Osijek & Varaždin to host Croatia fixtures in June 2019

5 February 2019 – The Croatian cities of Osijek and Varaždin will host national team matches in June this year, the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) announced on Tuesday. 

HNS have decided that Gradski vrt stadium in Osijek will host Croatia’s second home match in EURO 2020 qualifying against Wales on 8 June 2019 (3:00 pm kickoff).

Croatia will open their qualifying campaign in Zagreb at Maksimir stadium on 21 March 2019 against Azerbaijan, and then three days later face Hungary away.  

According to UEFA rules, all free windows must be used for friendly internationals and in the June match day window Croatia will face Tunisia in an international friendly, three days after the Wales match in Osijek. 

HNS confirmed today that the Tunisia friendly will be played in Varaždin on 11 June 2019.

Tunisia will use the match as preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations which will take place from 21 June – 19 July in Egypt.

Tunisia is ranked 26th in the world with their biggest star being Saint-Étienne striker Wahbi Khazri. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Tunisia was knocked out after the group stages after they beat Panama but lost to England and Belgium. 

Croatia and Tunisia have never met in an international.