THE SPORTS GROUND: CROATIA IS IN THE SEMI-FINALS

CROATIA – HUNGARY 31:30
CROATIA: D. Kuzmanović 9/33, I. Pešić 3/7, D. Duvnjak 0/1, M. Šoštarić 1/1, L. L. Klarica 0/1, J. Šimić -/-, Zvonimir Srna 5/7, I. Pavlović 0/1, M. Maraš 1/5, M. Mamić -/-, T. Lučin 4/9, I. Martinović. 4/10, L. Šušnja -/-, M. Šipić 5/7, F. Glavaš 6/6, M. Jelinić 4/4 Selector: Dagur Sigurdsson (ISL)
HUNGARY: K. Palasics 0/1, L. Bartucz 14/40, A. Sipos 1/1, B. Boka -/-, P. Ligetvari 1/1, G. Fazekas 4/6, P. Alvarez Rodriguez 2/2, B. Banhidi 1/3, Z. Szita 3/4, G. Ancsin -/-, R. Bodo 3/7, Z. Ilić 8/14, M. Rosta 0/2, M. Lekai 3/5, M. Onodi – Janoskuti -/-, B. Imre 4/5, Coach: Jose Maria Rodriguez Vaquero (ŠPA)

In a rarely seen drama, Croatia defeated Hungary 31:30 with a goal in the last second of the quarter-finals, beautifully completing these two weeks in the Zagreb Arena. Our national team’s seventh semi-final of the world championships is the first in eight years.

The injuries of David Mandić and Igor Karačić left two vacancies in the Croatian national handball team. Coach Dagur Sigurdsson decided to fill them with Marin Jelinić and Luka Lovr Klaric. Thus, Croatia’s problems in this championship, especially in the middle-outer, continued in the quarter-finals.

Croatia’s starting lineup was Dominik Kuzmanović in goal, Marin Jelinić, and Filip Glavaš on the wings. On the line was Marin Šipić. Zvonimir Srna, Ivan Martinović, and Mateo Maraš held outside positions. We made two changes in defense and attack. Leon Šušnja and Marko Mamić entered to close the approaches to our door, and Ivan Martinović and Marin Šipić went to the bench. We started with a 5-1 defense in which Marko Mamić was again pushed forward.

Croatia opened the match brilliantly. Marin Šipić scored two goals from the line, and then Filip Glavaš rushed and scored on the counterattack. It was the beginning we imagined. But Hungary followed it with ease. They also changed the two defenders – the attack, giving Croatia space to organize their defensive lines.

Ivan Martinović was in the middle outer position, so Croatia was left without a strong link on the right side by force of circumstances. That’s where Mateo Maraš started, whom Hungarians know very well. After ten minutes, Luka Lovre Klarica got the chance. Laszlo Bartucz, just like in Cologne a year ago, opened the match and gave wings to his teammates with a series of good saves. That’s why the Croatian coach had to call for a minute of rest after less than 15 minutes and minus two (5:7).

Croatia was without a goal for seven minutes. Then Filip Glavaš stopped it from seven meters. In the 18th minute, Hungary escaped to a slightly worrying plus four (6:10). The defense was too soft, without real aggressiveness or firmness. But with two goals in a row, Croatia got back into the game (8:10).

The Hungarians “knocked” Croatia with zeppelins. They sold us three in a little over 20 minutes. And that’s too much for this level of competition. And when the opponent seemed to have all the strings in their hands, they attacked with seven. In those moments, Filip Glavaš reacted phenomenally. He stole two of their balls and scored two goals into an empty net, bringing us down to minus one in the 26th minute (13:14). Two minutes later, Croatia equalized (15:15), so now the Hungarian coach had to react with a minute of rest. Right after that, we took the lead at 16:15. The Hungarians were in the lead for the full 20 minutes.

In six minutes, Croatia made a run of 6:3, and they got into a situation where they went into the break tied with Hungary (16:16). It was a good result considering the crisis shaking us in the middle of the half. And maybe it’s a shame that it was halftime right then because we finally got into the right rhythm. Croatia went to the break with 63 percent and Hungary with 67 percent of realization. The Hungarian goalkeeper had two more saves (6) than Dominik Kuzmanović. Croatia had five players among the scorers, and the Hungarians had as many as nine. Interestingly, they finished the first part without being sent off.

Mario Šoštarić’s expulsion was used brilliantly by the opponent, who scored two goals to lead 17:19 at the beginning of the second half. When Laszlo Bartucz stepped in with three defenses, Croatia found themselves in trouble again. But only for a short while. We quickly scored two goals in a row, and in the 37th minute, we reached a tie again (19:19). And when Dominik Kuzmanović stopped two Hungarian attempts in one attack and scored into an empty net to put us in the lead (20:19), the Arena exploded.

At the beginning of the last quarter, the Hungarians earned their first dismissal with a direct red card to Patrik Ligetvari, who started rough on Zvonimir Srna. It was the signal for Captain Domagoj Duvnjak to enter. Unfortunately, Croatia did not use those two minutes well, and Hungary broke away again to plus three (21:24). There are still 13 minutes left.

It was a long time until the end, and Croatia refused to surrender. With three quick goals, two of which were by Marin Jelinić and one by Mateo Maraš, our “Hungarians”, in the 50th minute, we equalized at 24:24. But the rival answered correctly. He scored three in a row again and ran away on the big ones (24:27). In search of a solution, the selector sent Ivan Pešić to the door.

Laszlo Bartucz, on the other hand, turned into a Hungarian hero. Seven minutes before the end, he was on 14 saves. And then the total madness started. Hungary was at a vast four points difference (25:29). However, with two goals in a row and a player more, four and a half minutes to the end, Croatia cut Hungary’s lead in half. And then she came to minus one (29:30). The Hungarians stole time with a long attack that the Spanish referees allowed to the maximum.

With one minute and 40 seconds to go, we defended ourselves and started to equalize. Before that, Dagur Sigurdsson called for a minute’s break. Adrian Sipoš started mercilessly on Ivan Martinović, and the referees, after reviewing the footage, showed a two-minute suspension, although by all criteria, it was a straight red card. Domagoj Duvnjak entered and immediately won the seven-pointer. Filip Glavaš converted it into a 30:30 tie. The Hungarians had 55 seconds left for the last attack. After about 20 minutes, they asked for a minute of rest. They have 30 seconds left. They tried in every way to force a suspension. They failed, and Croatia defended itself, and, in a lightning counterattack through Marin Šipić, scored for the final at 31:30. What an end, what an end, what a drama. Only handball can give that to us. Filip Glavaš was the most efficient in our ranks, with six goals without a miss. Marin Šipić and Zvonimir Srna each scored five and were also chosen as the player of the match. Our goalkeepers had 12 saves (Dominik Kuzmanović 9, Ivan Pešić 3). For Hungary, 14 saves were made by Laszlo Bartucz, and Zoran Ilic made eight goals.

After five years, Croatia is again in the semi-finals of a major competition. The last time she was there was at the European Championship in 2020 when Spain defeated her in the final. In two days, in the Zagreb Arena, we await the winner of the match between France and Egypt, which will be played at 9:00 p.m.