Mijatović Calls Up 15 Players: The Road to Qatar Begins in Opatija

Ahead of the second part of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar, the Croatian basketball team has gathered. In the upcoming window, under the leadership of Tomislav Mijatović, the team plays two crucial matches: against Latvia on August 27 at 8 PM in Zadar, and against the Netherlands three days later on the road.

Winning these matches would be a major step toward securing a spot at the final tournament. With four rounds remaining, Croatia would hold an advantage of at least three wins over their closest rivals. The top three teams from the group will secure a place at the World Cup.

Mijatović: 'We're Taking It Step by Step'

The head coach emphasized the importance of focus and maximum seriousness in their approach. "We are eagerly awaiting the start of preparations for this summer window and the second part of the qualifying cycle for the World Cup in Qatar. We face two very serious opponents against whom we must give our absolute maximum to hope for positive results and wins that would mean a lot to us. As always, we're taking it step by step. First, we are fully focused on Latvia, and then on the Netherlands. These are two teams that deserve maximum respect and serious preparation," said coach Mijatović for HRT.

Fifteen players have been called up for the preparations: Lovro Gnjidić, Jaleen Smith, Dominik Mavra, Roko Badžim, Antonio Jordan, Mateo Drežnjak, Mario Hezonja, Luka Božić, Toni Nakić, Dario Šarić, David Škara, Ivica Zubac, Karlo Matković, Danko Branković, and Krešimir Ljubičić.

Ljubičić: 'The Atmosphere Has Never Been Better'

Krešimir Ljubičić highlighted the positive atmosphere in the team and their readiness for the challenges ahead. "We're all excited to be here, and the atmosphere is truly the best it's ever been. I'm really happy to see the guys again, to be training, and hopefully, God willing, we'll get the two wins we need. Honestly, I'm not worried about anything. I think we just need to do the job as we have so far and continue the qualifiers on a great note," said Ljubičić.

He particularly praised coach Mandir's work during the summer break. "Over the summer, I rested, but we also did some training. We were in contact with coach Mandir, who sent us what we needed to do and how all summer long. Big praise to him for that; he really put in a lot of effort. I think we now need to make the most of these two weeks before the game. We should use this preparatory tournament to prepare for those two matches, continue the qualifiers, and confirm our ticket to Qatar."

Group Standings and Preparation Plan

Croatia finished the first part of the qualifiers at the top of their group, securing wins against Cyprus and Israel in the last international window. In the new situation ahead of the second part of the qualifiers, Poland leads with a perfect six wins, Croatia and Germany have five each, Latvia has three, and the Netherlands and Israel have two each.

The first part of the preparations will be in Opatija, and on August 20, the team travels to Hamburg for a strong international tournament. Croatia plays on August 21 at 5:45 PM against Turkey, while the other match at 8:30 PM will see Germany face the Czech Republic. The third-place match and the final are scheduled for August 22.

"We'll have about ten days to complete all the important phases of preparation, from building a fitness base to refining technical and tactical elements and team chemistry. We've also included a very strong tournament in Hamburg in our preparations. We want to use every opportunity to raise the level of our game and be ready to give our maximum against every upcoming opponent," said the head coach.

Upon returning from Hamburg, preparations continue in Zadar. The main event in Zadar will be the qualifying match against Latvia on August 27 at 8 PM at the Krešimir Ćosić Hall. The day after the match, the team heads to Amsterdam, where they face the Netherlands on August 30.