Kovač: "Croatia is aware what these matches can bring"

At the top of Group H, Croatia awaits long trips to Azerbaijan (3 September) and Norway (6 September), with Niko Kovač presenting the 24-man squad list for the upcoming matches:

Goalkeepers: Danijel Subašić (Monaco), Lovre Kalinić (Hajduk), Ivan Vargić (Rijeka)

Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar), Šime Vrsaljko (Sassuolo), Marko Lešković (Rijeka), Vedran Ćorluka (Lokomotiv), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Danijel Pranjić (Panathinaikos), Marin Leovac (PAOK)

Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozović (Inter Milan), Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mijo Caktaš (Hajduk)

Strikers: Nikola Kalinić (Fiorentina), Ante Rebić (Fiorentina), Marko Pjaca (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Perišić (Wolfsburg), Ivica Olić (HSV), Mario Mandžukić (Juventus), Andrej Kramarić (Leicester).

Niko Kovač announced #Croatia squad for @EuroQualifiers against @NFF_info and Azerbaijan. #Euro2016 #BeProud #Vatreni pic.twitter.com/vhL2Bfiyjf

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) August 24, 2015

As in the previous years, coach Kovač considered the needs of the Nenad Gračan's Croatia U-21:

"Halilović, Pašalić, Rog and Šimunović are without a doubt players to be considered in the senior national team, but we have to take care of the U-21 team. It is important they start with a win, and the experience will benefit them. Most of the senior national team players have given a great contribution to the youth teams".

Croatia performed very well in the home matches against Azerbaijan and Norway:

"We need to forget those two convincing victories. It will be more difficult now. Azerbaijan changed their head coach, our man Prosinečki made a good and serious team. Their results confirm this. We have the quality on our side, but we can show it only if our approach is professional and focused".

In Oslo, Norway and Croatia can really make in impact on the final standings:

"We are well aware what these matches can bring. EURO 2016 is our goal, and we have started that journey a year ago. So far, we have done a good job, but we have to complete it, and play as we did before. We need good preparations, team spirit and full throttle. Then, the results will come".

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