Not a good game for Croatia’s female footballers.
They are not having as many successes as their male counterparts. In its penultimate match in the Group 5 of qualifications for the European Championships to be held in July next year in the Netherlands, Croatian women’s national football team lost in Koprivnica to Russia with 0-3 and lost all chances to qualify for the European Championships.
The match was decided in the first half when Žigić hit her own net in the 10th minute. Karpova in 21st and Kozhnikova in 38th minute confirmed Russian victory.
With this defeat, Croatia has remained in fourth place in the group, with seven points from seven games, and cannot overtake the second-placed Russia, which has 11 points from six matches.
The first place and direct qualification for the European Championships has already been secured by Germany, which has a maximum of 18 points from the first six matches. The group also includes Hungary, which is third with 8 points, and Turkey which ended the qualifications at the last position with four points.
In the final match of this qualifying cycle, Croatia will play in Russia on 20 September.
The European Championships will feature winners of all eight qualifying groups and six best runners-up while the remaining two second-placed teams will play additional qualification round for the last place in the Netherlands.
