Kalinić called up for Croatia deciders

Croatia coach Slaven Bilić has called up in-form HNK Hajduk Split forward Nikola Kalinić for their decisive UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against F.Y.R. Macedonia and England.

One point away
With the team top of Group E, a point in Skopje on 17 November or at Wembley four days later would confirm Croatia's place in the finals, as would Russia's failure to beat either Israel or Andorra. In the absence of injured strikers Boško Balaban and Igor Budan, Bilić has turned to 19-year-old Kalinić, who helped Croatia to the 2005 UEFA European Under-17 Championship semi-finals and has scored freely for his club and in U21 qualifying in recent weeks. "We are faced with strong opponents and a tough match in Skopje," Bilić said. "But we have the ability and we will make this final step that we deserve. I am not really thinking about the England game. We have a match against Macedonia and that's the important thing now."

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), Hrvoje Vejić (FC Tom Tomsk).

Midfielders: 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), Ognjen Vukojević (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Niko Kovač (FC Salzburg).

Forwards: Mladen Petrić (BV Borussia Dortmund), Ivica Olić (Hamburger SV), Eduardo da Silva (Arsenal FC), Ivan Rakitić (FC Schalke 04), Nikola Kalinić (HNK Hajduk Split).