Drama and penalties

Croatia beats France to win Historic European bronze!

07.02.2026.

Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS

In the battle for third place at the European Futsal Championship, Croatia defeated France in a dramatic match decided on penalties after a 5–5 draw, and returns home with a medal around their necks.

The match for third place at the 2026 European Futsal Championship took place in Arena Stožice in Ljubljana, with the final score decided by penalties: Croatia 6–5p France (5–5, 2–1).

Match Details

Referees: Grabowski (Poland), Kyynaeraeinen (Finland), Perona (Italy)
Goalscorers:

0–1 – Menendez (4′)
1–1 – Sekulić (14′)
2–1 – Jurlina (19′)
3–1 – Jelovčić
3–2 – Guirio (22′)
4–2 – Hrstić (30′)
4–3 – Guirio (32′)
5–3 – Perić (36′)
5–4 – Guirio (38′)
5–5 – Mouhoudine (40′)
— followed by the decisive penalty shootout.

Lineups

Croatia:
Piplica, Vukmir, Jelovčić, Jurlina, Mataja; Čizmić, Gudasić, Kustura, Čekol, Perić, Hrstić, Kuraja, Sekulić, Lima.
Head Coach: M. Mavrović.

France:
Lokoka, Mohammed, Mouhoudine, Guirio, Toure; Marquet, Durot, Belhaj, Gueddoura, Tchato, M. Toure, Menendez, Rezzoug, Benslama.
Head Coach: R. Reynaud.

Croatia’s futsal team captured the bronze medal at this year’s European Championship in futsal!

France took the early lead through Menendez, but Croatia responded strongly: Sekulić equalized, and Jurlina gave Croatia a 2–1 lead just before halftime. Immediately after the restart, captain Jelovčić extended the lead to 3–1, only for Guirio to reduce the deficit to 3–2 shortly after. Croatia answered back once again when Hrstić scored in the 30th minute to make it 4–2.

The game continued to swing back and forth — Guirio scored again, and Perić pushed the lead to 5–3, but the French never gave up. Guirio completed his hat-trick, and with seven seconds remaining, Mouhoudine equalized 5–5, sending the match into penalties.

In the penalty shootout, all six Croatian penalty takers scored, while Toure missed his attempt, allowing Croatia to celebrate.

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