Bilic Announces Croatia Lineup for Andorra Clash

March 21, 2009

On Wednesday the 18th, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic announced the team lineup for their upcoming World Cup 2010 qualifier against Andorra to be played on Wednesday, April 1st. There is no surprise that Niko Kovac shall not appear in the squad, as he is retired, and Robert Kovac is still suspended with a red card. However, striker Mladen Petric will not feature because of a torn thigh muscle picked up in Hamburg SV’s 2-0 win over Energie Cottbus in the German Bundesliga. On the other hand, Hajduk Split player, Drago Gabric, will be looking to establish a place in the first national team.

Slaven Bilic said when he announced the lineup, “It will be our first qualifying game in 5 months. We will have to deal with a long trip and a bad field, but the only thing that matters is a win.” The squad will meet and prepare for the game at Rovinj in Istria rather than their usual place in Catez, Slovenia. This, being their second match with Andorra in their qualifying campaign, should be a rather easy match as they previously won over Andorra 4-0. The goals game from Olic, Modric, and two from Rakitic to secure their victory. They need another 3 points from this match in order to pass England and stay at the top of their group table.

The Lineup:

Stipe Pletikosa, Vedran Runje, Danijel Subasic, Vedran Corluka, Ivica Krizanac, Hrvoje Vejic, Dario Knezevic, Dino Drpic, Danijel Pranjic, Hrvoje Cale, Ivan Juric, Nikola Pokrivac, Ognjen Vukojevic, Jerko Leko, Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar, Darijo Srna, Ivan Rakitic, Drago Gabric, Eduardo Da Silva, Ivica Olic, Ivan Klasnic, Mario Mandzukic, Nikola Kalinic, Josip Simunic

Jill Guthrie

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