Injured Eduardo named in Croatia squad

The Brazilian-born forward is currently nursing a groin injury sustained in the Champions League last 16 clash against Roma - in which the stricken striker missed a penalty - but former West Ham and Everton defender Bilic is confident Eduardo will have recovered in time for the international.

The ex-Dinamo Zagreb man has only recently returned following a year-long layoff with a broken leg and dislocated ankle, and played in Croatia's friendly with Romania and Arsenal's FA Cup tie with Cardiff before picking up a minor hamstring problem.

The Gunners front-man is joined in the squad by Tottenham duo Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka and Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow), Vedran Runje (RC Lens), Danijel Subasic (Hajduk Split)

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Tottenham), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Dario Knezevic (Juventus), Ivica Krizanac (Zenit St Petersburg), Hrvoje Vejic (Hajduk Split), Dino Drpic (Karlsruher SC), Danijel Pranjic (Heerenveen), Hrvoje Cale (Trabzonspor)

Midfielders: Ivan Juric (Genoa), Nikola Pokrivac (Monaco), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04), Drago Gabric (Hajduk Split)

Strikers: Eduardo da Silva (Arsenal), Ivica Olic (Hamburg), Ivan Klasnic (Nantes), Mario Mandzukic (Dinamo Zagreb), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split)