Zlatko Dalić addressed the public before the clash with Armenia, expressing that the focus will be solely on the performance of the team, rather than following the match in Cardiff. However, someone on the bench will be following the situation in Wales in order to inform the players if the Turks take the lead, as this would make it “a little easier” for Croatia to qualify for the Euros even if they lose.
Dalić announced that there would be a small change in the lineup, with Joško Guardiola returning to the stopper position. This would mean Erlić returning to the bench and Sosa joining the starting lineup. Juranović and Sučić will also be in the squad, but they will start on the bench as they have just recovered.
There is expected to be no rain for the match, and more than 20,000 fans are expected to be in attendance at Maksimir on Tuesday to provide support. Ivica Ivušić will be in the squad despite missing the last training due to a personal situation.
Armenia is the only national team in recent history that has not had a single journalist from their country attend a competitive match in Croatia. Because of this, there will be support from the southern stand for another celebration of placing in a big competition.
The probable lineup for the match will be Livaković – Stanišić, Šutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa – Modrić, Brozović – Majer, Kramarić , Ivanušec – Budimir.