FIFA U-17 World Cup: Croatia Earns First Victory
Croatia’s U-17 national team secured their first win at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar by defeating the United Arab Emirates 3-0 in their second Group C match. Following a goalless draw against tournament favourite Senegal in their opener, Marijan Budimir’s squad demonstrated strong performance and calmness to claim all three points, boosting their chances of advancing to the knockout stages.
Match Highlights
Croatia started brightly, creating an early opportunity within the first minute when Niko Horvat’s close-range shot was saved by UAE goalkeeper Jassim Al Hammadi.
The breakthrough came in the 30th minute. Tin Kusanović scored after Gabrijel Šivalec intercepted a deep pass and assisted Kusanović, who finished calmly from close range to put Croatia ahead 1-0.
Six minutes later, Šivalec himself doubled the lead with a curled shot from about 15 metres out.
In the 88th minute, substitute Krešimir Radoš added the third goal with a precise header across the goal, finishing past the UAE goalkeeper.
Team Performance and Lineup
Budimir’s team controlled the match, exhibiting solid organization and discipline to keep a clean sheet and secure the crucial win.
Croatia’s starting lineup: Grahovac; Pajsar, Kumar, Jakirović, Kostelac; Smiljanić, Slišković; Šivalec, Niko Horvat, Tin Kusanović, and others.
Croatia’s U-17 side showed quality and composure to secure all three points and strengthen their chances of progressing to the knockout stages.
Author's summary: Croatia’s U-17 team achieved a commanding 3-0 win over the UAE in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, improving their knockout stage prospects with strong teamwork and effective finishing.