Croatia keen to continue unprecedented run
ZAGREB (FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2016) – Croatia head into this summer’s FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship looking to extend their longest top-flight run in the competition.
ZAGREB (FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2016) – Croatia head into this summer’s FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship looking to extend their longest top-flight run in the competition.
While survival is always important for any nation, cementing themselves as a permanent fixture is hugely important to Croatia as they head to Sopron for a fifth consecutive Division A campaign.
| Croatia 15-player squad for FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2016 |
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| Klaudija Dobroslavic | Karla Erjavec | Marija Galic | Diana Grizelj |
| Kristina Ivancevic | Andela Katavic | Lorena Molnar | Lorena Molnar |
| Marta Nimac | Josipa Pavic | Josipa Silov | Lucija Skoric |
| Valentina Simunic | Matea Tadic | Tonia Uzelac | |
Prior to their current run which started in Bucharest during 2012, avoiding relegation was not something they had previously managed.
They had only survived a single summer during their former forays into Division A, even getting relegated in 2005 when the team contained a quartet of future Olympians in Luca Ivankovic, Marija Rezan and Antonija Sandric.
Rezan (left) and Sandic (right) played at the London 2012 Olympics, having been relegated at the 2005 edition of the FIBA U18 Women's European Championship
Yet in these last four summers, they have not only managed to avoid the trap door, they have twice made the Quarter-Finals and only just missed out on the top eight again last time out when propelled by the exciting Ivana Dojkic.
Four players will return from last year in Celje, with Valentina Simunic ready to lead the way after playing big minutes in Slovenia last time out. There is also a buzz around the potential contribution that Matea Tadic could make, having caught the eye at the FIBA U16 European Women’s Championship in Matosinhos.
Croatia have been drawn in Group D against France, Hungary and Slovenia.
FIBA