Croatian U17s start European Championship with a loss to Belgium

Croatia's U17 national football team began their European Championship campaign in Estonia with a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Belgium. The young Vatreni found themselves in a difficult position early on, conceding two goals within the first 13 minutes of the match.

Belgium took the lead in the ninth minute when Driessen capitalized on a rebound after Onia Seke's shot hit the post. Just four minutes later, Moorthamer extended Belgium's advantage to 2-0 with a close-range finish. Despite the early setback, the Croatian team, managed by Marijan Budimir, showed improvement as the first half progressed.

In the 42nd minute, Croatia had a significant opportunity to pull a goal back, but Benkotić's header from a promising position went wide. Following the break, Croatia U17 dominated possession and created numerous chances, putting the Belgian defense under considerable pressure. However, they were unable to convert their superiority into goals.

The closest Croatia came to scoring was in the 63rd minute when Miličić missed a golden opportunity, shooting over the Belgian goal from close range. Belgium's defense held firm throughout the second half, securing their opening victory in the tournament.

Croatia U17 will now look to regroup as they prepare for their next fixtures. They are scheduled to play against hosts Estonia on May 28th, followed by a match against Spain on May 31st, in their remaining Group A games.