The Croatian priest team claimed the silver medal at the 18th European Championship for Catholic priests in five-a-side football, taking place from February 9 to 13 in Lublin. In the semifinals, the Croatian team triumphed over Bosnia and Herzegovina in a tense penalty shootout, winning 4-1. The competition kicked off with an opening mass on February 9, officiated by Lublin Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, setting a ceremonial tone for the event.

During the group stage on February 10, Croatia faced teams from Portugal, Malta, and Slovenia. They achieved a dominant victory against Slovenia with a score of 3-0 and overwhelmed Malta with an 11-1 win. However, they suffered a narrow defeat to Portugal, losing 0-1. Finishing second in their group enabled the Croatian team to advance to the quarterfinals, where they secured a hard-fought victory against Slovakia, winning by 3-2.

This event reflects not only the athletic prowess of the participating clergy but also the strong sense of community and engagement among Catholic priests across Europe. By participating in such tournaments, they foster camaraderie and highlight the importance of sports within the Church, ultimately aiming to promote a message of unity and faith through athletic competition.