JIM CRAWFORD bemoaned a lack of creative “magic” as the Ireland Under-21s were beaten 1-0 by Croatia.
Midfielder Fabijan Krivak scored with a deflected long-range effort early in the second half to give the hosts a victory against an experimental Ireland team.
But boss Crawford felt his team lacked a spark in attack on a day when hot conditions went against them in Zagreb.
Crawford said: “The game is the game and we really didn’t create very much after the first 20 minutes.
“That is the talking point among the staff and players. It was an extremely hot day and we knew what was in front of us in a Pot 1 team in Croatia.
“I’m not making excuses but we knew what we were against.
“I thought we created one or two chances in the first half and we could have been a goal or two to the good.
“But they took the sting out of the game after that. We tired quite quickly.
“Croatia moved the ball quite well and caused us a couple of problems without creating any clear-cut chances.
“We got so far up the pitch in the second half and we just needed that cutting edge to create something which we didn’t.
“Croatia didn’t create many chances either, so it was a game that probably deserved a 0-0.
“They took a shot from distance. It took a deflection and it went in. We didn’t have an answer to that. The lads gave everything in trying circumstances.
“But it’s about higher up the pitch when space is at a premium.
“We were missing that magic moment or something to unlock the door and give us a goal. But it was a great challenge. We knew it was going to be tough and we were happy after the first 20 minutes when we were the better team.
“Now we will debrief and look ahead to Tuesday which is a different challenge.”
The Boys in Green face a Qatar Under-23 side on Tuesday in the final game of the international window ahead of their Euro 2027 qualification opener against Moldova in September.
IRELAND U-21: A Maguire (N Jauny 46); Alex Murphy, D Okagbue, S Grehan; S Curtis (C O’Sullivan 89), J Mullins (J Devaney 82), D Lipsiuc (H Vaughan 66), J Slater; Adam Murphy (E McJannet 66); M O’Mahony (C Dillon 46), J Gardner (W Davis 46).
