Following the intense and dramatic Round of 16 match at the U-17 World Cup in Qatar, Croatia's head coach, Marijan Budimir, spoke in detail about his inner feelings, the team's experiences, and the differences in the game. His words clearly demonstrated not only the pressures faced by Croatian football, but also the pressure with which every junior team enters the field.
Budimir emphasized that losing a penalty shootout is difficult in any situation, but in youth football, it hits even harder. "They're still children! Seeing them cry is a very painful sight. "As a coach, it pains my heart to see this," he said.
Speaking about the first part of the game, the renowned specialist particularly noted the performance of the Uzbekistan U-17 team. According to him, the Uzbek teenagers acted very tightly in appearance, having a significant advantage in the center. "In the first half, they played better than us. They easily passed through the center many times. "It was difficult for us," said Budimir.
Three substitutions during halftime changed the game. The coach openly stated that he made serious suggestions in pressing and movement to strengthen the team's style. As a result, in the second half, the Croatians returned to the pitch in a completely different mood - stronger, more energetic, and more cohesive as a team.
He could not hide the fact that the score was equalized and the advantage to a certain extent shifted to the Croats' side. They even had chances at the end of the game. According to Budimir, if Tino Kusanovich had fallen faster in one situation, perhaps the referee would have awarded a penalty - this too would have changed the game in an unexpected direction.
However, in football, "will" and "fate" do not always coincide. Since the winner was not determined in regular time, the match moved to a penalty shootout. The coach described this process as "a purely psychological attempt, not a lottery." "There were many children who didn't want to take penalties. But thank you very much to those who kicked you - they showed courage," the coach said.
Nevertheless, Budimir is pleased with the overall participation of his team. Croatia, having scored seven goals in the group stage, advanced to the next stage, recalling that their performance was also at a decent level. He noted that he had no objections to his students: "We fought with all our might. We liked Doha. We wanted to go far, but in football, everything doesn't go as we want."
At the same time, Budimir emphasized that this defeat is not only a pain for the teenagers, but also a great lesson. "Football doesn't end at 17. They develop, grow up, feel adult football. "This evening is one of the stations they will remember for the rest of their lives," the 45-year-old specialist concluded.
This result was difficult for the Croatian guys who "played with their hearts," but their strong character was duly recognized by fans and experts. Overall, the performance of both teams further enhanced the appeal of the U-17 tournament.
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