Kovac absent as Didulica earns call

Kovac injury
The injured FC Bayern München defender Robert Kovac will be missing, however, amid uncertainty about the severity of his ankle injury. Kovac damaged ligaments in his left ankle last week in a training-ground challenge with Bayern team-mate Michael Ballack and, according to reports in the Croatian media, could be sidelined until May.

Tests next week
The player was quoted as saying he would miss not just the Turkey match but also the friendly against F.Y.R. Macedonia at the end of April. However, Bayern officials suggest the injury is less serious and insist the full extent of the problem cannot be confirmed until he has a cast removed from the ankle next week and undergoes tests.

Didulica reward
For Didulica, meanwhile, Baric's call appears to justify his decision last summer to leave AFC Ajax, where he was never first-choice goalkeeper, and join FK Austria Wien. The 26-year-old Didulica, who arrived in Amsterdam from Australia in 1999, will start as third-choice goalkeeper behind Stipe Pletikosa and Tomislav Butina.

Kranjcar absent
Besides Kovac, another notable absentee from the squad is the young NK Dinamo Zagreb captain Niko Kranjcar, who is suffering from a throat infection. Baric said he hoped Kranjcar would be available to face Macedonia next month, adding: "If he is not ready by then, I doubt he will be in the team for Portugal." In Kranjcar's absence, the only two domestic-based players are HNK Hajduk Split defender Mato Neretljak and Dinamo midfield player Jasmin Agic.

Soldo hope
Finally, Baric told reporters that he had not given up hope of persuading VfB Stuttgart captain Zvonimir Soldo to come out of retirement for UEFA EURO 2004™. He said of the 37-year-old: "My task is to pick the best players, no matter what age they are. Soldo is playing excellently and he would be a great help for the team."

Croatia squad
Pletikosa, Butina, Didulica, Šimic, Zivkovic, Tomas, Šimunic, Tokic, Neretljak, Tudor, Leko, N Kovac, Rapaic, Babic, Agic, Srna, Rosso, Šokota, Olic, Mornar, Klasnic, Pršo.