Bilić Opens the Door for Dinamo Captain to Join the Vatreni
New head coach Slaven Bilić has hinted at a possible call-up for Josip Mišić, a man who overcame testicular cancer and has patiently waited years for his national team chance.
New head coach Slaven Bilić has hinted at a possible call-up for Josip Mišić, a man who overcame testicular cancer and has patiently waited years for his national team chance.
The story of Josip Mišić and the Croatian national team has taken a new, unexpected turn. After former coach Zlatko Dalić closed the door on this topic, the new man at the helm of the Vatreni, Slaven Bilić, has decided to reopen it. Dinamo's captain, who has been one of the most consistent midfielders in the HNL for years, now finds himself on the brink of realizing his dream.
Although many experts and fans have appealed for years that Mišić deserves a call-up, Dalić remained unyielding. "If I didn't call him earlier, it's too late now," the former coach said, as reported by Dnevno.hr. With that statement, the story of Mišić and the national team seemed to be closed. But just a month and a half later, everything changed.
New head coach Slaven Bilić, in an interview with Dnevnik Nove TV, revealed that he is seriously considering a call-up for the 33-year-old midfielder. "We've seen examples in bigger national teams where players made their debuts at that age. He plays a position where we don't have many options, and I like him," Bilić said.
Mišić's defensive midfield role, a position where Croatia lacks depth, works in his favor. Bilić clearly believes that his experience and game understanding could bring a new dimension to the team. The Dinamo captain himself did not hide his emotions. "Every footballer dreams of playing for their national team. Age is no obstacle; my goal is still to wear the Croatian jersey, and I hope that will happen one day," Mišić told RTL.
If Bilić does send a call-up, Mišić would etch his name into the history books. According to Dnevno.hr, he would become the third-oldest debutant for the Vatreni. The record is held by Goran Jurić, who was called up by Ćiro Blažević at 34 years and two months old, making his debut in April 1997 at Poljud in an unforgettable match against Slovenia (3:3). Jurić later earned a total of 16 caps for the national team.
Second on the list is Ivan Jurić, Goran's fellow townsman from Mostar. It was Bilić who, during his first stint as coach, called him up as a 33-year-old to stabilize the midfield after Niko Kovač's injury during World Cup qualifiers for South Africa. That episode, however, was short-lived, and Jurić ultimately did not travel to the final tournament in South Africa.
While playing for PAOK, Mišić went through an ordeal that transcends football. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which forced him to take a six-month break. He rarely spoke about it publicly. "I can tell the real truth about that issue... I had surgery for testicular cancer, but that's behind me now. It was a very tough period, but I returned to the pitch, and that's what matters most," he shared on the club's TV channel.
Born in Bošnjaci near Županja, he developed his football skills at Osijek, where he made 64 appearances. He then racked up 90 games for Rijeka before arriving at Dinamo, where he became captain and an indispensable cog in the team.
While waiting for the coach's final decision, Mišić and his teammates are focused on European duties. Dinamo posted all the information for fans on Twitter regarding the return leg of the third qualifying round for the Champions League against FK Kauno Žalgiris. The match will be played on August 11, 2026, in Kaunas at the Dariaus ir Girėno Stadium, kicking off at 7 PM Croatian time. Tickets for the away sector C cost 20 euros, and a code DINAMOKZ3UCL is required for purchase.
The club also proudly highlighted that the Blues have, for the seventh time in European competition history, seen off an opponent with a five-goal margin, and tomorrow the Ramljak 2026 tournament begins, where Dinamo will face Juventus at 7:15 PM.
