CROATIA are hosting Armenia as they prepare to renew hostilities with England at Euro 2020.
The Croats face the Three Lions in their opening group game at Wembley as they look for a repeat of their World Cup semi-final win three years ago.
Opponents Armenia have not qualified for Euro 2020 but have started World Cup qualifying in excellent form.
They have three wins out of three against Romania, Iceland and Liechtenstein to top a group also containing Germany.
- Croatia vs Armenia kicks off at 5pm UK time – 6pm in Croatia and 8pm in Armenia.
- Croatia vs Armenia is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK.
- To stream the game live, head to your Sky Go app.
- Non-Sky Sports subscribers can still watch all the action live with a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.
- Croatia XI: Livakovic, Barisic, Caleta-Car, Vida, Vrsaljko, Vlasic, Brozovic, Modric, Perisic, Kramaric, Brekalo
- Armenia XI: Yurchenko, Hovhannisyan, Calisir, Voskanyan, Terteryan, Spertsyan, Grigoryan, Bayramyan, Babayan, Adamyan, Barseghyan
CROATIA 0-0 ARMENIA
4. Chance! Babayan picks up the ball after a neat passage of play and fires just wide from outside the box.
Good chance for the Armenians!
CROATIA 0-0 ARMENIA
2. Decent start from Croatia, they’re dominating play in these early stages.
Slow tempo to the game so far.
PEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!
And the first half is off and underway!!!!!!!!!!
FIVE MINUTES
Just 5 minutes till kick-off!!!!!!!!!
TEN MINUTES
Just 10 minutes till kick-off!!!!!!!!!!!!
FINAL PREPARATIONS
HEAD TO HEAD
This will be the first ever meeting between Croatia and Armenia.
ALL BLACK FOR CROATIA
STAT ATTACK
Croatia have won just two of their last five games, Armenia have won their last five.
PERISIC ON CAP 100
“Of course, I am excited to be winning a 100th cap for Croatia. Only a handful of players can say they played 100 or more matches for Croatia.”
DALIC ON LOVREN
“Lovren is recovering better than all our expectations, his will and desire are not in question, but we have to be careful,
“Maybe he won’t be ready for the first match, but we play on 18 and 23 June and hope to stay in the tournament after that as well.”
100 CAPS FOR PERISIC!!!!!
CROATIA SUBS
6. Lovren, 12. Kalinic, 14. Budimir, 15. Pasalic, 16. Skoric, 17. Rebic, 18. Orsic, 19. Badelj, 20 Petkovic, 22. Juranovic, 23. Sluga
ARMENIA SUBS
24. Ararat, 23. Bichakchcyan, 20. Melkonyan, 19. Hakobyan, 17. Khachumyan, 14. Shaghoyan, 9. Miranyan, 8. Muradyan, 6. Angulo, 16. Nersesyan, 12. Meliksetyan
CROATIA STARTING XI
Zlatko Dalic has gone with a 4-3-3 formation this afternoon:
- Livakovic, 2. Vrsaljko, 21. Vida, 5. Caleta-Car, 3. Barisic, 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 13. Vlasic, 7. Brekalo, 9. Kramaric, 4. Perisic
ARMENIA STARTING XI
Looks like Joaquin Caparros has gone for his tried and trusted 4-4-2:
- Yurchenko, 4. Voskanyan, 21. Terteryan, 13. Hovhannisyan, 5. Grigoryan, 15. Spertsyan, 7. Bayramyan, 25. Babayan, 11. Barseghyan, 22. Adamyan
CAKE FOR KOVACIC!
IMPRESSIVE FROM CROATIA’S FINEST
CAPARROS ON MKHITARYAN
DALIC ON THIS AFTERNOON’S GAME
“We will save some of our players, but a good result is also important to us. We want to win for a better atmosphere.
“We won’t calculate, but we will play at full strength. We will only distribute the minutes by players. We will also play different systems in each half. “
CROATIA V ARMENIA
GOOD AFTERNOON
Welcome to our live blog of Croatia v Armenia
The Croats kick-off their preparations for this summer’s Euros this afternoon by hosting Armenia at Stadion Radnik in a friendly encounter.
The away side have won their last five games, however they will not be taking part at the European Championship this summer.
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is set to stick with his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, but Champions League winning midfielder Mateo Kovacic is likely to be rested after his late arrival following on from Chelsea’s heroics in Portugal.
Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren is unlikely to feature due to a knee ligament injury, there are also concerns regarding Ante Rebic’s fitness.
Domagoj Bradaric and Josko Gvardiol are both set to join up with the senior team after starting for the Under-21’s in their 2-1 defeat to Spain on Monday.
Armenia boss Joaquin Caparros opted not to call up Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The former Manchester United and Arsenal star took to social media to voice his frustration at being left out; however he is likely to be replaced by Gevorg Ghazaryan.
Varazdat Haroyan, Khoren Bayramyan and Tigran Barseghyan all miss out due to suspension.
Albert Kachumyan David Terteryan should make their international debuts.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
