Iličević and Lovren called up by Croatia

Croatia coach Slaven Bilić has called up defender Dejan Lovren and uncapped midfielder Ivo Iličević for their UEFA EURO 2012 Group F qualifier in Israel on 9 October.

Iličević, 23, has been in excellent form for 1. FC Kaiserslautern and is still waiting for his senior Croatia debut having been an unused squad member in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Andorra in October 2008. The only other addition to the party, used by Bilić for the 3-0 win in Latvia and 0-0 draw with Greece earlier this month, is Olympique Lyonnais player Lovren, 21, who has five caps. Bilić said: "It will be a very difficult match in Israel, as they have lost only two home games in the last ten years."

Croatia squad
Goalkeepers: Vedran Runje (RC Lens), Danijel Subašić (HNK Hajduk Split), 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), Dejan Lovren (Olympique Lyonnais), Jurica Buljat (HNK Hajduk Split), Darijo Srna (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Mladen Bartulović (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Tomislav Dujmović (FC Dinamo Moskva).

Midfielders: Nikola Pokrivač (FC Salzburg), Ognjen Vukojević (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Luka Modrić (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Niko Kranjčar (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Danijel Pranjić (FC Bayern München), Drago Gabrić (Trabzonspor AŞ), Ivan Rakitić (FC Schalke 04), Ivo Iličević (1. FC Kaiserlsautern).

Forwards: Ivica Olić (FC Bayern München), Eduardo (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Mladen Petrić (Hamburger SV), Nikica Jelavić (SK Rapid Wien), Mario Mandžukić (VfL Wolfsburg).