Croatia keep faith with squad for Israel qualifier

ZAGREB - Croatia coach Slaven Bilic kept faith with the players who have preserved their place at the top of Group E in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign when he named his squad on Thursday to face Israel next month.
Injured Parma forward Igor Budan is the only player missing from the squad that beat Estonia and Andorra earlier this month. Croatia face fourth-placed Israel on Oct. 13 in Zagreb.
However, Bilic told reporters injured midfielder Niko Kovac, who is in the squad, was unlikely to be ready after he picked up a muscle injury in the Austrian championship on Wednesday.
"It will be a tough game, no doubt about it. This game is our first 'match-ball' for clinching a berth at Euro 2008, while Israel are aware they have to win to keep their chances of qualifying alive," Bilic said at a news conference.
After nine matches, Croatia top the group with 23 points ahead of England on 20, Russia with 18 and Israel who have 17. The top two qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow), Vedran Runje (Lens), Mario Galinovic (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Dario Simic (AC Milan), Dino Drpic (Dinamo Zagreb), Robert Kovac (Borussia Dortmund), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Vedran Corluka (Manchester City), Dario Knezevic (Livorno)
Midfielders: Niko Kovac (Salzburg), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Marko Babic (Real Betis), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb), Jerko Leko (AS Monaco), Jurica Vranjes (Werder Bremen), Danijel Pranjic (Heerenveen), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dinamo Zagreb)
Forwards: Mladen Petric (Borussia Dortmund), Ivica Olic (Hamburg SV), Bosko Balaban (Dinamo Zagreb), Eduardo da Silva (Arsenal)
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