Bilić names 32-man provisional squad for England and Czechia

Croatia coach Slaven Bilić has named a 32-player provisional squad for the final two Nations League group A3 matches, away to England at Wembley on 12 November and at home to Czechia at the Opus Arena in Osijek on 15 November. The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) announced the list on Tuesday.

Bilić will name his final squad at a press conference on Friday 6 November. The players gather in Zagreb on 9 November and travel to London on 11 November. The day after the England game they fly on to Osijek, according to the federation's schedule.

The list

• Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković, Dominik Kotarski, Karlo Letica, Ivor Pandur
• Defenders: Joško Gvardiol, Josip Šutalo, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Luka Vušković, Ivan Smolčić, Šimun Hrgović
• Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Lovro Majer, Martin Baturina, Petar Sučić, Luka Sučić, Kristijan Jakić, Toni Fruk, Josip Mišić
• Forwards: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Marco Pašalić, Igor Matanović, Petar Musa, Franjo Ivanović, Dion Drena Beljo, Marin Šotiček

Two Hajduk players on the wider list for the first time

Index.hr reports that winger Marin Šotiček, 22, who is at Hajduk on loan from Basel, and left-back Šimun Hrgović, 22, are on Bilić's wider list for the first time. Index's headline says it is the first time Bilić has called them. Hrgović has played for the youth national teams, including two appearances for the under-21s. His call-up comes as Bilić has to find an option on the left side for Wembley.

Šotiček was mentioned by Bilić after the defeat against Spain, when the coach spoke about the types of wingers Croatia lack:

"There are Šotiček and Segečić, those are the two player profiles." Original: "Tu su Šotiček, Segečić, to su ta dva profila igrača." (Bilić, via Index)

Index adds that Šotiček is also important for Ivica Olić's under-21 side, setting up all three goals for Adrian Jagušić in the match that secured qualification for the European Championship. Adrian Segečić, the other player Bilić named, is not on this list.

Changes since September

Compared with the 26-man list in September, Josip Juranović and Martin Erlić are out, and Duje Ćaleta-Car returns, according to Index. Karlo Letica and Toni Fruk, who were only on the pre-call list in September, are now on the list. Letica, the Luzern goalkeeper, has not yet made his senior debut.

Ivan Perišić was sent off against Spain and will miss the England game, as Index reports. He is still in the squad because he is available for Czechia. Index notes that Perišić has mostly played in defence under Bilić.