Qualifications begin next month for the 2025 Under-21 EURO Championship, which will be held in Slovakia in two years.
In this competition, the age limit is set for players born after January 1, 2002. This rule also applies to the qualifications.
Croatia entered the qualifiers from the second pot, making it impossible for them to avoid a much stronger opponent. In this case, it was Portugal.
Croatia will thus play in Group G against Portugal, Greece, Belarus, the Faroe Islands, and Andorra.
“Portugal is the slight favorite of the group, but our goal is to qualify for the Euros for the fourth consecutive time. We will try to achieve it directly, as the first-placed team or one of the three best second-placed national teams,” said U-21 national team coach Igor Bišćan after the draw.
Nine group winners and the three best runners-up will qualify for the Euros, while the remaining six runners-up will be divided into three pairs, the winners of which will also go to Slovakia.
The group stage matches will be played in March, June, September, October, and November this year and in March, September, and October next year.
Croatia U-21 national team qualifying schedule:
September 12, 2023: Faroe Islands – Croatia
October 13, 2023: Greece – Croatia
October 17, 2023: Croatia – Belarus
November 20, 2023: Belarus – Croatia
March 21, 2024: Andorra – Croatia
March 26, 2024: Portugal – Croatia
September 5, 2024: Croatia – Faroe Islands
September 10, 2024: Croatia – Portugal
October 11, 2024: Croatia – Andorra
October 15, 2024: Croatia – Greece
The Croatia Under-21 national team will thus gather in a new guise, with players born from 2002 onwards.
However, the current generation (or players born in 2000 and younger) will gather again at this year’s European Championship in Romania and Georgia in June. Croatia is in Group B against Ukraine, Spain, and Romania.
Croatia will qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris if it finishes in one of the top three spots at this year’s Euros.
To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
