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Croatian international goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa confirmed today he has signed for two seasons with Russian first division side Rostov after ending his contract with league rivals Spartak Moscow.

Stoke City marked their first European tie in 37 years with a 1-0 home victory over Croatia’s Hajduk Split in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg on Thursday.

Dinamo Zagreb came from behind to take a 2-1 first-leg advantage over HJK Helsinki in their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie.

The hosts led through Alexander Ring’s 14th-minute strike, but an own goal from Rafinha levelled the score five minutes later, and Sammir grabbed a winner for Zagreb with under a quarter of an hour to go.

Bayern Munich have welcomed striker Ivica Olic back to training, with the Croatian hot-shot admitting he has been counting down the days after nearly eight months out with a knee injury.

Croatia’s revered former football coach Tomislav Ivic has died in hospital in his hometown of Split at age 77.

Two goals in as many minutes saw Croatia come from behind to see off the challenge of Georgia and take top spot in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group F with a 2-1 victory.

Recalled Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic was forced to cancel his holidays after being taken off-guard by his sudden return to the international fold.

Klasnic has not played for Croatia since September 2009 and was so sure he would not be required for tomorrow’s Group F UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier against Georgia, he pencilled the date in for a summer break.

But coach Slaven Bilic decided the 31-year-old did feature in his plans. Klasnic said: “It was a massive surprise. I really didn’t expect to the get the call from Slaven Bilic to ask me to come and play.

“I had previously spoken to him over the phone and he had told me that I probably wouldn’t be involved in the squad so I had booked my holidays. But earlier this week I got the phone call and it seemed he changed his mind.

“Of course it’s an honour to be asked to play for my country as it always is and, if I get the chance, hopefully I can show everyone what I can do. I want to do what every football player wants to do, go out there and play and not sit on the bench.”

Croatian international goalkeeper Vedran Runje has reached agreement to quit relegated French side Lens, the club said on today. The 35-year-old’s contract had been due to expire in June 2012.

Runje arrived in northern France in June 2007 from Turkish club Besiktas having previously played for Marseille and Standard Liege in Belgium.

Capped 21 times, Runje had been overlooked by Lens in their past three games and fell out of favour after a verbal spat with fans following a 3-0 defeat to Lorient. Runje could return to Standard Liege where he played from 1998/2001 and 2004/06.

Croatian midfielder Jerko Leko has signed a two-year deal with national champions Dinamo Zagreb, where he started his career more than a decade ago, the club said.

“It is a great feeling to return home,” the 31-year-old Leko said, who is arriving from Turkish outfit Bucaspor.

 ”Finally the wishes of the home club and my ambitions are the same, meaning that we continue where we stopped back in 2002,” he added.

Leko started his carrier in Dinamo Zagreb in 2000, and after two years was signed by Dynamo Kyiv. He stayed in Ukraine for four seasons and then joined French side Monaco in 2006. He played for Monaco until last year when he joined Bucaspor.

Leko has played 59 matches for Croatia and scored two goals.

Croatia midfielder Drago Gabric has reportedly suffered serious head injuries in a car crash near Split. The accident is said to have happened yesterday afternoon in rainy conditions on the highway between Dugopolje and Biska.

Slobodna Dalmacija newspaper reports the 24-year-old remains in a “deep coma, connected to respirators” in the intensive care unit of a Split hospital after sustaining life-threatening injuries.

Gabric is currently at Turkish club Ankaragucu, on loan from Trabzonspor, and has won five caps for Croatia.

The build-up to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011 quickened on Wednesday evening as the Official Draw took place.