Bilić keeps Croatia on their toes

Coach Slaven Bilić has warned his side against complacency after naming his 23-man Croatia squad for the qualifiers against Estonia and Andorra.

Injured players
Bilić has made no significant changes to the group that earned a 5-3 friendly win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo this month, though he does welcome back midfielders Niko Kranjčar and Jerko Leko from injuries. Croatia top Group E but the coach was eager to remind his players that the games against Estonia in Zagreb on 8 September and in Andorra four days later were not to be underestimated. "We are facing opponents who look easy so there is a temptation to count the points before the matches have kicked off," he said. "We will try our best to earn those points, just as we have calculated."

Croatia squad
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (FC Spartak Moskva), Vedran Runje (RC Lens), Mario Galinović (Panathinaikos FC).

Defenders: Dario Šimić (AC Milan), Robert Kovač (BV Borussia Dortmund), Josip Šimunić (Hertha BSC Berlin), Vedran Ćorluka (Manchester City FC), Dino Drpić (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Dario Kenežević (AS Livorno Calcio).

Midfielders: Niko Kovač (FC Salzburg), Jerko Leko (AS Monaco FC), Marko Babić (Real Betis Balompié), Darijo Srna (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Luka Modrić (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Jurica Vranješ (Werder Bremen), Danijel Pranjić (SC Heerenveen), Niko Kranjčar (Portsmouth FC).

Forwards: Mladen Petrić (BV Borussia Dortmund), Ivica Olić (Hamburger SV), Boško Balaban (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Eduardo da Silva (Arsenal FC), Igor Budan (Parma FC), Ivan Rakitić (FC Schalke 04).