Euro 2020: Croatia ditch training base in Scotland

Zlatko Dalić (Photo credit: Кирилл Венедиктов/Soccer.ru/Creative Commons)

Croatia is no longer going to be based at St. Andrews in Scotland for the upcoming Euro 2020 due to problems over restrictions.

Croatia was due to be based at the luxury St. Andrews camp for the tournament and travel to matches from there, but they have officially changed that plan and will now fly to matches from Croatia, the Croatian Football Federation said today.

The reason is the strict rules due to coronavirus that are in force in Scotland. In the situation there is only one positive case in the national team, the whole team would have to go into quarantine.

The Czech Republic, who are in the same group as Croatia, are also ditching their Scottish base as they did not want to agree to those conditions also. 

Zlatko Dalić and the team will now fly the day before matchday from Croatia. 

The team has been based in Rovinj for the past week at Hotel Lone but left today for Zagreb ahead of a friendly tomorrow night against Armenia. They will return to Rovinj where they will be based for the entire Euro. 

The team will stay at Grand Park hotel, and will train at NK Rovinj Stadium.

“I think that in these circumstances this is the best decision for the national team. We know that we will have excellent conditions, top accommodation and quality terrain, and we cannot get that elsewhere in such a short time. We will try to have our peace, which is also needed. On the other hand, the support of the people can only give us extra energy. Given the whole pandemic story, this is the best outcome, we have a unique opportunity to spend the tournament in our country,” said coach Zlatko Dalić.

HNS Executive Director Marijan Kustić said that the federation had to react quickly. 

“We reacted responsibly and quickly found the best solution for the national team in these exceptional circumstances. We could not allow our stay in Scotland to endanger most of the team in self-isolation. The national team in Rovinj has proven excellent living and working conditions, and others options abroad would be improvisation at the moment. We are at home in Croatia, we will be most comfortable there in these circumstances and that is why we all agreed that this is the best decision,”said Kustić.

Croatia’s Euro fixtures: 

13 June — England v Croatia — 3 pm Wembley Stadium

18 June — Croatia v Czech Republic — 6 pm Hampden Park

22 June — Croatia v Scotland — 9 pm Hampden Park