Cosmopolitan look for Croatia
Friday, August 15, 2003
Article summary
Croatia have named a squad of foreign-based players only for the international friendly against England.
Article body
Rapaic included
With goalkeepers Tomislav Butina and Stipe Pletikosa having joined Club Brugge KV and FC Shakhtar Donetsk respectively, no home-based players are left in Baric's party. Milan Rapaic is included despite currently being without a club since leaving HNK Hajduk Split, but Mladen Petric is injured and misses the friendly at Ipswich Town FC's Portman Road stadium.
Coach's warning
However, Baric has warned that Rapaic and Shakhtar's Darijo Srna must find regular first-team football if they are to play in the forthcoming UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers. Croatia are currently second in Group 8, a point behind leaders Bulgaria with three games left.
Next qualifier
Their next qualifier is in Andorra on 6 September, followed by a trip to Belgium four days later and a final home match against Bulgaria on 11 October.
Croatia squad
Pletikosa, Butina, Šimic, R Kovac, Tudor, Tomas, Šimunic, Zivkovic, Srna, Rosso, N Kovac, Leko, Rapaic, Babic, Hrman, Olic, Pršo, Mornar, I Maric.
