FIFA U-17 World Cup: Croatia Gets First Victory
Croatia’s U-17 national team celebrated their maiden win at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, beating the United Arab Emirates 3-0 in their second Group C matchup.
After an opening goalless draw against Senegal, one of the tournament favorites, Marijan Budimir’s squad displayed greater confidence and precision to secure all three points and reinforce their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
Match Highlights
Croatia started energetically, nearly scoring within the first minute when Niko Horvat’s close-range effort was denied by UAE goalkeeper Jassim Al Hammadi. The breakthrough arrived in the 30th minute, when Tin Kusanović converted calmly after Gabrijel Šivalec intercepted a pass deep in the UAE half and provided the assist.
Just six minutes later, Šivalec doubled the lead, bending a right-footed shot from about 15 meters into the net. Substitute Krešimir Radoš sealed the result in the 88th minute with a fine header across the goal that left the UAE keeper with no chance.
Coach and Team Performance
“We showed composure and good organization throughout the match,” said coach Marijan Budimir.
Budimir’s men controlled the tempo, maintained defensive discipline, and were rewarded with a deserved clean sheet and vital points for their campaign.
Croatia Starting Line-up
- Grahovac
- Pajsar
- Kumar
- Jakirović
- Kostelac
- Smiljanić
- Slišković
- Šivalec
- N.
Author’s summary: Croatia’s U-17 squad dominated against the UAE, combining sharp attack and solid defense to record their first World Cup win and boost knockout-stage hopes.