Slaven Bilić has kept Petar Sučić in Croatia’s final 25 for the last two Nations League group games, away to England at Wembley and at home to Czechia in Osijek. Como’s Martin Baturina and Ivan Smolčić are also on the list.

Petar Sučić will head off on international duty once Inter’s Sunday evening meeting with Como at San Siro is over. Croatia head coach Slaven Bilić named his final squad on Saturday, and the Inter midfielder is one of nine players selected in the middle of the park, as confirmed by the Croatian Football Federation.

The two fixtures close out Group A3 of the Nations League. Croatia travel to London to face England on Thursday, November 12, and then host Czechia in Osijek on Sunday, November 15.

A crowded Croatia midfield

Sučić is in familiar company. Luka Modrić of Milan, Mateo Kovačić of Manchester City, Mario Pašalić of Atalanta and Nikola Vlašić of Torino are all included, alongside Real Sociedad’s Luka Sučić, Kristijan Jakić and Dinamo’s Josip Mišić. The ninth midfielder is Martin Baturina, who will be in the Como side Inter face on Sunday.

Baturina is not the only Como player Bilić has picked. Defender Ivan Smolčić is also part of the 25, which means three players from the San Siro fixture will report to the same national team camp, Index.hr notes in its club by club breakdown.

The coach made it clear that nobody can take a place for granted. “There are several contenders for every place,” Bilić said, as quoted by Novi list.

Two Hajduk newcomers, no Kramarić

The squad was cut down from the preliminary list the federation released on October 27. Hajduk Split pair Šimun Hrgović and Marin Šotiček are named by Bilić for the first time. Andrej Kramarić is missing after asking to sit this camp out because of a knee problem, and Bilić said he respects the forward.

Bilić also had warm words for Luka Sučić, describing the Real Sociedad player as “a tremendous player, a tremendous talent” and predicting he will become a regular for his country.

Monday arrival, Wembley on Wednesday

Players with weekend fixtures, Sučić among them, will join up with the squad on Monday. Bilić explained that the group will be training at Wembley as early as Wednesday, the day before the England game.

That gives the Inter man little time to rest after Sunday. According to FC Inter 1908, Inter’s international contingent will leave for their national teams straight after the Como game.

For Cristian Chivu, it means another international window in which one of his midfielders could play two demanding matches in four days. Bilić has described the England and Czechia games as decisive for Croatia’s standing, so Sučić will be competing for minutes in a midfield packed with established names.