Lakić and Vrsaljko enter Croatia reckoning

Defender Šime Vrsaljko and forward Srdjan Lakić have received their first senior international call-ups for Croatia's UEFA EURO 2012 Group F game at home to Malta on 17 November.

NK Dinamo Zagreb's 19-year-old Vrsaljko and the 26-year-old Lakić, scorer of ten goals for 1. FC Kaiserslautern this season, are the new names in a 22-man selection, with coach Slaven Bilić explaining: "Lakić really deserved a call-up after all his goals at Kaiserslautern; he was their main forward last season too. Šime Vrsaljko has been a minor sensation. He has great potential and plays in a position where we are already very strong – but we can never have too many quality players."

FC Bayern München striker Olić, troubled by knee injuries in recent months, again misses out having undergone surgery which will keep him sidelined until 2011. "Olić's absence is a big handicap, the biggest we could have," said Bilić, whose side will move top of Group F with victory against back markers Malta in Zagreb.
 
Croatia squad
Goalkeepers: Vedran Runje (RC Lens), Stipe Pletikosa (Tottenham Hotspur FC).

Defenders: Vedran Ćorluka (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Josip Šimunić (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Ivan Strinić (HNK Hajduk Split), Gordon Schildenfeld (SK Sturm Graz), Jurica Buljat (HNK Hajduk Split), Darijo Srna (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Šime Vrsaljko (NK Dinamo Zagreb).

Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Niko Kranjčar (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Danijel Pranjić (FC Bayern München), Ivan Rakitić (FC Schalke 04), Ivo Iličević (1. FC Kaiserlsautern), Tomislav Dujmović (FC Dinamo Moskva), Milan Badelj (NK Dinamo Zagreb).

Forwards: Eduardo (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Mladen Petrić (Hamburger SV), Mario Mandžukić (VfL Wolfsburg), Ivica Kalinić (Blackburn Rovers FC), Mate Bilić (Real Sporting de Gijon), Srdjan Lakić (1. FC Kaiserslautern).