Barcelona teen Alen Halilovic got around 40 minutes of run in with Croatia on Wednesday night as his team notched a 2-0 friendly win over Israel.
Croatia, slotted into a difficult Group D with Spain, Czech Republic and Turkey for Euro 2016, made it four wins in a row since Ante Cacic took over as manager by easing to the win in Osijek.
The hosts forged ahead in only the fourth minute when Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic showed excellent technique to lash in a volley from club teammate Marcelo Brozovic's cross.
Brozovic, 23, turned goalscorer half an hour later, tapping home from close range after Mario Mandzukic’s shot had bounced off the post.
That was a fourth international goal for the winger, who is on loan at Inter from Dinamo Zagreb, and he looks set to play a key part for Croatia at this summer’s Euros.
With the result all but decided by half-time, former Lokomotiv Zagreb coach Cacic took the opportunity to give six of his substitutes a run-out, including Halilovic, who has impressed on loan at Sporting Gijon this season to stake a late claim for selection.
For 19-year-old midfielder Halilovic, who starred at the 2013 Under 17 World Cup in Abu Dhabi, it was his eighth international cap.
He said earlier this week to Goal.com that he believes he is growing into his mega potential.
“I am much better player now than I was after leaving Dinamo, no doubt,” he told Goal. “This season I’ve played ... in the best league in the world, which is not easy for such young player like me. It means a lot to me, I’ve improved in running and tactics.
“I am very happy with my season, I’ve only missed one match, which was due to suspension, the coach trusts me, I have worked hard during every training session.
“And now I am back in Croatia team, so I have to continue this way.”
He came on for Fiorentina's Milan Badelj at 51 minutes and played alongside Perisic, Brozovic and Real Madrid star Luka Modric until the latter was subbed off at 68 minutes.
Meanwhile Jakub Blaszczykowski grabbed the only goal as Poland displayed their Euro 2016 credentials with a 1-0 friendly win over Serbia.
The Poles beat world champions Germany during an impressive qualifying campaign to help book their ticket to France, and they came through a tough test against a strong Serbia outfit in Poznan.
The visitors started well enough and looked solid with the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksandar Kolarov at the back, but their failure to clear a low cross in the 28th minute gifted Poland the breakthrough.
The ball dropped perfectly for Blaszczykowski, who cut across his right-footed volley to send the ball spinning into the corner past Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Blaszczykowski has struggled to break into the Fiorentina starting team since joining on loan from Borussia Dortmund last summer, and a first goal for club or country since January could do wonders for his confidence.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who top scored in Euro 2016 qualifying with 13 goals in 10 games, failed to hit the net for the first time in seven internationals and was withdrawn in the second half for Lukasz Teodorczyk.
Poland will again face Germany in the Euro 2016 group stages on June 16 at the Stade de France in Paris, while they will also take on neighbours Ukraine and Northern Ireland in Group C.
Romania, who will take on hosts France in the group stages, scraped past Lithuania 1-0 in Giurgiu.
The Romanians, who finished top of their qualifying group, are now unbeaten in 16 matches.
Steaua Bucharest midfielder Nicolae Stanciu came off the bench at half-time to make his international debut, before drilling in from long range with 25 minutes left to light up an otherwise drab match and send a message to coach Anghel Iordanescu.
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