ZAGREB (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Croatia head coach Drazen Anzulovic will have the most firepower Croatia had since the start of their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers campaign, as the big three now become the big five.

The triple threat of Bojan Bogdanovic, Dario Saric and Ivica Zubac is joined by another NBA player in Ante Toni Zizic, and Krunoslav Simon, who is making his comeback after the ankle injury that kept him off team in June and July. Croatia, 3-3 heading into the Second Round, will be without another two NBA players in Dragan Bender and Mario Hezonja yet they look impressive on paper. 

Croatia won their last three games in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers, getting the confidence booster they needed to get back on track for next year's 32-team tournament in China. Their first triumph in the third window, a 78-72 victory at Italy on June 28, was probably the biggest.

Croatia will open the Second Round with a heavyweight tilt against Lithuania in Osijek on September 14, before flying to Poland for the other game of the window three days later.

While Simon will be back with the team for the first time since FIBA EuroBasket 2017, the 2.11m (6ft 11in) tall Zizic is set to make his debut for the senior team following his rookie campaign with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Also with the team are Mate Kalajzic and Karlo Uljarevic, both fresh off of helping the country finish second at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2018, and the recent Stankovic Cup MVP Josip Bilinovac. 

Anzulovic will test his new-look lineup in two home-and-away friendly games against Slovenia, the one in Croatia being played in Varazdin on September 5.

FIBA