Former Croatia international footballer dies in road crash

Former Croatia international Nikola Pokrivac died in a car accident in Karlovac in central Croatia on Friday, the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) said.

Local media reported that the collision, which involved four vehicles, also killed one other person from a separate car.

Pokrivac, 39, was in a vehicle with three teammates from fourth-tier club NK Vojnic, who were 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.

"It is impossible to find words of comfort in such a shocking and unimaginably sad moment when we have lost a young life," the HNS said in a statement.

"I can only express my deepest condolences to Nikola's family and loved ones for this irreparable loss, and the HNS and the Croatian football family will be with them in these most difficult moments," HNS President Marijan Kustic added.

Pokrivač played for the Croatia under-21 national team and also represented the country at both the under-17 and under-19 levels.

He won a total of 39 international caps and scored three goals for all Croatian youth national teams between 2001 and 2006.

On 5 May 2008, he received his first call-up for the Croatia national team at senior level, being added to their 23-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

He went on to make his international debut on 24 May 2008 in a friendly match against Moldova.

At the UEFA Euro 2008 finals, he only appeared in Croatia's final group match against Poland.

Pokrivač went on to make five appearances in Croatia's unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, appearing in both matches against Kazakhstan and England as well as the away fixture at Andorra.