Today, June 21, the Ukrainian youth team will play a match in the first round of the group stage of Euro-2023 (U-21). We present our opponent — the Croatian team.

Croatia U-21

Number of appearances in the final tournaments of the European Championship (U-21) — four. Highest achievement — reaching the quarter-finals (2001).

Squad

Goalkeepers: Dominik Kotaljšek (PAOK, Greece), Ivor Pandur («Fortuna», Netherlands), Nikola Čavlina («Locomotiva»).

Defenders: David Čavlina («Augsburg», Germany), Bartol Franjić («Wolfsburg», Germany), Nikola Soldo («Cologne», Germany), Niki Šiger («Hajduk»), Mauricio Perković («Dinamo» Z), Krešimir Križmanić («Gorica»), Niko Galesić («Rijeka»).

Midfielders: Ante Palaversa («Troyes», France), Jurica Pršir, Tony Fruk (both — «Gorica»), Martin Batrinić, Marko Bulat (both — «Dinamo» Z), Lucas Kachavena («Locomotiva»), Veldin Hoxha («Rijeka»).

Forwards: Roko Šimić («Zürich», Switzerland), Dion Drena Belo («Augsburg», Germany), Gabriel Vidović («Vitesse», Netherlands), Luka Stojković («Locomotiva»), Matija Frigan («Rijeka»), Michele Šego («Varaždin»).

Head Coach

The Croatian youth team is coached by local specialist Dragan Skočić. The 54-year-old coach took charge of the team on April 14, 2023. Under his leadership, they have yet to play a match.

Previously, Skočić worked with «Rijeka», Slovenian «Interblock», Kuwaiti «Al-Arabi», Saudi Arabian «Al-Nassr», Iranian teams «Malavan», «Foolad» and «Sanat Naft». In 2020-2022, he led the Iran national team.

Together with «Rijeka» he won the Croatian Cup (2005/2006), and with «Interblock» — the Slovenian Cup (2007/2008) and the Slovenian Super Cup (2008).

The main tactical formation that Skočić favors is 4-1-4-1.

Leader

Currently, the undisputed leader of the Croatian youth team is midfielder Martin Batrinić from Zagreb's «Dinamo». For the Croatian youth side, 20-year-old Batrinić has played nine matches and scored one goal.

In the ranks of Zagreb's «Dinamo», the midfielder has made 45 appearances and scored seven goals. Champion of Croatia (2021/2022). Main position — attacking midfielder. Strong foot — right.

Martin Batrinić is the most expensive player in the current Croatian U-21 squad, with a transfer value of 15 million euros.

Path to Euro-2023 (U-21)

Dragan Skočić's wards qualified for the final stage of Euro-2023 (U-21) by defeating Denmark in a playoff match.

23.09.2022. Croatia — Denmark — 2:1

27.09.2022. Denmark — Croatia — 2:1 (penalties — 4:5)

In the qualifying tournament in Group A, Croatia's national team scored 22 points and finished second, only two points behind Norway. At this stage, the team won seven matches, drew one, and lost twice.

02.09.2021. Croatia — Azerbaijan — 2:0

07.09.2021. Finland — Croatia — 0:2

08.10.2021. Croatia — Norway — 3:2

12.10.2021. Azerbaijan — Croatia — 1:5

11.11.2021. Croatia — Estonia — 2:0

16.11.2021. Austria — Croatia — 1:3

25.03.2022. Croatia — Austria — 0:0

29.03.2022. Croatia — Finland — 2:3

03.06.2022. Norway — Croatia — 3:2

08.06.2022. Estonia — Croatia — 0:4

The match between the youth teams of Croatia and Ukraine at Euro-2023 (U-21) will take place on June 21 in Bucharest (kickoff at 7 PM Kyiv time).