January 25, 2022 - Croatia fell to Russia in the second Group C match of the UEFA Futsal Euro 2022 held in the Netherlands. Croatia will play their final Group C match on January 29 against Slovakia to determine which team will join Russia in the quarterfinals. 

After defeating Poland at the start of the European Futsal Championship in the Netherlands, the Croatia national futsal team lost in the second round to Russia 4:0.

The match was off to a poor start for Croatia as Vedran Matošević earned a red card for a tough challenge on Robinho. Russia quickly capitalized with an extra player when Antoshkin scored for 1:0 in the third minute.

It took Croatia time to establish their rhythm, but it didn't take long for Russia to put their second goal past goalkeeper Žarko Luketin. Paulinho scored for 2:0 in the 12th minute. 

Croatia had plenty of opportunities in the first half. Marinović threatened Russia's goal twice, Jelovčić and Jurlina once, but at the very end of the first 20 minutes, Russia scored a new goal thanks to Čiškala for 3:0 at the half. 

The match was pretty even as the second half began, and only one goal was scored. Antoshkin scored his second goal of the match in the 26th minute for the final 4:0. 

Russia thus secured first place in the group and a place in the quarterfinals. Poland and Slovakia will play the other Group C match later tonight. 

In the last round of Group C, Croatia will meet Slovakia, and Russia will face Poland. Only then will it be known who will advance to the quarterfinals with Russia.

The 3rd round matches are scheduled for 14:30 on January 29. The Croatia - Slovakia match is broadcast on HTV2.

The 2022 UEFA Euro Futsal tournament is hosted for the first time in the Netherlands. 

Euro, Group C (Round 2):

Croatia - Russia 0:4 (Antoshkin 3, 26, Paulinho 12, Chiskala 20)

Poland - Slovakia (20:30)

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

January 22, 2022 - The Croatia national futsal team defeated Poland 3:1 (3:1) in the first round of the UEFA Futsal Euro 2022 Group C in Amsterdam and made a big step towards the quarterfinals.

Matej Horvat (8), Antonio Sekulić (14), and Franco Jelovčić (18) scored the goals for Croatia, and Patrick Holy (14) scored for Poland. 

The Croatia futsal team, led by coach Marinko Mavrović, thus opened the Euros with a victory, beating Poland, a direct competitor for second place in the group and a place in the quarterfinals.

The first goal for Croatia was scored spectacularly by Olmissum player Horvat in the eighth minute, during Poland's attack and aggressive pressing. Horvat tricked the goalkeeper and another player and attractively hit the back of the net for 1:0. 

In the 14th minute, Horvat lost the ball as the last player, leaving Holy alone in front of Croatia's goalkeeper Luketin to equalize.

Only 15 seconds later, Croatia retook the lead after another player from Omiš, Olmissum's Sekulić, cleared the rebound after Suton's shot. Then, two minutes before the end of the half, captain Jelovčić scored from a solo action, almost from a dead angle.

Mavrović's team started the second half worse and was saved by goalkeeper Žarko Luketin after two dangerous Poland attacks. However, Croatia's defense withstood all challenges and reached an important victory in the first big competition in six years.

In the second match of the group, Russia defeated Slovakia 7:1.

Croatia will meet Russia next in Amsterdam on January 25 and Slovakia in Groningen on January 29 in the group stage.

POLAND - CROATIA 1:3 (1:3)
Futsal European Championship, Group C.
Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam.

Judges: E. F. Coelho, M. Castilho (Portugal)

Scorers: 0:1 - Horvat (8'), 1:1 - Holy (14'), 1:2 - Sekulić (14'), 1:3 - Jelovčić (18')

Yellow cards: Sekulić (25')

Poland: Kaluza, Grubalski, Zastawnik, Lutecki, Kriezel; Nawrat, Kubik, Madziag, Holy, Smialkowski, Solecki, Leszczak, Marek, Wojciechowski. Coach: B. Korczynski.

Croatia: Luketin, Matosevic, Jelovcic, Marinovic, Novak; Primic, Kanjuh, Djuras, Suton, Jurlina, Postruzin, Cekol, Horvat, Sekulic. Menu: M. Mavrović.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.