Mijatović after dramatic comeback: “All the credit goes to the players, they showed what playing for Croatia means”

Croatia’s national basketball team overturned a 14-point halftime deficit to beat the Netherlands 101-99 in Almere, putting a return to the World Cup within reach.

Coach Tomislav Mijatović praised the team’s character after the comeback. “All the credit goes to them, their character, desire, will and everything that playing for the national jersey means,” he said.

Croatia, Germany and Poland now share 7-1 records in the group. Latvia is 4-4, while the Netherlands and Israel are both 2-6 and have lost their theoretical chances of qualifying.

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All the credit goes to them, their character, desire, will and everything that playing for the national jersey means.

Croatia needs one more win from its final four games to confirm its first World Cup appearance since 2014. The remaining matches include away games against Poland and Latvia, plus home fixtures against the Netherlands and Poland.

Ivica Zubac led Croatia with 24 points and 11 rebounds. He said the team had to win games like this when an opponent was making difficult shots and Croatia could not play as planned.

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When it is difficult, when we cannot play as we want, we have to win games like this.