• HANDBALL

    CROATIA CELEBRATES AGAINST SPAIN: A MINIMUM VICTORY FOR HOPE OF PLACING IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

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    CROATIA – SPAIN 27:26 (17:12)
    Croatia: Bešen, Marinović; P. Posavec, Barišić, Birtić, S. Posavec, Milosavljević, Ježić, Pavlović, Burić, Brkić, Šimara 3, Debelić, Mamić, Petika, Prkačin.
    Spain: Wiggins, Castellanos; Campos, Vegue, Gutiérrez, Somaza, Arcos, So Delgado, Gassama, Fernandez, Loidi, Perez. Mbengue, Erauskin, Tchapchet, Arroyo

    The Croatian women’s handball team achieved a minimal but valuable victory against Spain (27:26) in the first match of the World Cup qualifiers, which will be held in Germany and the Netherlands at the end of the year. Although the result is narrow, everything is still open in the fight for placement at the world fair. Spain has shown quality, but it is not invincible.

    Croatia is already faced with a handicap at the beginning – Josipa Mamić injured Katarina Ježić’s ankle during the warm-up, which is why she could not perform. Coach Ivica Obrvan remained on the right wing with only Lara Burić.

    Ours started with Tina Barišić, Dejana Milosavljević and Klara Birtić in the outer line, Ande Šimar on the left wing, Katarina Ježić on the line and Lucia Bešen in goal. In defense, Ana Debelić entered instead of Milosavljević. Although the beginning did not look promising (Spain took the lead 1:3), Croatia quickly organized the defense and reversed the result thanks to the cheerful Barišić and Birtić (4:3 in the 8th minute, 7:4 in the 10th minute). Three perfect counters by Andrea Šimara and several important defenses by Lucija Bešen were key, including a saved seven-pointer.

    Obrvan rotated the players, Posavec, Prkačin and Brkić got their chance, and Croatia even endured two simultaneous exclusions without major consequences. Our team dominated the game until halftime and went to the break with a 17:12 advantage.

    Spain opened the continuation better and reduced the difference to -2. In the 39th minute, the score was 19:18, which forced Obrvan to ask for another minute of rest. The Croatian defense did not function as well as in the first half, and the Spaniards scored goals with long attacks. Only Klara Birtić stood out in the attack with individual actions.

    Spain equalized in the 41st minute (19:19), and soon took the lead. Croatia seemed lost, so Obrvan had to change the complete outside line. Barišić from the seven-pointer returns the score to equal (20:20), while Brkić takes the lead again from the line. Marinović stood out by defending Campos’ seven-pointer, and Burić increased the lead to +2 with a lob.

    Despite the exclusion of Ana Debelić eight minutes before the end, our team fought until the end. Barišić makes a seven-pointer for 24:24 three minutes before the end, and Milosavljević and Burić give Croatia the lead again. Kristina Prkačin scores a key goal at 27:26 half a minute before the end, while Spain’s last attack ends with a Croatian block.

    A minimal win against Spain leaves hope for a place in the World Cup, but the question remains whether +1 will be enough for the second leg in Algeciras, which will be played this Sunday at noon. Croatia must fix the oscillations that have been visible in recent years – from a perfect first half to a weak continuation of the game. Handball today requires constant action and concentration for all 60 minutes.

    Although we showed quality and combativeness, the key to success will be the ability to avoid unnecessary mistakes and find solutions for the Spanish defense led by Gassam and Tsapchet. There is real hope – Spain is not invincible!

    The second leg will be played on Sunday in Algeciras, at an unusual time; at noon exactly.

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