World-Croatia retain winning World Cup squad



ZAGREB, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar has retained the squad who won all six points at the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign for the match against Bulgaria in Zagreb on October 9.

The only addition to the squad who beat Hungary 3-0 at home and Sweden 1-0 in Gothenburg this month is Club Bruge's striker Bosko Balaban, who played in the 1-0 friendly win over Israel last month.

He scored four goals for his club last weekend in a 6-1 league victory over FC Brussels.


Croatia lead Group Eight with six points ahead of Sweden, Bulgaria and Hungary, who each have three. Iceland and Malta have no points.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Tomislav Butina (Club Bruges, Belgium), Joey Didulica (Austria Vienna)

Defenders: Robert Kovac (Bayern Munich, Germany), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Igor Tudor (Juventus, Italy), Mario Tokic (Graz AK, Austria), Mato Neretljak (Hajduk Split)

Midfielders: Niko Kovac (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Jerko Leko (Dinamo Kiev, Ukraine), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Marko Babic (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Jurica Vranjes (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Ivan Leko (Malaga, Spain), Niko Kranjcar (Dinamo Zagreb), Jasmin Agic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivica Banovic (Nuremberg, Germany)

Strikers: Ivica Mornar (Stade Rennes, France), Dado Prso (Rangers, Scotland), Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen, Germany), Ivica Olic (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Bosko Balaban (Club Bruges)

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I want my tractor back!

"You're five foot nothing. A hundred and nothing. And you've got hardly a speck of athletic ability. You hung in with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you're gonna walk out of here with a degree from Notre Dame. In this life you don't have to prove nothing to nobody except yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now...it ain't gonna never happen." - from Rudy

Calling up Balaban is a no-brainer. actually, he should start instead of Klasnic.

no sokota, but i was pretty mad at him for aimlessly wanderingaround doing nothing during the euros.

is he injured? falling out of favor? or is it just benefica figuring out some new tricks to not let him go again?

i'd keep Sokota out. He's not very good compared to the other strikers we have.

Hopefully its Klasnic and Prso up front for the Bulgaria game. With Balaban comming in as sub in second half and Olic later on to run around. Its all about Klasnic and Prso. Unless Balaban can impress vs Isreal.....can't wait for the next game!

I liked how Kranjcar set up the last game against the Swedes(3-2-3-2/3-5-2) instead of the (3-4-1-2). I think it is better that Niko Kranjcar plays a deeper role in the mid instead of right behind the striker like in the Hungary game. This is a good move by his dad because this will give his son a more all around game shape something I think Niko lacks at times!

Bosko looks in awesome form and either him or Klasnic would do fine pairing up with Prso. It will be hard to put Klasnic aside the starting 11 even though he has not been playing the best lately but Balaban should get a shot in the game. Olic should also play a similar role playing for either Prso or Babic. How are Ivan Leko and Banovic playing? Jerko Leko is in good form. Who do you think should start alongside Niko Kovac, J.Leko or Vranjes?

Overall, I am really happy with the squad selection, the only other player i would have called to be a back up to Srna would be Ivan Bosnjak. Ciko is already watchin him as stated by the press so no worries, he knows! :

------------Prso------------Klasnic-------------


Babic-------------Kranjcar-----------------Srna
--------N.kovac---------------J.Leko----------

-------Simunic-----Tudor-----R.Kovac----------

That is my ideal line-up no change except for J.Leko getin the start!

i like the squad i think it should have been bjlenovic instead of mornar but hey oh well i say we win 3-0

I like the way it was and I like the brains Kranjcar is showing by not messing with something that works. Unlike the previous coach who had a good equation after the romp over Belgium then decides to pull a Sacchi every match all the way up to the Euros.

Good lineup Sokol, I like it alot and I can't wait to beat the Bugari.

I think we'll win by two and look for Kranjcar to have a breakout game. He'll create space for himself and score his first in the campaign on one and he'll suck in a defender or two and dish off a nice pass to Klasnic or Prso for another.

Hopefully he'll also do more running to help quell off his detractors.

I'm wondering what the coach is going to do about the goalie situation. What is he going to do? Pletikosa or Butina. What would you do?

And I love Vranjes but J. Leko simply has to start. He fits in the middle so damned well.

Cheers Gentlemen

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I'm not on the XT payroll.

I repeat: I'm not on the XT payroll.

Over and out....

If Pletikosa has had no game action for club at all since he first got injured before Euro, there is no way I go with him now...too much of a risk...all it takes is one mishandled cross and our WC campaign could be in trouble....

Butina-apart from that one blunder in the Sweden game on the no-goal call-has been steady...I feel confident he can do the job vs the Bulgarians and get a shut-out...

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I want my tractor back!

"You're five foot nothing. A hundred and nothing. And you've got hardly a speck of athletic ability. You hung in with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you're gonna walk out of here with a degree from Notre Dame. In this life you don't have to prove nothing to nobody except yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now...it ain't gonna never happen." - from Rudy

As much as I hate it, we pretty much have to go with Butina. The guy worries me in the nets....Pletikosa needs to start getting some playing time with his club team and get into shape after that injury to his leg...Didulika is an unproven commodity and I wouldn't put him in goal in a big game like this against a good team.

I wonder what's happened with Runje? I believe he was on the roster for the Sweden game. I think since we have started over with Kranjcar, why not give Runje clean slate and give him a start for the NT. He's already a proven goalie on the club level, lets see what he can do internationally. If you ask me, he is better than Butina anyway.

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Oh....2-0 Hrvatska. Klasnic and Prso put the puck in the net.

By the way...Collina will be reffing the game at Maksimir.

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Jure how can you say that Didulica is unproven. Just cuz he hasnt started for the NT team doesnt mean he isnt good. I think he is better than Butina and Pletikosa. This guy has played for some pretty good teams.

Well, he was a mainstay with Melbourne Croatia...then moved to Europe and played what? 17 matches in 3 season with Ajax, part of which he was loaned out to a Belgian Club. Now, he is in the Austrian league and playing with his club team. The Austrian league isn't anything to write home about.

Now, I too believe he is better than Butina but what is that saying? Butina is nothing special. On the other hand, why knock Pletikosa? Just about every single time this guy has dressed for the NT he was about as steady as they come and how many times did he bail us out? How many times did he steal a game or keep us in a game when we were awful. Just look at the last WC and look at the playoff with Slovenia when he made some incredible saves. People seem to knock Pletikosa alot but as awkward a goalie as he may be, you have to look at the results and his results with the NT are as good as it gets.

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Im not knocking Pletikosa down, but the man hasnt played since the Euros. Now would be a bad time to test him out. But if Cico put Didulica in net I wouldnt flinch one bit. At least he and Butine play in Europe, which is more than Pletikosa can say.

The thing I cant understand is why is Pleti wasting his time in a dead league like Ukraine. Did Hajduk get rid of him on the first offer they received.

no way....im hoping didulica never gets a start for croatia...he is nothing special

butina, stipe and runje are all better keepers

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Sude mi, zato sto svoje volim
Volim najvise, sto sam branio
Moje najdraze.
Sude mi , dusmani moja ljube
Ali ne znaju da je istina,
Voda duboka.


ANTE SVI SMO ZA TE

Oooo your just jelous cuz he isnt a Sydney United player
Just curious....do all Cro-Aussie players come from the Knights? Have the United ever developed a good player?