IHF WORLD CUP: CROATIAN SILVER OF SPECIAL SHINE

CROATIA – DENMARK 26-32
CROATIA: D. Kuzmanović 4/24, I. Pešić 2/12, D. Duvnjak 1/2, M. Šoštarić 5/6, L.L. Klarica 4/5, J. Šimić -/-, Z. Srna 0/3, I. Karačić 2/4, M. Maraš -/-, M. Mamić -/-, T. Lučin 1/3, I. Martinović 6/10. L. Šušnja -/-, M. Šipić 2/4, F. Glavaš 2/3, M. Jelinić 3/3, Selection: Dagur Sigurdsson (ISL)
DENMARK: E. Nielsen 13/34, J. Green 1/5, N.V. Kirkeloke 2/3, M. Landin Jacobsen 1/1, R. Lauge Schmidt 1/3, M. Saugstrup Jensen -/-, M. Gidsel 10/11, M. L. Mensah -/-, L. L. Jorgensen 2/2, J. A Plogv Hansen 3/4, E. Siersbak Bergholt -/-, S. Hald Jensen -/-, T. S. Arnoldsen -/-, S. Pytlick 4/6, E. Madsen 4/5, Selection: Nikolaj Jacobsen.

The Croatian men’s senior national team was defeated by Denmark 26:32 in the final of the 29th World Championship. It was the fifth final of the world championships for Croatia, and the fourth silver medal won. But it has a unique shine considering how our handball players won it and the difficulties they went through. The final was also the farewell of captain Domagoj Duvnjak, but also of Igor Karačić from the national team.

The Croatian coach did not change anything in the lineup compared to the meeting with France. Therefore, our starting line-up was Dominik Kuzmanović in goal, Marin Jelinić, and Filip Glavaš on the wings. Zvonimir Srna, Ivan Martinović, and Luka Lovre Klarica played in the outside positions.

Croatia started with a defense of 5-1. In this way, she tried to confuse a little and slow down the Danish attack. Denmark led 1:4 in the 10th minute. But our team adjusted their game little by little and finally found a way to reach Emil Nielsen’s net. In the middle of the half, we came to minus two (5:7). After that, we had an attack to get closer to only goals behind, but unfortunately, we didn’t take advantage of it.

Just as Ivan Martinović adjusted his hand and Croatia got closer to minus one (7:8), Marko Mamić’s direct red card hit us like a bolt from the blue. In an attempt to stop Rasmus Lauge, he started a little harder on his neck,, and thus,, we were left without an extremely important player in the defense.

Denmark quickly took advantage of it, made a series of 2:5, and went to 9:12. Thus, she bought herself the possibility of some mistakes and the opportunity to relax her hands to the end. The Croatian coach reacted with a minute’s break, sent Zvonimir Srna to the front, and had to look for a new solution on the line.

By the end of the first half, we had not managed to reduce the four-goal deficit, which the opponent reached three minutes before the break, but we didn’t sink entirely either. Croatia is still in the game regardless of the current 12:16. We had 57 percent, and Denmark had 76 percent of the realization. In addition, Emil Nielsen collected eight and Dominik Kuzmanović’s three saves.

Ours did not open the second part well. First, Emil Nielsen stopped Ivan Martinović’s shot, and then Janick Green saved a seven-pointer. The Danes rushed to the most significant advantage of a goal difference (12:18).

After that advantage grew by another goal, the Croatian coach tried to fix something with a seven-on-six game. But Denmark was ready for that and quickly punished us with two goals, so we returned to the six-on-six game.

Our team’s performance stopped all that, and after ten minutes of continuation, Denmark had a vast ten difference (14:24). But surrender was not an option. Ivan Pešić stopped at the door. Igor Karačić came in to organize the game, and our team managed to make a series of 4:1 and reach minus seven (18:25).

Denmark felt slightly danger, so she returned to the goal-for-goal game, calmly guarding her advantage. We needed at least one more big series to make them nervous, but we could not make it, and time was running out.

Six and a half minutes before the end, Croatia was five goals behind (23:28), again displaying the great character that adorned it throughout the championship. Then, the Spanish judges interfered in everything. They awarded a seven-pointer, which was not absolute. Zvonimir Srna protested and received a two-minute suspension, his third, and he had to go to the stands. In addition, Leon Šušnja was also sent off, so we went into the last four minutes with two players.

Denmark is too experienced a team not to pay for it. She scored from seven meters, defended herself, and found her way to our net again, which meant the game was over. The score was 26:32. Our last goal was symbolically scored by captain Domagoj Duvnjak, for whom, just like Igor Karačić, it was his last appearance in the national team.

Ivan Martinović was the most efficient player in our ranks with six goals. Five were given by Mario Šoštarić and four by Luka Lovre Klarica. Our goalkeepers had a total of six saves. With Denmark, 13 saves by Emil Nielsen and as many as 10 goals with only one miss by Mathias Gidsel.

It is Denmark’s fourth consecutive world championship title, and no one has done that in history. In addition to one gold won 22 years ago in Portugal, Croatia has four silvers and one bronze, among the eight best in history.