Ivan Strinić emerged as Croatia coach Slaven Bilić's preferred choice at left-back during UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, starting eight of the 12 matches. He won the 2010 Croatian Cup with HNK Hajduk Split before joining FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in January 2011.

• Born in Split, he had a spell in the Hajduk youth ranks before being scouted by Le Mans UC 72; he did not make a senior appearance for the French club and returned home to start his career in the Croatian second division with Zagreb side NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac.

• Rejoined Hajduk in 2008 and made 17 league appearances in his first season; scored his first goal for the club in a UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie against Birkirkara FC.

• Helped Hajduk to a second successive runners-up spot in the Prva Liga in 2009/10 but went one better in the Croatian Cup, playing all 180 minutes of the two-legged final against HNK Šibenik, which Hajduk won 4-1 on aggregate.

• A Croatian international at every level from Under-15 to U21, he made his senior debut in a May 2010 friendly against Austria and became a fixture in the squad during 2010/11.

• On target on his Ukrainian Premier League debut − a 2-2 draw against SC Tavriya Simferopol − then further endeared himself to fans of his new club by scoring the winner in his second home game, against FC Dynamo Kyiv.