Pavlovic called up for Croatia

Mateo Pavlovic was training with Nils Petersen last week and on Sunday he was flying to be with the Croatian national team.
First Team
Monday, 25.03.2013 / 09:05

Werder defender Mateo Pavlovic will remember Sunday morning for a long time as he travels to the Croatian national team for his first nomination - which surprised himself...

Werder defender Mateo Pavlovic will remember Sunday morning for a long time as he travels to the Croatian national team for his first nomination - which surprised himself.

The Croatians will be fighting for the next three points in the 2014 World Cup qualification in Wales on Tuesday evening 26 March 2013 at 8:45 p.m. after picking up a 2-0 victory against Serbia on Friday. Croatian national team coach Igor Stimac called up the 22-year-old Werder player, as it appears that Croatian veteran defender Josip Simunic (35, played in the Bundesliga for Hamburg, Berlin and Hoffenheim) will miss the Wales match with an injury.

For Pavlovic, who has earned 10 caps with Croatia's U21 national team, the invitation is a first. Just in the last few weeks he talked about what a dream it would be to be nominated for the senior team. "Despite the difficult situation in Bremen, the transfer was exactly right for me. I am growing into the situation. I have had the chance to immediately fight for a spot with Werder. I have heard from the national team that I could be a possible call-up if I play in the Bundesliga," said the Croatian after a training session. "Of course I'm so happy that it worked out so quickly. An appearance for your own country is always something special," said Pavlovic on Sunday. Pavlovic came to the Green-Whites in the winter break and has started two matches thus far.

Werder's sports director Thomas Eichin was happy for Pavlovic. "I received the call from the Croatian federation Saturday evening, asking if we could release Mateo at the last minute. There wasn't anything to think about. It was great that he received the recognition of his development in the last few weeks from the national team coach," said Eichin. Pavlovic departed Bremen on Sunday and will return on Wednesday with the other Werder internationals.

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