Nikola Vlašić has been included in Croatia’s squad for four 2022-23 UEFA Nations League A Group 1 ties to be played in June.
The attacking midfielder is a regular member of Zlatko Dalić’s squad, earning 35 caps and scoring seven goals since making his debut as a 19-year-old against Mexico in 2007.
Now 24, Vlašić is a key player for Croatia, having featured in his country’s last 20 senior internationals, appeared four times at UEFA Euro 2020 and helped them qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar.
And the Hammer will no doubt play his part again when Croatia host Austria in Osijek on 3 June and France in Vlašić’s home city of Split on 6 June, before traveling to Copenhagen to tackle Denmark on 10 June and Paris for the return tie against Alphonse Areola’s France on 13 June.
“These are four tough matches,” said head coach Dalić, who guided Croatia to runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and the round of 16 at Euro 2020.
“We will prepare for the World Cup, but we have objectives in the Nations League as well. It’s the end of the club season, and it’s a lot to play four matches in ten days. Thus, we have called-up more players and I will have to select tham carefully.
“They are the best Croatia has right now, and we’ll try to win every match.”
Among Vlašić’s squad-mates are three players who featured for Dinamo Zagreb against West Ham in the UEFA Europa League group stage – goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, defender Josip Šutalo and forward Mislav Oršić, who scored Dinamo’s winner at London Stadium in December.
Dalić’s squad also includes Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovačić and will be captained by Real Madrid’s former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modrić.
Croatia’s four Nations League matches will be broadcast live in the UK by Premier Sports.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Nikola on his call-up and wish him the best for this summer’s international fixtures.
