CROATIA – FAROE ISLANDS 17:17
CROATIA: L. Bešen 11/28, I. Kapitanović 1/1, N. Kragulj 0/2, P. Posavec 3/5, T. Barišić 1/3, S. Šenvald -/-, S. Posavec 1/3 , D. Milosavljević 3/8, K. Ježć 5/7, K. Pavlović 3/7, M. Brkić -/-, J. Mamić 0/1, K. Vuković -/-, T. Petika -/-, K. Birtić 0/2, K. Prkačin 1/3. HEAD COACH: Ivica Obrvan
FAROE ISLANDS: A. F. Petersen 17/ 31, S. R. Wardum 1/3, E. Egholm 0/1,B. Palsdottir 0/2, M. Mortensen 0/1, B. Osberg Johansen -/-, S. K. Hansen 1/3, B. Hoj -/-, B. Zachariasen -/-, P. Brandenborg 4/7, M. Paldottir Soy -/-, B. Franksdotttir Joensen -/-, L. Sveinbjornsdottir Poulsen 0/2, T. A. Samuelsen 5/6, A. E. Halsdottir 2/5, J. Mittun 5/12. HEAD COACH: Lteh Claus Mogensen
In a nice atmosphere of fan competition with much more numerous Faroese and Croatian fans, about 300 scattered around all the stands, and many more neutrals who were waiting for the meeting between Switzerland and Denmark, in the early Sunday afternoon, after less than two days, we saw the first of two meetings decisions about the second round of the 16th European championship in Basel. This game started the EURO for Croatia.
Croatia started the match with the same lineup as against Denmark: Lucija Bešen in goal, Paula Posavec on one side, and Nikolina Kragulj on the other. Captain Katarina Ježić was on the line, and Tina Barišić, Dejana Milosavljević, and Katarina Pavlović were on the outside.
Both national teams started with 6-0 defense. As usual, we replaced Katarina Pavlović with Sara Šenvald in defense. Of the five attacks at the beginning, we used two, leading 3:1, and we could have done more because Lucija Bešen entered the game brilliantly with two saves and one seven-pointer that ended up on the post.
Rivals built up their attacks for as long as possible to not tire our defense. And they built a lot of things on the aisles. It is, therefore, no wonder that in the first 10 minutes, they had as many as three sevens. Luckily, they used only one. Our women’s handball players did not keep the advantage they built up in the 13th minute (5:2) for long. Faranke came back into the game with two counters.
To make matters worse, the opponent’s goalkeeper defended like the Danish woman two days ago. In the first quarter, she collected four defenses and kept the Faroe Islands constantly in the game. On top of all that, their coach decided on a seven-on-six game. Although they did not play well, our players kept the advantage of a goal or two and the hope of a happy ending.
Our team did not score at the end of the first half for six and a half minutes. In addition, they went to the break with a plus one (9:8). Both teams were on 42 percent of the realization. Lucija Bešen had seven, Annika Friedheim Petersen had two.
Therefore, we eagerly awaited the continuation of the match to see if they could finally get rid of the cramp and play as they knew how. The opening ten minutes passed in a one-on-one game, so the lead was still on our side. But shortened arms were visible from the stands. Entering the 41st minute, the Faroe Islands tied the score at 13:13.
But our women’s handball players did not falter. Katarina Ježić brought us a new advantage and pulled us along alone. After all that, Ivana Kapitanović took off her seven-piece suit. But right after that, we missed the chance to go to plus two because we had a clear zipper and were left with one player less.
Luckily, our handball players survived, and that’s because Lucija Bešen was in great form. But the fear and uncertainty were still there because we just couldn’t find the right solution in the attack. At 3:15 p.m., we missed three opportunities to take the lead. Fortunately, rivals also fell into crisis. Six minutes, and they didn’t score a goal.
Unfortunately, the Faroe Islands took the lead 16:17 five minutes before the end—five minutes that seemed like an eternity. We equalized with a goal by Paula Posavec, and then it seemed we scored another goal, but the referees returned everything to seven meters after video analysis. The goalkeeper of the Faroe Islands saved Katarina Pavlović’s shot, thus buying them another chance to take the lead.
Ours defended themselves and tried to secure a new lead from the center with an empty net, but that didn’t work either. Again, the rivals got a chance to lead. There were three minutes left until the end. The rivals won another seven-pointer. And again, Ivana Kapitanović scared them. They hit the goalpost.
They had our 50-second attack for victory. But the block stopped Klara Birtić’s shot, i.e., the goalkeeper, so the Faroese handball players got the attack for the victory. And fortunately, they committed a foul in the attack. Our bench reacted quickly and called for a minute’s break. The Croatian handball players had three seconds for a new attack, but the ball went empty, and the score was 17:17. Lucija Bešen made 11 saves. With five goals, Katarina Ježić was the most efficient player in our ranks. Paula Posavec, Dejana Milosavljević, and Katarina Pavlović scored three each. With the Faroe Islands, Annika Friedheim Petersen made 17 saves and was declared the player of the match. Jana Mittun and Turid Arge Samuelsen scored five goals.
In two days, on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., Croatia will play against Switzerland.
We are in the same place where we would have been if we had won, again the last game with Switzerland would decide. As for tonight’s game, I would like to congratulate the girls on their combativeness, above all in the defense, led by our Lucia and the short entries of Ivana Kapitanović, who defended some sevens. The defense was top notch, but it was obvious that we were struggling in attack, that we didn’t have a shot from outside. A little nervousness was also visible when we had the chance to take the lead. In the end, we can be satisfied with the way it turned out. We will try to forget that as soon as possible, learn some lessons as quickly as possible and play a better game, especially in attack – Ivica Obrvan, Croatia Head Coach
