Real Madrid player Luka Modric will return to Croatia’s national team in October for World Cup qualifying matches after missing three games through injury, Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic announced.
“We are especially pleased with the return of Luka Modric, who as a player and leader is of incalculable importance for us,” Dalic said when publishing the list of players, according to the website of the Croatian Football Federation.
He added that the selection needs “to confirm what has been achieved so far with six additional points, for which we will need full concentration, focus and unity”, as in past matches.
Despite the absence of their captain, Croatia achieved seven of the nine points disputed in September and is currently their group H, with 13 points, like Russia. They are followed by Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus.
The world runners-up will meet Cyprus on October 8 in Larnaca, and three days later in Osijek (Croatia) against Slovakia.
The national team will concentrate on October 4 in Zagreb, where they will train until October 7 and leave for Larnaca, and then travel to Osijek, Dalic announced. EFE (HN)