By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Croatia international Nikola Pokrivac has died in a car accident in his home country, the Croatian Football Federation has confirmed.
Local media reported that the collision, which involved four vehicles, also killed one other person from a different car. Pokrivac was in a vehicle with three teammates from fourth-tier club NK Vojnic, who are injured, two of them critically.
Former Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Pokrivac played for Croatia from 2008 to 2010, earning 15 caps. He also played for Ligue 1 side AS Monaco and Austrian club RB Salzburg.
“Nikola was a great football player, who lived football until his last moment in this world, and who showed great courage in life by overcoming a terrible disease,” said Croatian Football Federation president Marijan Kustic.
“This is a great loss for our football community, and especially painful for the family.”
Pokrivac played at Euro 2008, where Croatia reached the quarter-finals, and faced England twice in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
“It is impossible to find words of comfort in such a shocking and unimaginably sad moment when we have lost a young life,” added Kustic.
“I can only express my deepest condolences to Nikola’s family and loved ones for this irreparable loss, and the HNS [the national football association] and the Croatian football family will be with them in these most difficult moments.”
In 2008 he received his first call-up for the Croatia and won his final cap for his country in October 2010 during a friendly against Norway. Pokrivac was part of the squad that impressed at Euro 2008, beating Germany in the group stages, before going out in the last eight.