December 5, 2020 - Croatia handball kicked off the 2020 European Women's Handball Championship with a huge victory against Hungary on Friday evening in Denmark, resulting in a warranted celebration after the game.
The Croatia women's handball team kicked off the European Championships in Denmark with a victory, and in the first match in Group C, played in Kolding, they defeated the favorite national team of Hungary 24-22 (12-12).
Ćamila Mičijević was the best scorer for Croatia with four goals, while Katarina Ježić and Ana Debelić scored three goals each. Valentina Blažević, Marijeta Vidak, Dora Krsnik, Larissa Kalaus and Stela Posavec shook the net twice, and Paula Posavec, Josipa Mamić, and Tena Japundža scored once. Goalkeeper Tea Pijević recorded ten saves.
Hungary was led by Katrin Gitta Klujber with nine goals.
The second match of this group, in which the Netherlands and Serbia will meet, is scheduled for Saturday. Croatia will play against the Netherlands on Sunday (18:15).
In an even match, Nenad Šoštarić's team reached a crucial victory, which could mean a place in the second round of the competition, thanks to a calmer and more precise game in the final 13 minutes in which Hungary entered with a goal advantage (19-18).
However, a 5-0 Croatian series followed, which gave them a decisive four-goal advantage. In the end, Blažević and Debelić scored two goals each, and Kalaus and Ježić scored one goal each. By the end of the match, Hungary only managed to mitigate the defeat.
No one gave Croatia much chance in the opener against Hungary, but they knocked down the favored opponent 24:22.
Just before the opener, the Croatian Handball Federation posted a video of the team's synchronized dance.
But after the match, they sang.
The team erupted into song, specifically Thompson's "Ljepa li si", a Croatia national team standard.
Croatia plays next on Sunday against the Netherlands at 6:15 pm. The advantage for Croatia will also be that the Dutch will have a day less of rest.
Namely, the Netherlands was meant to play against Serbia after the match between Croatia and Hungary, but due to a COVID-19 positive Serbian player, the match was postponed for 24 hours. The Netherlands will not have even 24 hours between the two games.
Source: HRT
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