Croatian captain out of the WC

Written by: Rasmus Boysen

The captain of the Croatian national team, Marko Kopljar, has backed out of the World Championship. See the initial squad of Croatia.

The 30-year-old Croatian right back of Telekom Veszprém, Marko Kopljar, canceled his appearance at the World Championship in January in France.

The captain of the Croatian national team for two years has big problems with the knee. He has agreed with the head coach of Croatia, Zeljko Babic, to skip the championship in France.

The role of the captain will be replaced by Domagoj Duvnjak.

The 28-man initial squad:

Goalkeepers:
Filip Ivic, Vive Tauron Kielce, Poland
Ivan Stevanovic, RK Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Pesic HC Meshkov Brest, Belarus
Mate Sunjic, HC Creteil, France
Moreno Car, HC Porec, Croatia

Right wings:
Zlatko Horvat, RK Zagreb, Croatia
Jerko Matulic, HC Nantes, France
Josip Bozic Pavletic, HC Nexe, Croatia

Left wings:
Manuel Strlek, Vive Tauron Kielce, Poland
Lovro Mihic, Orlen Wisla Plock, Poland
Valentino Ravnic, HC Umag, Croatia

Line player:
Marino Maric, MT Melsungen, Germany
Zejlko Musa, SC Magdeburg, Germany
Tin Kontrec, RK Zagreb, Croatia
Kresimir Kozina, Füchse Berlin, Germany

Left backs:
Jakov Gojun, Füchse Berlin, Germany
Alen Blazevic, MOL Pick Szeged, Hungary
Marko Mamic, US Dunkurque, France
Stipe Mandalinic, RK Zagreb, Croatia

Playmakers:
Sandro Obranovic, MOL-Pick Szeged, Hungary
Domagoj Duvnjak, THW Kiel, Germany
Igor Karacic, RK Vardar, Macedonia
Lovri Jotic, RK Zagreb, Croatia
Luka Cindric, RK Vardar, Macedonia

Right backs:
Marko Kopljar, Telekom Veszprem, Hungary
Luka Stepancic, Paris Saint-Germain, France
Luka Sebetic, RK Zagreb, Croatia
Sime Ivic, Orlen Wisla Plock, Poland

Croatia are in Group C in the World Championship in France with  Germany, Belarus, Hungary, Chile and Saudi Arabia.