Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric headlines Croatia's preliminary squad for Euro 2024, with the 38-year-old set to represent his country at a major international tournament for the final time.
Even if Modric leaves Real Madrid this summer, he has no plans to retire, and the veteran midfielder will again be central to Croatia's chances of success at the upcoming European Championship.
Croatia have excelled in their last two World Cups, finishing as runners-up in 2018 before claiming third in 2022, but they were knocked out of Euro 2020 in the round of 16.
The national side have never managed to progress past the quarter-final stage of a European Championship, reaching the final eight in 1996 and 2008.
This summer, Zlatko Dalic's side will take on Spain, Albania and Italy in the group stage of the competition, and it will be fascinating to see how much of an impression they make.
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Modric set for final major international tournament
"He (Modric) can hardly wait to play for Croatia and be our leader," Dalic told reporters during his press conference to announce the squad.
Croatia's squad will meet up on Sunday to prepare for their friendly against North Macedonia on June 3, before taking on Portugal five days later in their final match ahead of their tournament opener with Spain.
There will be no Modric against North Macedonia, though, as he will be involved in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1.
Ivan Perisic is the leading goalscorer in the squad with 33 goals in 129 caps, but there will be some concern over the 35-year-old's fitness, having only returned from a long-term knee injury last month.
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Man City duo Gvardiol, Kovacic are included
Fresh from helping Manchester City win this season's Premier League, Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic are both included in the squad, as is Bundesliga-winning Bayer Leverkusen defender Josip Stanisic.
Domagoj Vida, who has represented his country on 104 occasions, is also in the squad, while Marcelo Brozovic, who these days plays his club football for Al-Nassr, is another notable call-up.
Andrej Kramaric is the second-highest goalscorer in the squad with 29 goals, while Bruno Petkovic, who has 11 goals for his national side, is another option in the final third of the field.
"There is no pressure. I just want us to enjoy football, for Croatia to be good again, and for the fans to be happy and proud", Dalic told reporters on Monday.
National teams must submit their final squads for Euro 2024 by June 7.
Croatia Euro 2024 preliminary squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce), Ivica Ivusic (Pafos), Nediljko Labrovic (Rijeka)
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Borna Sosa (Ajax), Josip Stanisic (Bayer Leverkusen), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Marin Pongracic (Lecce)
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Marcelo Brozovic (Al-Nassr), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Lovro Majer (Wolsfburg), Luka Ivanusec (Feyenoord), Luka Sucic (RB Salzburg), Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb)
Attackers: Ivan Perisic (Hajduk Split), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Marko Pjaca (Rijeka), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pasalic (Rijeka)
Stand-by: Borna Barisic (Rangers), Duje Caleta-Car (Lyon), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg), Dominik Kotarski (PAOK), Toni Fruk (Rijeka), Marin Ljubicic (LASK Linz), Igor Matanovic (Karlsruhe), Niko Kristian Sigur (Hajduk Split), Petar Sucic (Dinamo Zagreb)
