Croatia U17 opened the European Championship with a defeat to Belgium in Rakvere
The Croatia national under-17 football team opened its appearance at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship 2026 with a 0:2 defeat to Belgium in the first round of Group A. The match was played on 25 May 2026 at Rakvere Linnastaadion in Rakvere, Estonia, and UEFA recorded the encounter as Belgium's opening victory at the final tournament, which is being held in Estonia this year. With three points, Belgium immediately took an important step in a group that also includes the host Estonia and Spain, while Croatia, after its first appearance, must seek points in the remaining two matches. According to the report of the Croatian Football Federation, the match was decided by two early goals from the Belgian team within a span of four minutes. The scorers were Driessen in the 9th minute and Moorthamer in the 13th minute, giving Belgium a very early lead that it managed to keep until the end of the match.
Belgium punished Croatian mistakes in the opening phase
The HNS states that in the opening part of the match, the Croatia U17 team allowed the opponent two situations that ended in goals and determined the further course of the game. The first goal was scored by Driessen in the 9th minute, and Moorthamer increased Belgium's lead to 2:0 in the 13th minute. Such a start was difficult for the team of head coach Marijan Budimir because Croatia very early had to change the rhythm of the match and chase a deficit against an opponent that entered the group with high expectations. After that, Belgium could play more cautiously, with an emphasis on protecting the lead and controlling the space in front of its own penalty area. Croatia, according to the HNS report, despite the early deficit, created chances, but failed to find the goal that would have made the match uncertain again.
The best Croatian chance in the first half fell to Jakov Dedić, who, after Belgium had taken the lead, found himself in front of goalkeeper Seghers, but the Belgian keeper saved his attempt. Dedić was dangerous later in the first half as well, and the HNS particularly highlights his attempts in the 35th and 40th minutes. Croatia also threatened through Jona Benkotić, whose header in the 42nd minute was also stopped by Seghers. These details are important because they show that the result was not the consequence of a one-sided match, but above all of Belgian efficiency in the early phase and Croatian imprecision in the final third. In youth competitions, where matches are often decided by psychological details, two quick conceded goals carry additional weight because the team comes under result pressure very early.
Croatia continued to attack, but without the final touch
Croatia opened the second half better and continued to search for a goal that would reduce the deficit. According to the HNS, Luka Bartolović threatened in the 60th minute, but Seghers was once again secure. In the 73rd minute Lovro Trupčević crossed from the right side, and Dedić's header went over the crossbar. In the closing stages, Benkotić also had an attempt after which the ball, with a block from the Belgian defence, ended up over the goal. Belgium in those moments relied more on defensive discipline, while Croatia tried to find a solution through pressure, crosses and individual attempts in the attacking third.
After the match, head coach Marijan Budimir, according to the HNS announcement, stressed that Croatia was very competitive in a number of football and statistical indicators, but that finishing was the decisive difference. His assessment suggests that the coaching staff does not view the defeat exclusively through the result, but also through the content of the play, the number of chances and the team's reaction after the early deficit. Still, in a tournament format the result carries direct weight because there are only three matches in the group. Croatia therefore already in the second round must turn a good impression into points, especially because the two best teams from each group advance to the semi-finals. In such a system, one defeat is not necessarily decisive, but mistakes and missed chances are more costly than in longer league competitions.
Scorers, line-ups and basic match report
According to the official report of the Croatian Football Federation, the match was played at the City Stadium in Rakvere, and it was refereed by Florian Rata from Albania. Belgium took the lead with Driessen's goal in the 9th minute, and Moorthamer set the final 0:2 four minutes later. The HNS states that yellow cards in the Croatian team were given to Jakov Dedić and Toni Ruso. Flashscore listed Rakvere Linnastaadion as the stadium for the same match, with a capacity of 2,500 seats and an attendance of 436 spectators. This confirms that it was a smaller Estonian football setting, characteristic of younger final tournaments where the emphasis is on player development, international experience and monitoring the most promising generations of European football.
Croatia started the match with the line-up: Lojen, Trupčević, Pavić, Zirdum, Tolić, Modrić, Miličić, Bartolović, Benkotić, Žužić Škafar and Dedić. According to the HNS, Paunović, Beader Trajanovski, Ruso, Radić and Frigan came on in the second half. Belgium played with the line-up: Seghers, Moorthamer, Mbavu, Blondeel, El Morabet, Onia Seke, Van Gelder, Dierckx, Achahbar, Driessen and Benktib, while Kalonji, Kana, Belkacem, Verstrepen and Onehese came on from the bench. In the match report, Belgian goalkeeper Seghers, who stopped several Croatian attempts, and the two scorers, Driessen and Moorthamer, who broke the match open in a very short period, particularly stand out. Croatia will also take from this match the fact that, despite the result, it reached several situations from which it could have reduced the deficit or changed the course of the match.
Group A immediately gained clear outlines
UEFA announced that Group A of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship 2026 includes Estonia, Belgium, Croatia and Spain. After the first round, Belgium won three points with its victory against Croatia, while Spain defeated Estonia 4:1 in the other group match. Such an outcome means that Belgium and Spain have a results advantage after the first day, but two more rounds remain until the end of the group. Since the two best teams advance to the semi-finals, Croatia still has the possibility of reaching the knockout stage, but for that it will need points against Estonia and Spain. Croatia's next match is scheduled for 28 May against Estonia at Lilleküla Stadium in Tallinn, and Croatia will play the final group match on 31 May against Spain in Rakvere.
The competition system leaves little room for calculations. UEFA states that the final tournament is played from 25 May to 7 June 2026 and that the two first-placed teams from each group go to the semi-finals. In practice, this means that already after the first round a clear dynamic of pressure begins to form: teams with a victory can control their path toward the final stages, while the defeated sides must react quickly. For Croatia it is additionally important that the second opponent is the host Estonia, a team that, in front of its own supporters, is seeking a reaction after the opening defeat to Spain. That match could be decisive for the continuation of Croatian ambitions because a positive result would return the team to the fight for the first two places before the encounter with Spain.
Estonia hosts the U17 final tournament for the first time
UEFA states that Estonia is organizing the final tournament of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship for the first time. Matches are played in Tallinn and Rakvere, at the stadiums Lilleküla, Kadriorg, Kalevi Keskstaadion and Rakvere Linnastaadion. The Estonian Football Association states in the official schedule that Group A is played between Rakvere and Tallinn, while the semi-finals are scheduled for 4 June, and the final for 7 June at Lilleküla Stadium. The organization of the tournament in two cities gives the competition a compact structure, which is common for younger UEFA finals because it allows shorter travel, better logistics and the focus of the national teams on match preparation. For players born in 2009 and younger, this is one of the first major international experiences at the level of a European final tournament.
Croatia reached Estonia after successful qualifications, and the HNS emphasized ahead of the tournament that the generation had also secured an appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar in 2026. According to the HNS announcement after the draw for the world tournament, Croatia will play in Group F in Qatar with Senegal, Cuba and Tajikistan. This information gives broader context to the appearance in Estonia: the European Championship is not only a fight for a continental result, but also an important test for a generation that will play on the world stage at the end of the year. For that reason, the matches against Belgium, Estonia and Spain are important also as a test of maturity, adaptation to pressure and effectiveness in the final third against different styles of play.
Budimir's team seeks a response against the hosts
Before the tournament, Marijan Budimir, according to the HNS, described Belgium as a very high-quality team and one of the favourites of the group alongside Spain. After the defeat, he stressed that the team must continue thinking match by match, with the first next obligation against Estonia. Such an approach will be necessary because Croatia no longer has results comfort, but it has enough room for improvement. The first task will be to stabilize the defensive start to the match, especially after the experience against Belgium in which early goals created a difficult scenario. The second task is to turn chances into goals, because that precisely, according to the HNS report and the coach's assessment, was the biggest difference between the Croatian impression and the final result.
Forward Jakov Dedić, whom the HNS singled out as one of the most dangerous Croatian players in the first match, said after the game that the team must lift its head and prepare for the remaining two matches. That message is important because in the younger categories not only the result is measured, but also the ability to react after failure. Against Belgium, Croatia showed that it can create chances against a strong opponent, but the match also warned how important it is to avoid gifting early goals. Belgium, on the other hand, confirmed that it enters the tournament organized and efficient, with a victory that gives it a psychological and points advantage before the match against Spain. After the first round, Group A thus already has clear favourites, but also an open fight for the continuation of the competition.
Sources:
- UEFA – official schedule, Croatia 0:2 Belgium result, groups, dates and format of the final tournament of the U17 European Championship 2026. (link)
- UEFA – information on the final tournament in Estonia, hosting, groups and competition stadiums. (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – report from the Croatia U17 – Belgium U17 match, scorers, line-ups, yellow cards and course of the match. (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – statements by head coach Marijan Budimir and forward Jakov Dedić after the defeat to Belgium. (link)
- Estonian Football Association – official tournament page with the match schedule in Tallinn and Rakvere. (link)
- Flashscore – stadium, capacity and attendance data for the Croatia U17 – Belgium U17 match. (link)