Prosinecki is in

THE Croatian national team continue their preparations for the European football championships in Drogheda this evening when …

THE Croatian national team continue their preparations for the European football championships in Drogheda this evening when they take on a National League selection at United Park.

Miroslav Blazevic has announced two changes to the team which drew with Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Sunday, with goalkeeper Drazen Ladic, who came into the action at the break in Dublin, starting out this time while Robert Prosinecki who was reported to have been omitted on Sunday because of a falling out with his manager also included in the starting line up this time. The Barcelona midfielder takes the place of Goran Vlaovic.

Tommy Connolly, meanwhile, whose National League selection has just returned from the United States, is without Mick O'Byrne, Brian Byrne, Brian O'Shea and Trevor Crolly for the meeting with one of Europe's most powerful international outfits.

In their place he has called up Shelbourne goalkeeper Alan Gough, Tommy Duane of Derry City and Dundalk's striker Peter Withnell. The Down footballer has been cleared to play by Down manager Peter McGrath.

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The kick-off is at 7.30 pm. The Croatia team is: Drazen Ladic (Croatia Zagreb), Slaven Bilic (West Ham), Nikola Jerkan (Real Oviedo), Igor Stimac (Derby), Mario Stamic (Brugge), Aljosa, Asanovic (Hadjuk Split), Zvonimir Boban (Milan), Robert Prosinecki (Barcelona), Robert Jarni (Real Betis), Alen Boksic (Lazio), Davor Suker (Seville).

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times