Loudest behind-closed-doors game ever? Why #ENGCRO isn't quiet | OneFootball

The Nations League clash between Croatia and England was originally supposed to take place behind completely closed doors. However, a special Uefa rule has turned the ghost game in Rijeka into an unusual backdrop for thousands of schoolchildren. England coach Thomas Tuchel has warned his team about the tricky atmosphere.

A top match under extraordinary circumstances: On Saturday evening, Croatia and England will battle in Rijeka for top spot in Nations League Group 3. Both teams go into the match level on points and could claim first place with a win — provided Spain lose to the Czech Republic at the same time. But what awaits the players on the pitch will have little in common with an ordinary international match.

Officially, the match is being played behind closed doors. Uefa sanctioned the Croatian Football Federation over racist incidents during last year’s quarter-final matches in Split and Paris by banning the public from attending. Still, the stands will not be entirely empty: a special regulation by European football’s governing body allows children under 14 free entry.

The federation organized 70 school buses to get between 4,500 and 6,000 schoolchildren to the stadium. Roughly every 15 children will also be accompanied by one adult. Was the “It’s not coming home” banner really the kids’ idea?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 MARKO PERKOV - AFP or licensors