Coach Lino Červar has announced a list of 18 players who will lead Croatia handball at the World Championship in Germany and Denmark.
Two days before the start of the 2019 World Handball Championship and three days before Croatia plays Iceland in their first game of the tournament, coach Lino Červar announced a list of 18 players who will lead Croatia in Group B against Iceland, Japan, Bahrain, Macedonia, and Spain, reports Gol.hr on January 8, 2019.
"Before I read off what players are going to Munich, I would like to say that Leon Šušnja got hurt a few days ago. He is our pivot that is of great importance to us in the defensive system as well. His condition is better, but he is not ready, so we decided instead to call up the young Halil Jaganjac who was already with us, but if Šušnja gets better, we will make that replacement because he is important to us in all defensive systems,” said Červar.
There are 18 players in the list, including five players whose first major competition for Croatia is the upcoming World Championship in Germany and Denmark. This includes the left winger David Mandić, right winger Ivan Vida, pivot Marin Šipic, left back Alen Blažević and right back Jakov Vranković.
Each game can have a maximum of 16 handball players, which means that Červar must decide which two players he will move to the stands.
“Little by little, there's still time until Friday," said Červar, who presented his thoughts on Group B.
"In our group, we know that Spain is the European champion, but also countries such as Japan and Bahrain, and especially Japan, can be a force. Macedonia will certainly be motivated and will have many fans like us. We are concentrating on Iceland, it will be a tough match, they are in our focus, but of course, we are tracking others as they are tracking us.”
Croatia handball lineup for World Championship:
Goalies: Marin Šego, Ivan Stevanović
Left wings: Manuel Štrlek, David Mandić
Right wings: Zlatko Horvat, Ivan Vida
Pivots: Željko Musa, Marin Šipić, Krešimir Kozina
Left backs: Damir Bičanić, Ivan Slišković, Halil Jaganjac, Alen Blažević
Center backs: Domagoj Duvnjak, Luka Cindrić, Igor Karačić
Right backs: Luka Stepančić, Jakov Vranković
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