On Monday, Croatia Under-17s will face Austria Under-17s in a highly anticipated European Under-17 Championship clash at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca.
Both teams are eager to start the tournament strong, aiming for a top-two finish in a group that includes Denmark and Wales.
Current Form
Croatia
Croatia returns to the tournament after successfully navigating the qualifiers.
They accumulated six points from three matches in the initial phase, advancing to the elite round where they secured their place by finishing second in their group, just ahead of Germany.
Croatia’s journey included a crucial 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland, showcasing their offensive prowess.
This year marks Croatia’s sixth appearance in the European Under-17 Championship, with their last knockout round appearance in 2015.
Austria
Austria, on the other hand, is making its first tournament appearance since 2019.
That year was challenging for them as they lost all their group matches. However, this time, Austria topped their qualifying group with seven points and continued their strong form into the elite stage.
They began the final phase with a win over Slovenia and a draw against Norway, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Spain.
Austria's history in this competition has been mixed, with only two knockout round appearances in six attempts.
Team News
Croatia’s attack will be spearheaded by Mislav Cutuk, who finished qualifying as the team's top scorer with six goals.
Defensively, Bayern Munich’s Ljubo Puljic and Dinamo Zagreb’s Marko Zebic will form a solid backline.
Austria will rely on Magnus Dalpiaz of Bayern Munich to anchor their defence alongside Valentin Zabransky.
In attack, Oghenetejiri Adejenughure and Philipp Moizi, who each scored three goals in qualifying, will be key players.
Predicted Lineups
Croatia U17s: Rajic; Pajsar, Zebic, Puljic, Mandic; Bakovic, Vojvodic; Durdov, Ahmeti, Huskic; Cutuk
Austria U17s: Kurz; Roka, Dalpiaz, Pfluger, Sorg; Music, Spalt, Ivanschitz; Fidjeu-Tazemeta, Moizi, Adejenughure
Prediction
While Croatia has a strong team and had an impressive qualification campaign, Austria's recent form and confidence make them a formidable opponent.
Given Austria’s four wins in their last six matches, they are slightly favoured to edge out Croatia in what promises to be a closely contested match.
We predict a narrow 2-1 victory for Austria.
FAQ
When and where is the match between Croatia U17s and Austria U17s taking place? The match is scheduled for Monday, May 20, 2024, at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca.
What is the significance of this match? This match is part of the European Under-17 Championship group stage. Both Croatia and Austria aim to finish in the top two of their group, which also includes Denmark and Wales, to advance to the knockout rounds.
How did Croatia U17s qualify for the tournament? Croatia U17s qualified by securing six points from three matches in the initial round of qualifiers. They advanced to the elite round, where they finished second in their group, ahead of Germany, with a decisive 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.
What is Austria U17s' recent form in the European Under-17 Championship? Austria U17s are making their first tournament appearance since 2019. They topped their qualifying group with seven points and continued their strong performance into the elite round, ultimately securing their spot with a win over Spain.
Who are the key players to watch in the Croatia U17s squad? Mislav Cutuk, who was Croatia's top scorer in the qualifiers with six goals, is a key player to watch. Defensively, Bayern Munich’s Ljubo Puljic and Dinamo Zagreb’s Marko Zebic are crucial.
Who are the key players to watch in the Austria U17s squad? Magnus Dalpiaz from Bayern Munich is a defensive anchor for Austria, alongside Valentin Zabransky. Offensively, Oghenetejiri Adejenughure and Philipp Moizi, both of whom scored three goals in qualifying, are significant threats.
How have Croatia and Austria performed historically in the European Under-17 Championship? Croatia has made six appearances, with their best performance reaching the knockout rounds in 2015. Austria has had mixed results, with only two knockout stage appearances in their six previous attempts.
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