With the senior squad staying home, Croatia will be represented by an under-20 selection reinforced by several young senior internationals at the World Cup Finals.
One of the most intriguing storylines ahead of the World Cup Super Final in Sydney is Croatia’s decision to send a youthful “B Team” rather than the senior national squad that originally secured qualification for the tournament. The move was approved by the Croatian Waterpolo Federation’s expert council and reflects the federation’s long-term focus on player development.
The squad travelling to Australia is primarily based on Croatia’s under-20 national team, supplemented by a small number of young players from the senior A team. As a result, the group is widely being referred to as Croatia’s B Team. The federation’s priority this summer is the U20 European Championship in Varna, Bulgaria, which will take place from 10 to 16 August.
Preparation for the tournament has not been straightforward. Head coach Zoran Bajić has been forced to deal with a series of injuries and illnesses that have significantly disrupted his plans. Seven players from the original extended roster were ruled out, leading to late changes and additional call-ups as Croatia worked to assemble a competitive squad for the trip to Sydney.
Despite those setbacks, Croatia will travel with a group of 15 fit players and will immediately face one of the toughest challenges possible. In the quarter-finals, the young Croatian side is scheduled to take on powerhouse Hungary, providing a valuable opportunity for the nation’s next generation of talent to test themselves against one of the sport’s elite teams.
While expectations may differ from those usually associated with the reigning world-class Croatian programme, the tournament offers a unique platform for emerging players to gain experience at the highest international level. The decision underlines Croatia’s confidence in its development pathway and could provide a glimpse of future stars who may soon become regular members of the senior national team.
Croatia Squad for World Cup:
Mauro Ivan Čubranić
Nikola Batoš
Viktor Tončinić
Karlo Dragošević
Karlo Babić
Mislav Ćurković
Amar Fajković
Šime Žilić
Vlaho Pavlić
Marko Šušić
Gabrijel Burđuran
Nardo Dragaš
Tin Brubnjak
Fran Dobrić
Ante Dondić
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