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Future is bright: Croatia U-17 and U-19 qualify for Euros and U-21 win big on same day

Croatian youth football enjoyed a memorable day on Tuesday as three national teams delivered major results within the space of a few hours, underlining the strength of the country’s talent pipeline.

Croatia’s U-19 national team, led by coach Siniša Oreščanin, topped their qualification group to secure a place at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Wales.

At the same time, the U-17 national team, coached by Marijan Budimir, also finished first in their group to qualify for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Estonia. That success also earned Croatia a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

Completing the remarkable day, Croatia’s U-21 side, under manager Ivica Olić, defeated Turkey in a key qualification clash for the upcoming UEFA European Under-21 Championship to be hosted by Serbia and Albania.

Within just a few hours, Croatia’s young footballers produced a trio of results that resonated across European football.

Croatia’s achievements place the country in rare company. Only Denmark, Italy, Spain and Croatia have managed to qualify their U-17 teams for both the European Championship and the World Cup while also sending their U-19 side to the European Championship.

Even more striking, only Spain and Croatia have achieved those youth milestones while their senior national team has also qualified for the next FIFA World Cup.

Depth of Talent

The results are even more impressive considering the age profile of the squads.

Budimir’s U-17 team included five players from the youngest eligible age group, while Oreščanin’s U-19 side featured two.

Meanwhile, defender Luka Vušković, already a senior international, recently scored for Croatia’s senior team against Colombia despite still being eligible for the U-19 side.

Another example is Branimir Mlačić, who scored against Turkey for the U-21 team despite also being eligible for younger age groups.

Croatia’s diaspora also continues to play an important role, with several players born or developed abroad included in the youth squads.

Krpan: “These Are Big Achievements”

Petar Krpan, chief instructor of the Croatian Football Federation, highlighted the significance of the achievements.

“We sometimes take this for granted because we are used to it, but look at other countries with far larger populations that would give anything for the continuity of our results,” Krpan said for the HNS website.

“They often have greater resources, better infrastructure and stronger leagues, yet they cannot achieve what we manage. That is why these results in our youth categories are truly significant.”

Krpan stressed that the success reflects the strength of Croatia’s coaching system and development structure.

“This is proof of the quality of our coaching profession, which continually nurtures Croatian football talent in the best possible way,” he said.

He also thanked federation leadership, including president Marijan Kustić, the executive board and technical director Stipe Pletikosa, as well as youth coaches, regional instructors and club academies.

Krpan also praised the federation’s diaspora scouting network, describing the results as “a shared success of the entire Croatian football system”.

A Strong Future

The performances in Varaždin, Opole and Osijek have strengthened optimism about the future of Croatian football.

They also underline the growing impact of the next generation, illustrated by 19-year-old defender Vušković already appearing for the senior national team in a friendly against five-time world champions Brazil.

For a country of fewer than four million people, Croatia’s ability to consistently produce elite football talent continues to stand out on the global stage.

As the latest results show, the production line of Croatian football remains as strong as ever.

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