Igor Matanović (foto: Getty Images)
Despite losing to Portugal, Croatia is optimistic about the future after young striker Igor Matanović impressed in his debut, showing great potential.
A day after Croatia’s defeat to Portugal in Lisbon, the mood in the Croatian camp remains positive. While the result wasn’t in their favor, several players stood out, bringing optimism to the team. Marijan Kustić, president of the Croatian Football Federation, expressed his satisfaction.
"We’ve found three great players: Igor Matanović, Petar Sučić, and Luka Sučić. That’s what we need. It’s the first time I’m happy after a loss," Kustić said.
The debutant Igor Matanović, a 21-year-old born in Hamburg and currently playing for Eintracht Frankfurt, was a standout. Although he didn’t score, he made a significant impact during his 30 minutes on the field, threatening the Portuguese goal five times and proving to be a constant danger to Diogo Costa.
Coach Zlatko Dalić also shared his satisfaction: "Matanović is our future, and he showed quality. All the substitutes contributed well," he summarized.
Petar Sučić also impressed, assisting in half of Matanović’s opportunities. Matanović managed five shots, with three on target, and had 11 touches in the opponent’s penalty area.
"I knew we didn’t play badly. We played well against a strong Portugal side. We could have won, but we missed some chances. We can be satisfied and now look forward to facing Poland," Matanović said after the match.
For Matanović, playing with Croatian stars he once admired on TV is a dream come true: "It’s a huge honor to be in the locker room, training and playing alongside these players I only knew from television and YouTube," he added.