Croatia to Face England at Wembley in September

Croatia beat England in 2008 (photo: Reuters)

Croatia’s first match after its EURO 2016 campaign will be against England at Wembley…

Ante Čačić’s men will take on England in a friendly at Wembley stadium on September 1 2016, just 4 days before the team face Turkey in their first World Cup qualifier of the new campaign, UK media are reporting.

The match will be Sam Allardyce’s first game as England manager after he was named to replace Roy Hodgson recently after a disappointing EURO 2016 campaign where they were knocked out by Iceland in the Round of 16.

Croatia have tasted success against England at Wembley before. The most famous victory was in 2007 when Slaven Bilić’s side won 3-2 to end Steve McClaren’s team’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008. In recent history both sides have beaten each other twice.

Croatia will meet Turkey again in September (photo: HNS)

Croatia will be hoping for a good build-up to their World Cup qualifying campaign after a decent performance in France where the side were knocked out in the Round of 16 in extra-time by eventual winners Portugal. Croatia face Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey and Finland in their World Cup qualifying group.

***UPDATE***

Media reports late on Monday out of the UK suggest that England have opted out of the fixture. The Daily Mail reports that Sam Allardyce will do away with a friendly against Croatia.