Dalić announces list for Czech Republic and Gibraltar

The Croatian national football team coach has announced his list of 24 players for Croatia's upcoming qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, in which Croatia will square off against the Czech Republic and Gibraltar. Croatia will play the Czech side on October 9th in Prague and Gibraltar three days later in Varaždin.

Croatia has secured a maximum 12 points from its first four appearances and is in an excellent position to make a strong step towards the 2026 World Cup in the two matches this October. Coach Zlatko Dalić's team is currently first in Group "L" with a perfect record of four wins and no losses, for twelve points. In announcing his preliminary roster for the two qualifiers, Dalić noted that in addition to the 24 call-ups, he has also issued 12 pre-call-ups. However, he made it clear that he plans on relying on the players that have led the team throughout the qualifiers so far.

"Given the excellent performance so far in the qualifiers, it is logical that we remain loyal to the team that has earned these maximum 12 points. I am pleased that Joško Gvardiol has returned to the pitch in excellent form, and we will, of course, wait for Mateo Kovačić until the last moment because he is one of our main players. By sending out a larger number of pre-call-ups, we have provided ourselves with more options because some players are struggling with injuries, others with club status, and still others are imposing themselves with good form, so we will see over the next two weeks whether we need to add anyone else to the team," Dalić said.

The key game in October will be against the Czech Republic in Prague, as the Czech side also has 12 points so far, albeit from five matches.

"We did a great job in June and September and are now in a situation where we can achieve our goal with two more good games. We will not allow our win in Osijek over the Czech Republic to give us a false sense of security, we know that the Czechs will be even better, tougher and more aggressive in front of their fans and that we must respond in the same way and thus allow our quality to prevail. This will be our toughest match in these qualifiers, but qualifying for the World Cup is not and must not be easy. It is the crowning glory of every athlete and coach's career, and our desire, motivation and unity must be at exactly that, the highest possible level. I am full of faith in this team, which has had exactly that approach so far. It has shown that it is the best in the group and now we want to confirm that in Prague," Dalić added.

The Czech game will also be a milestone for Dalić, marking his 100th game leading the national side, with his 101st game at the helm coming against Gibraltar in his home town of Varaždin.

"I am extremely looking forward to this performance in front of the fans in Varaždin, and I am deeply convinced that we will give the spectators many reasons for joy, because we are big favorites in the match against Gibraltar and we are not hiding from that role, because the stakes are too high to relax," the national team coach concluded.

CROATIAN NATIONAL TEAM:

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković (Girona), Ivica Ivušić (Hajduk), Dominik Kotarski (Copenhagen)

Defenders: Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Šutalo (Ajax), Josip Stanišić (Bayern), Marin Pongračić (Fiorentina), Martin Erlić (Midtjylland), Luka Vušković (Hamburger SV)

Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Milan), Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakić (Augsburg), Petar Sučić (Inter), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Rijeka)

Forwards: Ivan Perišić (PSV Eindhoven), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pašalić (Orlando City), Franjo Ivanović (Benfica)

Call-ups: Nikola Vlašić (Torino), Bruno Petković (Kocaelispor), Josip Juranović (Union Berlin), Mislav Oršić (Pafos), Borna Sosa (Crystal Palace), Luka Sučić (Real Sociedad), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanović (Augsburg), Domagoj Bradarić (Verona), Ivan Smolčić (Como), Karlo Letica (Lausanne), Ivor Pandur (Hull City)

Source: HRT