The World Cup Final finished in Los Angeles last night, and most of the seven European participating teams are now heading back home.
Some will continue their preparations for the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (July 14 – 30), while others will go on vacation (Romania and Germany didn’t qualify for the Worlds). The Serbian team is the exception. The Serbs are going directly from California to Japan to continue their training before the WCH in the city of Kashiwazaki (where they will be joined by Montenegro).
But, Croatia, which didn’t play at the World Cup Final, went in the opposite direction.
The European champions, departed for California this morning for their joint final preparations with the USA ahead of the tournament in Fukuoka. The two teams will play one official match in Walnut near Los Angeles.
The head coach Ivica Tucak has selected 16 players for the preparations, with 15 to be chosen for the tournament.
Compared to the 15-player roster at the Europeans in Split, three players are missing – Loren Fatovic, Ivan Domagoj Zovic and Matijas Biljaka. Fatovic and Zovic weren’t called up to the preparations (Fatovic is out of the team because of an injury). Biljaka was among the 18 candidates until the trip to the USA, but he will, according to the head coach’s decision, stay home, along with goalkeeper Mate Anic.
The players who didn’t win gold in Split, and are in the competition for Croatia’s roster in Fukuoka are returnee Ante Vukicevic (who missed the Europeans due to illness) and three players of Jadran Split, Antonio Duzevic, Marino Cagalj and Zvonimir Butic.
“We are going to Fukuoka to win a medal, so whatever the draw and schedule await us, now and in the future, you have to beat everyone to go until the end – Ivica Tucak said at the press conference before the trip.
Croatia is in the group with Hungary, Argentina, and Japan. The match against Hungary will probably decide which team will go directly to the quarterfinals.
“Maybe it would have been easier if it had been different. What is an additional aggravating circumstance is a”crossing” with a group that includes Serbia, Montenegro and Spain. The road is difficult as it is, but we are going with a certain optimism, not hiding that we have our own quality. Last year, we won 4th place in Budapest, and we just formed a national team at that time. We won the European gold in Split, but we also showed quality in the World Cup Division 1 in Zagreb.”
Croatia’s team for preparations in California
Goalkeepers: Marko Bijac (Olympiacos), Toni Popadic (Jug AO). Field players – Center-forwards: Josip Vrlic (Jadran), Ivan Krapic (Noisy-le-Sec), Antonio Duzevic (Jadran), Defenders: Rino Buric, Marko Zuvela ( both Jug AO Dubrovnik), Marino Cagalj (Jadran), Andrija Basic (Waspo 98 Hannover), Attackers: Konstantin Kharkov (Jadran), Filip Kržic, Franko Lazic (both Jug AO), Zvonimir Butic, Luka Bukic, Jerko Marinic Kragic (all three Jadran), Ante Vukicevic (Marseille).
Coaching staff: Ivica Tucak (head coach), Zoran Bajic, Jure Marelja, Renco Posinkovic, Pero Kuterovac (coaches),Ivan Curlin (doctor), Damir Luketic, Zlatko Kercel (physiotherapists), Ante Koceic (videographer).
More articles about the World Championships
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