Bilic releases squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying round matches

I finally back to blogging after a long summer hiatus, and on my first blog back, I would like a talk a little bit about Slaven Bilic's selections for the first two matches in World Cup qualifying in September.

After June's big upset and elimination at the hands of Turkey (a very heartbreaking loss but a very good match I have to admit), Croatia came back with a friendly win against Slovenia in August. Up next for Croatia is World Cup qualifying for South Africa 2010.

Today Bilic announced the 22 players that will make up his squad in the two upcoming home matches in Zagreb against Kazakhstan on September 6 and the England four days later. The one against England is going to be a symbolic one and very important as England attempts to get revenge from Croatia. It is going to be a tough one in Zagreb no matter who the result favors at the end.

At first glance, Croatis will have pretty much the same team as in Euro 2008.


Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow), Vedran Runje (RC Lens)

No surprise here. Pletikosa is always there star goalkeeper and is one of the best in Europe in my opinion. Haven't seen much of Runje. I think he played against Poland in the Euro in order to rest up Pletikosa for the quarterfinal against Turkey. They won against Poland so he must not be that bad.

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Manchester City), Dario Simic (Monaco), Robert Kovac (Borussia Dortmund), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Dario Knezevic (Juventus), Hrvoje Vejic (Tom Tomsk), Ivica Krizanac (Zenit St. Petersburg)

Pretty much regular Defenders. Simic, Kovac, and Simunic are three of the best players on the squad in my opinion so no problems here.

Midfielders: Danijel Pranjic (Heerenveen), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Niko Kovac (Salzburg), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Nikola Pokrivac (Monaco)

Why doesn't Modric play forward? He is an excellent striker, but I guess Bilic knows what he's doing. Modric's recent transfer to Tottenham in the English Premier League from Dinamo Zagreb will give the young and talented player some good experience in a tougher league. Dario Srna is another player to watch and will defintely score a few goals in the upcoming matches. Other players to watch here are Niko Kovac and Rakitic. I don't too much about Rakitic but he seems promising.

Forwards: Mladen Petric (Hamburg SV), Ivica Olic (Hamburg SV), Ivan Klasnic (Nantes), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split), Mario Mandzukic (Dinamo Zagreb)

Mladen Petric did not exactly play up to his potential at the Euro and definitely not the way he did in November in 2007 that crushed England's only opportunity to advance to the Euro finals. I hope he bounces back though because he is an excellent players. His teammate from Hamburg SV is also an excellent striker. Klasnic is also one of the best.

Who's missing? Eduardo da Silva is not there for obvious reason, but recent good news from London-base club Arsenal's head coach shows that he may be fit enough to play for Arsenal in November which is about nine months after his tragic accident. He should be on the squad at around that time.