FIFA U-17 World Cup: Croatia gets first victory

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Croatia Gets 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.

After a 0-0 draw against tournament favorites Senegal in their opening game, Marijan Budimir’s squad demonstrated skill and composure to earn three valuable points and improve their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.

Match Highlights

Croatia started strongly, creating an early chance as Niko Horvat’s close-range shot was saved by UAE goalkeeper Jassim Al Hammadi within the first minute.
The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Tin Kusanović scored after Gabrijel Šivalec intercepted a pass deep in UAE territory and assisted him.
Six minutes later, Šivalec scored himself with a curling shot from about 15 metres, doubling Croatia’s lead.
In the 88th minute, substitute Krešimir Radoš sealed the victory with a precise header across goal, beating the UAE goalkeeper.

Team Performance

Budimir’s side controlled the match with solid organization and discipline, maintaining a clean sheet and securing an important victory.

Croatia’s starting line-up: Grahovac; Pajsar, Kumar, Jakirović, Kostelac; Smiljanić, Slišković; Šivalec, N.

Author's summary: Croatia’s U-17 team showed strong tactical discipline and effective finishing to claim their first win in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, rating their prospects for the knockout stage.

Croatia Week — 2025-11-06