Under-21 EURO: Croatia draw England, Portugal and Switzerland

by croatiaweek
December 10, 2020
in Sport

The draw for the expanded 16-team 2021 Under-21 EURO final tournament in Hungary and Slovenia was made today in Nyon.

Croatia has been drawn in Group D alongside Switzerland, Portugal and England.

Croatia will play the group stages of EURO from 24 to 31 March 2021 in Slovenia.

If they advance out of their group the knockout stages will be played from 31 May to 6 June 2021.

“It seems to me that we got the best national teams from the second and fourth pots, but, it is what it is. The group could not be easy, because the concentration of quality at the European Championship is very pronounced. We have learned the opponents and we are slowly starting to prepare. It will not be easy to qualify for the quarterfinals, but we also have our own quality, ” says coach Igor Bišćan. “Every game will be a challenge for us, but if we weren’t good, we wouldn’t be able to play in the European Championship. So, we have something to show, the most important thing is to welcome the championship healthy and ready, and then we will be able to fight with everyone.”

Croatia U21 has been at the EUROs in 2000 and 2004, and at the last edition in 2019, in Italy and San Marino.

Croatia is led by former Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Nikola Moro and features promising players like Borna Sosa, Joško Gvardiol and Lovro Majer.

Spain is the defending champions.