As all of Europe’s national teams will be plenty busy in March with three World Cup qualifying fixtures, the month of June will be the only free 2021 international window for national teams to arrange friendly matches ahead of the postponed EURO 2020, which will begin on June 11.
HNS is happy to confirm that the Croatian FA’s management has arranged for the Croatian national team to play two such friendlies before departing to the European Championship – on June 1, the Vatreni will host Armenia in Osijek, after which they will travel to Bruxelles for a June 6 friendly at King Baudouin Stadium.
🔥 Looking forward to two #Croatia friendlies arranged in June 2021! 👇#BeProud #Vatreni pic.twitter.com/LfSbueKO6n
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) December 18, 2020
This friendly match in June will be Croatia’s first time meeting the national team of Armenia in its history. Meanwhile, Belgium and Croatia have met seven times thus far, with Croatia winning thrice, drawing twice with, and losing twice to the Red Devils.
Belgium has finished at the top of the FIFA World Ranking for a third consecutive year, and the June 2021 match with Croatia is sure to be an excellent test for both teams ahead of the EURO.
"I’m happy that we’ve arranged our June friendly matches this early, and that the matches we’ll play coincide with head coach Zlatko Dalić’s plans. Our match with Belgium is sure to be a spectacular showdown between two of the world’s best national teams, and it will be an excellent opportunity for both head coaches to get a final look at their teams before the EURO. I hope and believe that the pandemic will be behind us by June and that fans will be able to attend and enjoy these matches. There’s always a special atmosphere and feeling of support that we get in Osijek, and I sincerely hope that circumstances in June will be such that we’ll be able to have our fans with us at the friendly against Armenia,” said HNS president Davor Šuker.
“It’s a great feeling to have our June schedule confirmed already, and I am very grateful to president Šuker and the HNS entire management for making these arrangements so quickly. I believe that both of these opponents are excellent choices, and that they’ll help us build momentum for the EURO and get into fighting shape for our first match there against England. I hope that we’ll have our fans with us in Osijek at the match against Armenia because we’re so eager to feel that positive energy. We’re meeting one of the best teams in the world after that – playing Belgium is going to be the perfect challenge ahead of the EURO for both teams. This is a fixture that both my colleague Martinez and I are happy about,” said head coach of the world vice-champions Zlatko Dalić.
