GREAT CROATIA BREAK THE CZECH BOARD TO CONTINUE

CZECH REPUBLIC – CROATIA 29:35
Czech Republic: T: Mrkva, P. Dufek, D. Skopar, T. Piroch, P. Chateborsky, J. Patzel, V. Reichl, M. Havran, M. Nantl, S. Solak, J. Hozman, L. Morkovsky, D. Blacha, Š. Zeman, J. Blecha, Coach: Daniel Kubeš/M. Bruna
Croatia: D. Kuzmanović, M. Mandić, L. Mihić, M. Šoštarić, L. L. Klarica, J. Šimić, M. Maraš, D. Gavrić, M. Mamić, L. Cindrić, T. Lučin, H. Jaganjac, L. Šušnja, M. Šipić, F. Glavaš, M. Jelinić, Coach: Dagur Sigurdsson (ISL)

Croatia defeated the Czech Republic 35:29in the match of the 3rd round of Group 5 qualification for the EHF EURO 2026 and thus took the lead in the ranking. Although seriously weakened, Croatia confirmed its value and reputation as world runners-up with an excellent performance in the second half.

Precisely 38 days after the finals of the World Championship, the silver Croatian men’s national team started a new challenge. The Czech Republic was waiting for them in Brno in the third round of qualification for the EHF EURO 2026. Our chosen team was very weakened; the new captain, Ivan Martinović, Zvonimir Srna, David Mandić, and Ivano Pavlović were not at their disposal.

Therefore, the menu has to look for some new solutions. Croatia started with Dominik Kuzmanović in goal, Marin Jelinić and Mario Šoštarić on the wings, and Marin Šipić on the goal line. On the outside positions were Tin Lučin, Luka Cindrić as captain and Mateo Maraš.

Croatian handball players opened the match wonderfully. And they converted the first five attacks into goals, leading 3:5 in the sixth minute. Then came the first, and six minutes later the second dismissal of Mateo Maraš, and a good part of the basic concept began to collapse. In the 12th minute, the Czechs were tied for the second time (7:7).

Croatia’s attack was also excellent, as the Czech selection duo removed Tomaš Mrkva from the goal after only ten minutes and sent Pavel Dufek between the posts.

The host had another tie at 8:8 but could not take the lead. On the contrary, Croatia answered with two goals in a row and again escaped to a plus two (8:10). We got a third expulsion, Marko Mamić. That was a significant danger for us because, in the first quarter of the match, he was great as a forward in defense, 5-1.

But that didn’t shake us too much either. They defended and scored on the other side and went to plus three for the first time in the 18th minute (8:11). Since Dominik Kuzmanović was unable to find his rhythm, after 20 minutes the coach pushed Matej Mandić to the goal, looking for a defense, two to gain additional safety.

The Czech Republic made the most of our fourth shutout and with a 4:1 series in the 23rd minute, they reached the tie again (14:14). At the exact moment, Dagur Sigurdsson called for a minute of rest because he felt a drop in energy in the attack. Instead of Davor Gavrić, he returned Tino Lučin to the left winger position. And in the first 20 minutes, he was great. He scored six goals.

Croatia didn’t allow the hosts to take the lead and gain wings. She played wisely, making long attacks, looking for a clean chance to score. She made good use of the Czech’s two exclusions in a row, scoring two goals in a row and again being in a slightly calmer zone (15:17).

But unfortunately, ours did not last with this advantage until the break. The Czech Republic took the lead for the first time in the 28th minute (18:17) with three goals in a row. After we and the Czechs missed one attack, we had the last 30 seconds to equalize. Croatia played seven on six but didn’t take advantage of it. Fortunately, the Czechs made the wrong substitution, so we got the ball five seconds before the end and scored to equalize (18:18).

Interestingly, the Czech Republic was at 85 percent realization, and Croatia at 81 percent. But it is even more interesting that our goalkeepers did not make a single save in the first 30 minutes. Matej Mandić scored a goal into an empty net. It’s hard to remember the last time that happened.

The Czechs helped us a lot at the beginning of the second half, with as many as five technical errors and one block from our defense. Croatian players scored seven goals in a row and took the lead (18:25). It was the most significant advantage of the match up to that point. And only seven minutes of the second half have passed.

The home team scored its first goal after seven minutes of play. After 40 minutes, we saw Dominik Kuzmanović’s first save. Croatia was already on a huge plus eight (19:27).

When entering the last quarter, Croatia was leading by nine points (21:30), so the Czech bench decided to take a second minute of rest to calm the team down a little and bring them back to the rhythm of the first half. Our coach soon sent Halil Jaganjec to the defense.

And when Dominik Kuzmanović started to defend the way he knows how, ten minutes before the end, we could say the victory was here. Because the scoreboard still showed a whopping nine goals ahead of the world runners-up (23:32).

Croatia soon had a plus ten (24:34) so the coach could rest part of the attacking forces. That’s how Josip Šimić, Lovro Mihić, Davor Gavrić got their chance. Since many players were playing together for the first time, we faltered a little in the final five minutes and allowed the Czechs to reduce the gap and lose by six points (29:35).

Tin Lučin had a brilliant night with nine goals. Mario Šostarić scored two fewer. Marin Šipić added five out of five attempts. For the hosts, Tomaš Piroch was the best with seven goals.

In the second match of the group, Belgium beat Luxembourg 32:22 away. And that’s how she got to the first points. Croatia is the leader with six points, followed by the Czech Republic with four, and last is Luxembourg with no points.

The return match against the Czech Republic will follow in the Zagreb Arena on Sunday, March 16, at 5:30 p.m.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR EHF EURO 2026: GROUP 5, ROUND 3:
CZECH REPUBLIC – CROATIA 29:35
LUXEMBOURG – BELGIUM 10:32 p.m

SOURCE: Croatian Handball Federation