The hosts established a 3–1 half-time advantage through Vukmir, Lima and Kuraja, demonstrating the clinical finishing that has become an important feature of their attacking approach. However, Germany remained dangerous throughout the match and capitalised on the dismissal of Kristian Čekol to reduce the deficit to a single goal. With Croatia also missing a late ten-metre penalty, the contest remained uncertain until the final seconds.
The victory gave Croatia three points from their opening match and moved them ahead of Germany in Group 3. The result carries particular importance because the qualification format makes finishing first the most straightforward route into the elite round, although additional opportunities are available to runners-up.
Croatia Build Two-Goal Advantage Before Half-Time
Germany began confidently and demonstrated that they would not be intimidated by their hosts' recent European achievements. Coach Marcel Loosveld's team defended actively and attempted to disrupt Croatia's passing combinations, preventing Mavrović's players from immediately establishing their preferred attacking rhythm.
Croatia gradually increased the pressure, with Kristian Čekol striking the post during the seventh minute. The near miss proved to be a warning for the visitors, who conceded shortly afterwards following a defensive mistake.
Niko Vukmir opened the scoring in the eighth minute after Čekol helped create the opportunity. German defender Maximilian Grünberg lost possession in a dangerous area, allowing Croatia to take advantage and move 1–0 ahead. The goal provided a welcome breakthrough and encouraged the hosts to increase their attacking intensity.
Germany responded with several dangerous attempts, forcing goalkeeper Ante Piplica into important saves. However, Croatia doubled their advantage in the 13th minute following a well-executed set piece. Marko Kuraja delivered a corner, and Vitor Lima found space to finish, extending the lead to 2–0.
The visitors refused to surrender and pulled a goal back just two minutes later. Gabriel Oliveira struck from distance, with his effort taking a deflection off Čekol before beating Piplica. The goal reduced Croatia's advantage to 2–1 and briefly disrupted the hosts' momentum.
Mavrović's team responded impressively. In the 18th minute, captain Franco Jelovčić produced an excellent pass towards Kuraja, who converted from a difficult angle to restore the two-goal advantage. His finish demonstrated both technical quality and composure, ensuring that Croatia entered the interval in a strong position.
The 3–1 half-time score reflected Croatia's greater effectiveness in front of goal, although Germany had already demonstrated sufficient attacking quality to suggest the contest was far from over.
Čekol's Red Card Sparks German Comeback
Croatia began the second half with greater authority, controlling possession and repeatedly testing German goalkeeper Pavlos Wiegels. The hosts appeared capable of extending their lead, but Wiegels produced several outstanding saves to keep his side within reach.
The goalkeeper's performance proved increasingly important as Germany struggled to contain Croatia's attacking movements. His reactions and positioning prevented the hosts from turning their territorial advantage into a decisive fourth goal.
The match changed dramatically when Čekol received a second yellow card around the 29th minute. Having already been cautioned during the opening half, the Croatian player was dismissed, forcing his teammates to defend with only three outfield players during the resulting two-minute numerical disadvantage.
Germany immediately increased their attacking pressure and capitalised in the 31st minute. Kim Herterich found the net to make it 3–2, transforming the final stages into a tense battle.
Croatia had an excellent opportunity to restore their two-goal advantage when Germany committed their sixth accumulated foul. Antonio Sekulić stepped forward to take the resulting ten-metre penalty, but his powerful effort struck the crossbar.
The missed opportunity gave Germany renewed hope, and the visitors continued pushing forward in search of an equaliser. Wiegels remained impressive in goal, while his teammates eventually introduced a flying goalkeeper to create an extra attacking option.
The tactical change forced Croatia to defend under sustained pressure. Germany created several dangerous situations in the final minutes, but Piplica and the Croatian defenders maintained their concentration, preventing the visitors from finding a third goal.
The final whistle confirmed a narrow 3–2 victory, rewarding Croatia's strong first-half performance while exposing areas requiring improvement before their next qualification fixture.
Mavrović Calls for Improvement Despite Victory
Croatia head coach Marinko Mavrović welcomed the three points but acknowledged that his team had made the match unnecessarily difficult. Speaking to the Croatian Football Federation after the final whistle, he identified the slow opening, missed second-half opportunities and Čekol's dismissal as key areas requiring attention.
The Croatian coach believed his players had controlled significant periods of the encounter, particularly after the interval, but failed to convert enough opportunities to settle the contest. Germany's second goal and the missed penalty subsequently created a difficult final period in which Croatia were forced to defend a narrow advantage.
Mavrović also highlighted how Croatia's historic bronze medal has changed opponents' expectations. Teams now approach matches against the Croatian national side with greater motivation, recognising the progress made by a squad that established itself among Europe's leading futsal nations.
That increased status brings additional responsibility. Croatia are no longer simply attempting to challenge more established opponents; they are increasingly expected to win matches against teams developing their international programmes. Mavrović believes his relatively young squad must learn to manage that pressure while maintaining the collective determination that helped secure the European bronze medal.
The coach was also full of praise for Rijeka as the host city. The atmosphere inside Zamet Sports Hall provided an important boost, with 2,103 spectators supporting Croatia throughout the match. For a national team experiencing growing popularity, the reception represented another encouraging indication of futsal's development in the country.
Vukmir and Piplica Focus on Lithuania
Opening goalscorer Niko Vukmir described the result as a deserved victory despite acknowledging that Croatia had failed to take advantage of several opportunities. He believed the hosts had been the stronger team overall but recognised that their inefficiency had allowed Germany to remain competitive until the final seconds.
Vukmir also emphasised the importance of the next qualification match. Croatia will travel to Lithuania knowing that another victory would strengthen their position at the top of Group 3 and bring them closer to the elite round.
Goalkeeper Ante Piplica expressed similar satisfaction with the result, while acknowledging the importance of correcting mistakes before facing Lithuania. His saves against Germany proved essential, particularly during the closing stages when the visitors attacked with an additional outfield player.
Piplica also reflected on the increased attention surrounding the Croatian national team after the European Championship. Players have experienced greater recognition from supporters, with requests for photographs and autographs becoming more common. That popularity reflects the impact of Croatia's historic medal and the growing connection between the team and its supporters.
Croatia Move Top of World Cup Qualifying Group
The victory moved Croatia to the top of Group 3 with three points from one match. Germany also have three points, having previously defeated Lithuania 4–2, but Croatia hold the head-to-head advantage following their victory in Rijeka.
The qualification structure makes every match important. The 12 group winners and four best runners-up advance directly to the elite round, while the remaining runners-up enter play-offs for the final available places.
Croatia's immediate priority is their away match against Lithuania in Jonava on November 10. The Lithuanians suffered a 4–2 defeat against Germany in their opening encounter but demonstrated enough attacking quality to suggest they could cause problems, particularly on home territory.
Mavrović has warned against underestimating Lithuania, noting their physical strength and preparations over recent years. Croatia may also continue experimenting with a formation featuring four outfield players in a line, giving the squad an alternative to its traditional attacking approach built around pivot play.
A second consecutive victory would put Croatia in a promising position ahead of the remaining group fixtures, which include another meeting with Lithuania in Osijek and an away encounter against Germany.
European Bronze Medallists Begin a New Journey
Croatia's victory in Rijeka carried significance beyond the three points. It marked their first competitive appearance since winning bronze at the 2026 European Championship, an achievement that transformed expectations surrounding the national team.
The success demonstrated that Croatia could compete with Europe's strongest futsal nations, but maintaining that status will require consistency throughout the World Cup qualifying campaign. The match against Germany illustrated both the squad's attacking potential and the challenges that can arise when concentration drops or opportunities are wasted.
Players such as Vukmir, Lima and Kuraja demonstrated the quality required to produce decisive contributions, while Piplica's goalkeeping helped preserve the victory during the most difficult moments. However, the dismissal of Čekol and the missed ten-metre penalty were reminders that small mistakes can quickly change the course of international matches.
The final whistle brought celebrations between the players and the Rijeka supporters, who joined the national team in singing Mišo Kovač's Poljubi zemlju. The moment provided a fitting conclusion to Croatia's first competitive match since their European success.
Croatia's 3–2 victory over Germany was not the commanding performance Marinko Mavrović might have hoped for, but it delivered exactly what the national team needed: three points and a winning start to World Cup qualification. The European bronze medallists showed attacking quality and resilience, while the difficult conclusion offered valuable lessons before their next match against Lithuania. Croatia have begun the road to the 2028 World Cup with a victory, but greater efficiency and discipline will be essential as the campaign progresses.
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