Croatia to play Belgium and Armenia ahead of EURO
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
(Photo credit: Ivan Del Val/Global Imagens/via www.imago-image)
ZAGREB, 18 December 2020 – Croatia has agreed to two friendly matches in June before leaving for the European Championship, the Croatian Football Federation confirmed on Friday.
With a busy 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying schedule in March, dates in June remain the only opportunity to arrange friendly matches before the UEFA Euros, which starts on June 11.
Croatia will play two friendlies, first on June 1 against Armenia in Osijek, and the second on June 6 against world number one Belgium in Brussels at the King Baudouin Stadium.
It will be the first time Croatia will face Armenia, while they have met Belgium seven times so far, with three wins, two draws and two defeats.
Belgium finished for the third year in a row as the best ranked national team in the world according to FIFA, and this match will be the last test for both national teams before leaving for the Euros.
“I am glad that we arranged friendly matches before the Euros so early, bearing in mind the plans of coach Dalić. The meeting with Belgium will be a real spectacle with two national teams from the top of the world football, which will be a perfect opportunity to see where they are at. I hope and believe that the pandemic will be behind us by then and that fans at the stadiums will be able to enjoy these matches. We always have an extremely stimulating atmosphere in Osijek and that is why I wish a full stadium against Armenia if circumstances allow,” said HNS president Davor Šuker.
“It is great that we have already agreed on the entire program for the period before the Euros and that is why I thank President Šuker and the leadership of the federation. I hope that the fans will be able to join us in Osijek against Armenia because we want from them positive energy, and after that, we will meet one of the best national teams in the world, which will be an ideal test for both sides. That is why my colleague Martinez and I are satisfied with this agreement,” said coach Zlatko Dalić.
