Croatia exile ends for Mamić
The NK Dinamo Zagreb captain Zoran Mamić could stake a late claim for a place in Croatia's FIFA World Cup squad after being called up for international duty for the first time since 1998.
Impressive performer
Capped six times, the 34-year-old midfielder has been an impressive performer this season after returning to his homeland from Germany, where he spent nine seasons playing for a number of clubs including VfL Bochum and Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjčar, who has named a 25-man squad for a four-team tournament in Hong Kong starting on 29 January, said: "I am aware of Mamić's ability and I need such a player in my team."
Two games
Some of the players in the squad are unlikely to travel to the Far East as the matches will not be played on designated international dates and as such their clubs are not obliged to release them, forcing Kranjčar to put ten players on stand-by for the opening game against the Korean Republic. The winners of that tie will face either Hong Kong or Denmark three days later.
Croatia squad
Goalkeepers: Tomislav Butina (Club Brugge KV), Joseph Didulica (FK Austria Wien), Stipe Pletikosa (FC Shakhtar Donetsk).
Defenders: Robert Kovač (Juventus), Josip Šimunić (Hertha BSC Berlin), Stjepan Tomas (Galatasaray SK), Mario Tokić (FK Austria Wien), Dario Šimić (AC Milan).
Midfielders: Igor Tudor (AC Siena), Darijo Srna (HNK Hajduk Split), Ivan Bošnjak (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Anthony Šerić (Panathinaikos FC), Marko Babić (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Niko Kovač (Hertha BSC Berlin), Jerko Leko (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Niko Kranjčar (HNK Hajduk Split), Ivan Leko (Club Brugge KV), Jurica Vranješ (Werder Bremen), Zoran Mamić (NK Dinamo Zagreb).
Forwards: Dado Pršo (Rangers FC), Ivan Klasnić (Werder Bremen), Boško Balaban (Club Brugge KV), Mladen Petrić (FC Basel 1893), Eduardo da Silva (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Danijel Pranjić (SC Heerenven).
