FOOTBALL

NENAD GRAČAN PUBLISHED THE LIST OF PLAYERS FOR THE MATCHES WITH ALBANIA

tsg_news March 27, 2025

Coach Nenad Gračan announced the list of the women’s A national team ahead of the two UEFA Nations League games against Albania in Shkodër and Zagreb, which are scheduled for April 4 and 8.

The Croatian women’s national football team has two new games in the League of Nations. Nenad Gračan’s team will play against Albania on April 4 in Shkodër, while the return match is scheduled for April 8 in Zagreb at SC Rudeš.

Captain Doris Bačić is not on the list, nor are Antonia Dulčić and Tee Krznarić, so Gračan invited new players who will get the chance to express themselves in the national team jersey.

“Two tough matches await us against Albania. I think it is a national team that is very aggressive in its game and plays quite directly. We have analyzed and watched their matches, and I think we can achieve a positive result. The problem with our national team is that we do not have the captain Doris Bačić, who was injured. We also do not have Dulčić and Krznarić, so three players are practically standard in our national team. However, it will be an opportunity for other players to prove themselves. I believe that motivation, discipline, and responsibility will not be lacking, and I believe in a positive result”, said coach Gračan.

Two tough matches await us against Albania. I think it is a national team that is very aggressive in its game and plays quite directly. We have analyzed and watched their matches, and I think we can achieve a positive result. The problem with our national team is that we do not have the captain Doris Bačić, who was injured. We also do not have Dulčić and Krznarić, so three players are practically standard in our national team. However, it will be an opportunity for other players to prove themselves. I believe that motivation, discipline, and responsibility will not be lacking, and I believe in a positive result. We also invited two goalkeepers who are our cadets – Ristovski and Radolović. There is also Filipović, who has been with us for a long time, so we will decide during training which one we will give a chance. They are very talented goalkeepers. We also invited some new players from our league who have gone through our system, our younger selections, to slowly start adapting, that is, to see what their condition is and how much they can do in the A national team. – Nenad Gračan, Croatia Head Coach

“We also invited two goalkeepers who are our cadets – Ristovski and Radolović. There is also Filipović, who has been with us for a long time, so we will decide during training which one we will give a chance. They are very talented goalkeepers. We also invited some new players from our league who have gone through our system, our younger selections, to slowly start adapting, that is, to see what their condition is and how much they can do in the A national team,” said Gračan.

PLAYERS LIST:
Goalkeepers: Ana Filipović (Dinamo), Ana Ristovski (Hajduk), Nika Radolović (Istra 1961)
Defense: Ana Jelenčić (Servette Geneve), Leonarda Balog (SKN St. Polten), Kristina Nevrkla (Agram), Nina Varga (Međimurje), Tea Vračević (SKN St. Polten), Lucia Orkić (Bergheim), Barbara Živković (Osijek), Janja Čanjevac (Hajduk).
Midfielders: Izabela Lojna (Agram), Ivana Slipčević (Ingolstadt), Ana Jakobašić (Agram), Maja Joščak (Agram), Bianca Rose Galić (Central Coast Mariners), Laura Vlastelica (Hajduk), Helena Damjanović (Međimurje)
Forwards: Ana Dujmović (Agram), Ivana Rudelić (Basel), Ana Maria Marković (Damaiense), Petra Mikulica (Grasshopper Club Zurich), Antea Guvo (Seamount United), Karla Jedvaj (Blau-Weiss Linz)

The national team gathers on March 31 in Zagreb, where they will prepare for both matches against Albania.

The Croatian women’s national team in League B is placed in group B4, along with the teams of the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Albania. The teams from this group will fight for first place, which will bring promotion to a higher rank, while the second and third positions will decide on further placement and the possibility of fighting for a higher rank through the playoffs.

Croatia is currently in fourth place with no points, while the leading Czech Republic has six points, the same as second-placed Ukraine. Albania is in third place ahead of Croatia, also without points.

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE LEAGUE B:

Czech Republic 6

Ukraine 6

Albania 0

Croatia 0

Games schedule:
4/4/2025, 16:00 (Shkodër, Albania)
8/4/2025, 16:00 (Zagreb, SC Rudeš)

SOURCE: Croatian Football Federation