by ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Croatian coach Miroslav Blazevic has called up
injured captain Zvonimir Boban for a do-or-die European Championship
qualifying match against arch-rival Yugoslavia next week. But the AC
Milan's influential midfielder, who severely strained stomach muscles last
month, is still doubtful.
If he is unfit, Hamburg's Niko Kovac or emerging Croatia Zagreb star
Tomislav Rukavina are likely to get a chance in the midfield on October 9.
To qualify, Croatia will have to win their first home clash with
Yugoslavia, a country from which it seceded in 1991. Blazevic's team
managed a goalles draw in Belgrade last month.
``This is the most difficult game we've ever had, not only because of
psychological pressure but also because of the strength of our opponents,''
Blazevic said.
This time the team will be handicapped by the absence of suspended West Ham
defender Igor Stimac. He is likely to be replaced by veteran Croatia Zagreb
sweeper Goran Juric or VfB Stuttgart's Zvonimir Soldo.
On the brighter side, the squad will welcome the return of Lazio striker
Alen Boksic, who is likely to start in attack with the team's top
goalscorer Davor Suker for the first time in more than a year.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Drazen Ladic (Croatia Zagreb), Marijan Mrmic (Varteks
Varazdin)
Defenders: Goran Juric (Croatia Zagreb), Slaven Bilic (Everton), Dario
Simic (Inter Milan), Zvonimir Soldo (VfB Stuttgart), Robert Kovac (Bayer
Leverkusen), Robert Jarni (Real Madrid), Igor Tudor (Juventus)
Midfielders: Aljosa Asanovic (Panathinaikos), Zvonimir Boban (AC Milan),
Krunoslav Jurcic, Tomislav Rukavina, Igor Biscan, Daniel Saric (all Croatia
Zagreb), Mario Stanic (Parma), Niko Kovac (Hamburg SV)
Strikers: Davor Suker (Arsenal), Alen Boksic (Lazio), Milan Rapaic
(Peruggia), Josip Simic (Croatia), Davor Vugrinec (Trabzonspor)