Belgium secured a convincing 2–0 victory over Croatia , scoring both goals in the first half. The Belgian side showed strong intensity from the first minutes and took control early, creating pressure through quick transitions and aggressive attacking play. Belgium took an important step in the battle for second place in the group, gaining an early advantage over Croatia with this victory.
Marijan Budimir’s Croatia lined up in a 1-4-4-2 formation. Out of possession, at the beginning of the game, pressed high and applied constant pressure on Belgium’s goalkeeper and centre-backs. Their aggressive pressing disrupted the opposition’s build-up play, forced turnovers in dangerous areas, and led to several promising attacking opportunities (see images below).
After their strong start, Croatia gradually lost control of possession, and the remaining part of the first half was largely under Belgium’s control. In the second half, Croatia were more active and created several good scoring opportunities. They pushed forward with greater intent and managed to put Belgium’s defence under pressure, but their finishing lacked the quality needed to find a way back into the match.
Bob Browaeys Belgium stayed organized and compact, with the midfield and defensive lines staying close together to limit central spaces. Once possession was regained, the team looked to attack quickly through fast counterattacks, exploiting the pace and movement of their wingers. The wide players were key in transition moments, attacking open spaces behind the opposition’s defense and creating dangerous scoring opportunities. This direct and vertical approach allowed Belgium to transform defensive recoveries into attacking situations within a few passes. (see images below).
Here are the players who stood out in this match:
Nik Skafar Zuzic (Croatia / Istra 1961), left winger born in 2009.
Nik is a dynamic attacking player who likes to receive the ball in wide areas and attack defenders in 1v1 situations. He combines good acceleration with direct dribbling and often cuts inside onto his stronger right foot. He combines good acceleration with direct dribbling. His movement between the lines and ability to attack space make him dangerous during transitions and counterattacks. Unfortunately, in this match, his attacking involvement was limited. He found it difficult to receive the ball in dangerous areas and was often isolated in wide positions. Additionally, his direct opponent read his movements well and frequently anticipated his actions, successfully preventing him from progressing the ball or creating dangerous situations.
Jakov Dedic (Croatia / NK Osijek U17), striker born in 2009.
Jakov is a physically strong striker (1,90m). His profile suits direct football, where he can receive long balls, hold up possession, and bring teammates into play. Inside the box, he is dangerous due to his positioning, aerial ability, and presence around second balls. He also shows good movement when attacking crosses and can be effective during set pieces. He was the most dangerous attacking player for his team throughout the match. However, despite his positive attacking contribution, he lacked composure and efficiency in the final third, with his finishing preventing him from converting his chances into goals.
Jayden Onia Seke (Belgium/RSC Anderlecht U17), right winger born in 2009.
Kiyan Achahbar (Belgium/Genk U23), left winger born in 2009.
Operated as a left winger and was one of the most dynamic attacking players on the pitch. He demonstrated excellent pace and acceleration, allowing him to beat defenders and exploit spaces in behind the opposition’s back line. His close ball control enabled him to maintain possession in tight areas and progress the ball effectively during attacking transitions. He also showed very good vision and game intelligence, regularly creating opportunities through intelligent passes and well-timed decisions in possession. He played an important role in changing the rhythm of Belgium’s attacks and increasing the tempo of play through his passing and vision.
Tinus Moorthamer (Belgium/KRC Genk U18), right-back, born in 2009.
Operating as a right-back, he was one of Belgium’s most important players in this match. Defensively, he delivered a disciplined and mature performance, successfully neutralizing Croatia’s most dangerous attacking threat, Nik Škafar Žužić. He read the game well, anticipated his opponent’s movements, and consistently won his defensive duels, limiting the winger’s influence in the final third. The ability to defend 1v1 situations and remain composed under pressure was a key factor in Belgium’s defensive stability. Beyond his defensive contribution, he also supported the team in possession when opportunities arose, making him one of the standout performers of the match. He scored Belgium’s second goal after showing excellent offensive involvement by arriving in the penalty area at the right moment. He finished the opportunity with a well-executed volley using his weaker left foot, demonstrating both technical quality and composure
