Croatia have omitted Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic from their 24-man squad to face Turkey in this month's Euro 2012 play-off matches.
Wanderers striker misses out on Bilic's 24-man squad
Croatia have omitted Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic from their 24-man to face Turkey in this month's Euro 2012 play-off matches.
The 31-year-old has won 40 caps for his country, but his lack of form and playing time for Wanderers means he misses out.
Klasnic has three Premier League goals this season, although he has now gone six games in all competitions for Bolton without finding the back of the net.
Croatia head coach Slaven Bilic stated he picked the five forwards in his squad that were in form and he is confident there is enough quality on offer to ease past Turkey.
Instead Bilic has opted for Shakhtar Donetsk's ex-Arsenal striker Eduardo, Rangers' Nikica Jelavic, Mario Mandzukic, Ivica Olic and former Blackburn man Nikola Kalinic.
Form
"We picked the five forwards on their current form and in line with our requirements for the games against Turkey," said Bilic.
"There is enough quality and character in this squad to win the playoff and reach next year's finals in Poland and Ukraine, hence we will head into the first leg in Turkey as if there is no return leg on our own turf.
"We've analysed all Turkey's games under Guus Hiddink and we also had another look at our Euro 2008 match with them because some of those players are still in their squad."
First-choice goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, defender Vedran Corluka and midfielder Ivo Ilicevic are doubtful for the first leg on 11th November with knocks.
Croatia's 24-man squad
:
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Hajduk Split), Ivan Kelava (Dinamo Zagreb). Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Vedran Corluka (Spurs), Sime Vrsajko (Dinamo Zagreb), Dejan Lovren (Lyon), Josip Simunic (Dinamo Zagreb), Gordon Schildenfeld (Eintracht Frankfurt), Domagoj Vida (Dinamo Zagreb), Manuel Pamic (Sparta Prague). Midfield: Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Tomislav Dujmovic (Dynamo Moscow), Luka Modric (Spurs), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Ivan Perisic (Borussia Dortmund), Mato Jajajlo (Cologne), Ivo Ilicevic (Hamburg SV), Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich). Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Rangers), Nikola Kalinic (Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk), Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich).
