out the 2019 schedule. 

From March 21 to November 16, 2019, Croatia will play their qualifying matches for Euro 2020. 

Croatia drew a promising group for the Euro 2020 qualifiers to be played next year. 

Croatia will still be a top seed in the Euro 2020 qualifying draw despite being relegated from the Nations League on Sunday. 

The two worst teams in the Nations League ‘League A’ will not be among the top-seeded in the draw for Euro 2020 qualifications, which could very well be Croatia and Iceland. 

The Croatia men’s handball team awaits a new round of qualifications, but this time for Euro 2020.

The draw of the UEFA Nations League began precisely at 12:00 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Croatia national football team was grouped in the third tier of the elite group ‘A’, and we found out today who they will play in the new competition! 

At the session of the BiH Football Federation in Sarajevo, it was decided that Croatian expert Robert Prosinečki will represent the team in the upcoming qualifications for the European Championship.