The encounter was the opening fixture in Group 12, which also includes Belgium and Kosovo. Croatia are hosting the qualifying mini-tournament, giving Milić's players an opportunity to compete for progression on familiar territory. However, the opening result means they will need to improve their defensive concentration and produce stronger performances in the remaining matches.
The first half ended without goals, although Latvia missed a penalty shortly before the interval. Croatia improved after the restart and moved ahead through Trajanovski, only for Henrijs Holtoms to equalise. Marin Nekić then restored the home side's lead in the closing stages, but Arturs Jevdokimovs responded almost immediately to secure a point for the visitors.
The draw was particularly frustrating because Croatia had placed themselves in a winning position with little time remaining. Instead of celebrating an opening victory, the hosts were forced to reflect on the defensive errors that prevented them from securing all three points.
Pletikosa Saves Penalty in Goalless First Half
Croatia entered the match hoping to establish control against a Latvian side that were determined to compete aggressively and challenge the hosts' attacking ambitions. However, the opening period proved more difficult than expected, with Latvia demonstrating that they could create dangerous opportunities.
The most important moment of the first half arrived in the 42nd minute when Latvia were awarded a penalty. Croatian goalkeeper Franko Pletikosa had conceded the spot kick but recovered impressively, saving the attempt from Zahars Maligins to keep the score level.
The intervention proved vital for Croatia, preventing Latvia from taking a potentially significant advantage into the interval. Pletikosa, the son of former Croatian international goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, demonstrated composure during a difficult situation and gave his teammates an opportunity to regroup.
Despite the penalty save, Croatia were unable to find a breakthrough before half-time. The hosts lacked the attacking efficiency needed to establish an advantage, while Latvia remained organised and willing to exploit mistakes.
The goalless opening half meant that both teams entered the second period with an opportunity to take control. For Croatia, the priority was to improve their movement in attacking areas while maintaining the defensive discipline required to prevent Latvia from creating additional opportunities.
Trajanovski Breaks Deadlock Before Latvia Respond
Croatia finally found the breakthrough in the 51st minute when Dino Beader Trajanovski scored to give the hosts a 1–0 lead. The Lokomotiva Zagreb youngster provided the finish that Milić's side had been searching for, putting Croatia in a promising position early in the second half.
The goal appeared to shift the momentum towards the home side, but Latvia refused to allow the setback to affect their approach. The visitors continued searching for opportunities and were rewarded in the 65th minute when Henrijs Holtoms capitalised on a defensive mistake to make it 1–1.
The equaliser exposed an important weakness in Croatia's performance. Although the hosts had demonstrated enough attacking quality to move ahead, they struggled to maintain the organisation required to protect their advantage.
Latvia's response also highlighted the competitive nature of the qualifying group. Despite Croatia's home advantage, the visitors demonstrated resilience and punished a mistake when an opportunity appeared.
With the score level and the final stages approaching, Milić's team needed to find another attacking breakthrough. Their response suggested that the players possessed the determination required to recover from disappointment, although the match would ultimately be decided by their inability to protect the second lead.
Nekić Scores, but Croatia Concede Again
The most dramatic period of the encounter arrived during the final 15 minutes. Croatia increased their attacking pressure and were rewarded in the 79th minute when Dinamo Zagreb youngster Marin Nekić found the net to restore the lead at 2–1.
His goal appeared to place the hosts on course for three valuable points, particularly with relatively little time remaining. For Nekić, the finish represented an important contribution in a competitive international fixture, while his teammates had an opportunity to secure a positive start to qualification.
However, Croatia's celebrations were short-lived. Just two minutes later, Arturs Jevdokimovs scored with a header to bring Latvia level at 2–2, delivering another painful blow to the home side's hopes.
The speed of Latvia's response was particularly disappointing. Having regained the advantage, Croatia needed to maintain concentration, control possession and prevent the visitors from creating an immediate opportunity. Instead, another defensive lapse allowed Latvia to equalise.
Croatia continued searching for a winner and appeared to have found one deep into stoppage time when Nekić put the ball into the net in the 95th minute. However, the goal was disallowed for an attacking foul, ending the hosts' hopes of securing a dramatic late victory.
The final whistle confirmed a 2–2 draw, leaving Croatia with one point from a match they had twice been in a position to win.
Croatia Face Greater Pressure Against Kosovo and Belgium
The draw leaves Croatia with little room for further mistakes in their remaining Group 12 fixtures. Milić's team will next face Kosovo before concluding the mini-tournament against Belgium, with both matches taking place in Karlovac.
Under UEFA's qualification system, the 14 group winners and 14 runners-up advance to League A in the second qualifying round. The remaining 26 teams enter League B, meaning Croatia must finish among the top two to remain in contention for a place at the European Championship.
Latvia have already secured automatic participation in the final tournament as hosts, but they are still competing in qualifying. Their result against Croatia demonstrates that their younger generation possesses enough quality to challenge opponents with ambitions of reaching the final stage.
The next encounter against Kosovo will therefore be especially important. A victory would strengthen Croatia's prospects of progressing before the final group match against Belgium, who are expected to provide another demanding challenge.
Milić will also need to address the defensive lapses that contributed to both Latvian goals. Croatia showed attacking promise during the second half, but conceding twice after taking the lead revealed problems in managing important moments.
Milić's Young Squad Must Respond
Croatia's current Under-17 squad brings together talented players from several domestic academies and European clubs. Dinamo Zagreb and Lokomotiva provide a significant number of players, while others represent Osijek, Varaždin, Istra 1961, Borussia Dortmund and Zrinjski Mostar.
Trajanovski and Nekić demonstrated the team's attacking potential against Latvia, while Pletikosa's penalty save highlighted the individual quality available to Milić. Those contributions provide encouragement despite the disappointing result.
However, successful qualification will require greater consistency across the entire team. The ability to maintain defensive organisation immediately after scoring is particularly important, as opponents frequently increase their attacking intensity when attempting to respond to a setback.
The Latvia encounter offered a reminder that international youth football can be unpredictable. Individual talent is valuable, but concentration, collective communication and effective decision-making are equally important when protecting a result.
The Croatian coaching staff now have limited time to prepare for Kosovo. The challenge will be to restore confidence, improve the team's response to defensive pressure and ensure that the disappointment of the opening draw does not influence the remainder of the tournament.
European Championship Ambitions Remain Alive
Although Croatia missed an opportunity to begin qualification with three points, their hopes of progressing remain intact. Two matches are still available, and positive results against Kosovo and Belgium could secure a place in the second qualifying round's top division.
The 2027 UEFA European Under-17 Championship will take place in Latvia from May 24 to June 6, featuring eight teams. The second qualification round, scheduled for spring 2027, will determine the seven countries joining the hosts.
That round will also form part of UEFA's qualification process for the 2027 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, increasing the significance of Croatia's remaining fixtures.
For Milić and his players, the immediate objective is straightforward: turn the attacking promise demonstrated against Latvia into victories while improving their defensive concentration.
Croatia's 2–2 draw against Latvia was a frustrating opening to the European Under-17 Championship qualifiers. Goals from Dino Beader Trajanovski and Marin Nekić twice gave the hosts control, but defensive mistakes allowed Latvia to recover on both occasions. With Kosovo and Belgium still to come, Croatia must respond quickly if they hope to advance from Group 12 and keep their European Championship ambitions alive.
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