January 26, 2019 - The Croatia handball team met Sweden for the 5th place game of the World Handball Championship on Saturday.
After the Croatia handball team beat France and secured one of the top seven teams to place in qualifications for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, they played Sweden for their final game of the World Handball Championship to fight for the 5th place. Croatia and Sweden met in Herning, Denmark at 20:30.
Sweden opened the scoring of the game with a goal in the first minute for 0:1. Croatia lost the ball in the attack, and Sweden came back to score for 0:2 in the 2nd minute, though Croatia’s Musa was quick to come back for 1:2.
Horvat missed a 7-meters throw in the 5th minute, and Sweden was up 1:3.
By the 6th minute, Sweden was up 1:4, though Stepančić made it 2:5 moments later. It was apparent, however, that both teams were not playing at full speed.
Slišković scored for Croatia to make it 3:5 in the 7th minute.
In the 10th minute, it was 3:7 for Sweden.
Stepančić scored for Croatia in the 11th minute for 4:7.
Štrlek nailed a 7-meters throw in the 12th minute for 5:8. Mandić scored in the 15th minute for 6:8 - Croatia started making a comeback.
But maybe not so fast. It was 6:10 for Sweden in the 18th minute.
Croatia finally got a goal in the 19th minute thanks to a shot by Šipić for 7:11. Šipić scored again in the 22nd for 8:13, and again moments later for 9:13.
Stepančić scored his third goal of the game for 10:14. Stepančič scored again for 11:14. Sweden took time out.
Croatia intercepted the ball on Sweden’s attack, and it was Mandić for a one-on-one with the keeper to score for 12:14. Sweden was only up by two now.
The game ended 13:16 for Sweden at the half.
The second half started poorly for Croatia, and after a series of goals for Sweden, Karačić finally scored in the 34th minute to make it 14:19.
In the 35th minute, Sweden was up by six - 15:21.
Štrlek scored for 16:21 in the 36th minute. Stepančić scored for 18:23 in the 39th minute. Karačić scored in the 40th for 19:24 - Sweden was still up by five. Karačić scored again in the 42nd for 20:25.
A minute later, Vranković scored for 21:26, though it seemed every time Croatia scored, Sweden was there with a goal immediately after. Vranković scored again for 22:28.
Must finally got his groove back, and scored a brilliant goal for 23:28.
Štrlek missed a 7-meters throw in the 47th minute, though Zlatko Horvat scored in the 49th minute for 24:29.
Sweden was up by 7 points in the 53rd minute.
Bičanič scored for Croatia with five minutes to go for 26:31, and again for 27:31.
The game, unfortunately, ended 28:34, and Croatia finished the World Handball Championship in 6th place.
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