Players missing include defensive stalwarts Igor Tudor of Juventus and Bayern Munich's Robert Kovac, top scorer Davor Suker, now with 1860 Munich, and Middlesbrough striker Alen Boksic.

BBC: Big names miss friendly

Simunic, who has looked strong since his international debut in November last year, is joined in defence by two other Bundesligas players, Bayern Munich's Robert Kovac and Bayer Leverkusen's Boris Zivkovic.

BBC: Balaban gets Croatia call