Čačić, Ivanušec: "Croatia was a better team"

Croatia lost another penalty shootout in China on Saturday, against the host nation, but head coach Ante Čačić does not lose from sight the most important features of the tournament.

"Yes, we are disappointed not to win when we deserved to. Croatia was a better team throughout the 90 minutes, we were aggressive, had clear opportunities, while China has barely taken a shot on goal. Furthermore, we must consider the long journey to China, adaptation period, and the fact that the players came to China following their vacations. However, they have really done their best, performed very well, and I regret that they were not rewarded with a victory. Still, this remains a nice memory and a quality experience for all. I would not evaluate individuals, since they have all tried to be a part of the team. With a slightly better finishing, the result could have been better. In the end, nobody got injured, which is also a very important fact", he said to hns-cff.hr.

Luka Ivanušec, Croatia youngster of Lokomotiva Zagreb, scored the only goal against China, but it will go down in history books. Ivanušec is now the youngest goalscorer for Croatia senior national team.

"This means a lot to me, just as the very appearance for Croatia does. It is difficult to describe the feeling, I am so happy. Tudor's assist was excellent, and my effort was just right. The impression stays that we were a better team, a team that dominated and deserved a victory. China Cup organization was extraordinary, as were the fans, and we managed to prove that Croatian First Division players are quality players who can cope with some of the best Chilean internationals", said Ivanušec.

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