The Croatia handball team ended their Euro 2020 qualifiers on Sunday against Belgium in Poreč, though the game meant little as Croatia already secured first place in their group. Thus, coach Lino Červar was able to give the young players in his squad a chance, reports Gol.hr on June 16, 2019. 

“The young players who play less have shown strong will, vigor and determination. Of course, I am happy, and I have to congratulate them, they have done their best so that we have endured this difficult cycle,” said the Croatia handball team coach Lino Červar after defeating Belgium (28:19) in the final qualifying round for the 2020 European Championship. Recall, the 2020 Euros will be held in Austria, Sweden, and Norway in January next year.

Croatia also secured the first place in the group and a place in the European Championship in the second to last round against Switzerland. 

Thanks to that result, Červar allowed the younger players to show what they are worth against Belgium. Fortunately, their power wasn’t questioned at any moment - Croatia was already up six goals at half-time and ended the game +9. 

The most effective players for Croatia were David Mandić and Luka Mrakovčić who scored five goals, Josip Bozic-Pavletić who scored four, and Ivan Sršen and Tin Kontrec who scored three goals, while Filip Ivić had 11 saves.

“For the end of the season, we all got a good chance. We played well in difficult conditions. We have given our best and deserved the victory for Croatia,” said Mandić. 

Mrakovčić added: “I think we used the opportunity well. We were well prepared for this encounter, we had a tight defense and worked well in the attack and that was our recipe. I think that we showed a real game and that we did what we came to Poreč to do, and that was a victory.” 

"We have given our maximum and we did not underestimate Belgium. For the national team, you always push and give one hundred percent. I congratulate everyone, thank you to the wonderful audience that cheered for us from the first to the last minute," said Ivić.

Thus, for the second time, Croatia has completed a qualifying round. without a defeat. This has so far only been achieved by Slavko Goluža who finished the qualifying round for the 2012 Euros with all six wins.

Lino Červar recorded a draw against Serbia.

Croatia will play in its 14th European Championship next year. The ‘Cowboys' are the only national team, along with France and Spain, that has not missed any European Championship.

So far, Croatia has won five medalsat the European Championships - two silver (2010, 2008) and three bronze (2016, 2012, 1994).

The European Championship draw will be held on June 28 in Vienna, and the Croatian national team will be one of the top seeds in the draw.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

The Croatia handball team celebrated against Switzerland in the second to last round of the qualifiers for the 2020 European Championships, to be played in Austria, Norway, and Sweden in January 2020, reports Gol.hr on June 12, 2019. 

The Croatia national handball team defeated Switzerland 33:28 (17:13) in the fifth round of the Group 2 qualifiers for the European Championship.

Even before this game, the ‘Cowboys’ secured a spot at the Euros, but it was important to win to secure the first place. Recall, placing first in the group is a bit friendlier when it comes to the group draws for Euro. The Euro 2002 draw will be held on Friday, June 28, in Vienna.

As for Wednesday’s match between Croatia and Switzerland at Bossard Arena in Zug, Switzerland, the game started goal for goal, though Croatia eventually took the lead, and was up by four points at halftime. Switzerland tried to catch up, but Croatia routinely played their game - and at a time, they were up five and six goals!

Although coach Lino Červar was without a few critical and strong players, like Luka Cindrić, Igor Karačić, Marin Šego, Domagoj Pavlović, and Marin Marić, Croatia was very determined to win in Zug. Filip Ivić was in goal, while the wing positions were given to Manuel Štrlek and Josip Božić -Pavletić. Željko Musa was the pivot and on the outside was Marko Mamić, Domagoj Duvnjak, and Luka Stepančić. 

Croatia realized 72 percent of their attack and scored 12 goals from nine meters. Luka Stepančić and Marko Mamić scored 14 goals together.

With 15 goals,  Andy Schmid was the best for Switzerland. Matej Ašanin was fantastic in goal in the second half with nine defenses.

Croatia will end the qualifications on Sunday against Belgium in Poreč.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

In the fourth round of the 2020 European Championship qualifiers, the Croatia handball team achieved their third victory.

In the third qualifying round for the 2020 European Handball Championship, the Croatia handball team and Serbia drew in Belgrade. 

The Croatia handball team is looking forward to two qualifying matches against Serbia for the European Championship in 2020. However, the news for Croatia coach Lino Červar is anything but good just one week before the games in Belgrade and Zadar. 

January 26, 2019 - The Croatia handball team met Sweden for the 5th place game of the World Handball Championship on Saturday. 

January 24, 2019 - In the semi-final of the World Handball Championship, Germany will play Norway and Denmark will play France on Friday in Hamburg. The Croatia handball team will play for fifth place against Sweden in Herning on Saturday. 

January 23, 2019 - The Croatia handball team met France for the last game of the main round of the World Championship in Germany and Denmark.

After two defeats in the first two games against Brazil and Germany in the main round, the Croatian ‘Cowboys’ were no longer fighting for a medal in the tournament. 

However, Lino Červar's team still had an end goal in mind at the competition, and that was a place in the qualifications for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In order to do that, Croatia needed to finish among the top 7 teams at the World Championship - and they needed to beat France. 

Croatia and France, great rivals, met at 6 pm in Cologne. 

Croatia started with the attack in the game, though it didn’t result in a goal. Šego made an incredible save, and Štrlek missed. There was no goal for either side in the first three minutes of the game. 

France ultimately scored for 1:0 at 3:15, though Horvat scored to equalize from a 7-meters throw. France retook the lead in the 5th minute for 2:1. Štrlek scored not long after with a long ball from Šego in the 6th minute. 

France retook the lead in the 8th minute for 3:2. Musa equalized for 3:3 in the 10th.

Horvat finally put Croatia ahead 3:4 just moments before the 11th minute - and then Horvat scored again in an open goal for 3:5 Croatia! 

Musa scored in the 12th minute for 4:6, and the brilliant Horvat lobbed the ball into the goal again for 5:7 in the 15th minute! 

Vranković scored in the 21st minute for 8:10, though France came back for 9:10 moments later. France equalized in the 24th and retook the lead in the 25th for 11:10. 

Croatia and France ended 11:11 at the half. 

Croatia was first to score in the second half with a 7-meters throw by Zlatko Horvat, though France equalized moments later for 12:12. In the 36th minute, it was 13:13. 

A quick Croatia counter-attack gave them the lead for 13:14, and again for 13:15! Duvnjak scored for Croatia’s 16th and Mandić for the 17th. 

Vranković scored int he 47th for 16:18, and Mandić scored for Croatia’s biggest lead yet - 16:19! 

In the 49th minute, Croatia got a throw from 7-meters which Horvat nailed for a new lead - 16:20. 

In the 54th minute, it was 19:21 for Croatia - and in the 56th minute, Štrlek scored for 19:22!

Vida scored in the 59th minute to secure the game. The final score was 20:23 for Croatia and Marin Šego was named the player of the game! 

Croatia has thus secured placement in the qualifications for the 2020 Olympic Games and will fight for the 5th place at the World Championship. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

January 21, 2019 - The Croatia handball team and Germany met for the second game of the World Handball Championship's main round on Monday in Cologne.

January 20, 2019 - The Croatia handball team met Brazil in the main round of the World Handball Championship on Sunday.