Can Croatia end Belgium's unbeaten streak? Preview of the friendly on June 2
On Tuesday, June 2, the Rujevica Stadium in Rijeka, Croatia, will host a high-profile friendly between the national teams of Croatia and Belgium. For both European powerhouses, this encounter marks the final stage of preparation for the World Cup kicking off in North America in June. The coaching staffs see this prestigious showdown as the perfect test of battle readiness before crossing the Atlantic—Croatia is set to begin their campaign in a daunting group with England, Panama, and Ghana, while Belgium will tackle their tournament objectives against Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. The match in Rijeka is bound to spark enormous interest, as these rivals have long accustomed fans to uncompromising head-to-head duels on the biggest stages.
Croatia, led by the ever-present Zlatko Dalić, approach this home fixture in tactical fine-tuning mode after mixed results during their March tour of the United States. The Chequered Ones first defeated Colombia, only to fall to Brazil—a loss that snapped an impressive nine-match unbeaten run. Dalić aims to use the Rijeka clash to stabilize the defensive setup and integrate young talent into the tried-and-tested midfield core. Croatia are traditionally strong at home, where they'll look to dictate the tempo and employ their trademark high press to minimize threats near their own goal.
Belgium, now under the guidance of Rudi Garcia, arrive in Rijeka riding an eleven-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, including a March demolition of the USA and a draw with Mexico. Under the French tactician, the Red Devils are gradually shifting their style, opting for a more pragmatic approach while maintaining their formidable attacking firepower. For Garcia, this away trip is a crucial test of his side's defensive reliability against a cohesive, top-tier European attacking outfit. With no overwhelming pressure for a result, Belgium's coaching staff will likely make extensive second-half rotations to assess the match fitness of their reserves.
Tactically, expect a tightly contested midfield battle, with Croatia seeking to dominate possession through their signature triangles and crisp passing. Belgium, meanwhile, will willingly engage in an end-to-end contest, relying on rapid transitions down the flanks and the blistering pace of their forwards in the final third. Given the friendly nature of the match and the looming World Cup, neither side is likely to risk their star players in overly physical challenges, but the attacking quality on both teams guarantees plenty of dangerous moments. This promises to be a fiercely competitive affair—Croatia, boosted by home advantage and greater cohesion, should have the initiative, but Belgium's counter-attacking threat means the hosts can't expect an easy ride.
Prediction
I expect an open game played at a high tempo, with plenty of chances and goals. My prediction: total over (2.5) at 1.8
