January 22, 2021 - Croatia must defeat Argentina on Saturday evening if they want to secure a spot in the World Handball Championship quarterfinals. 

The Denmark national team defeated Qatar 32:23 in the first match of the main round of the World Championship in Egypt. The winner was known after the first half.

Denmark went into halftime with a five-goal advantage (17:12), and the key was the 11:6 series with which Denmark outplayed Qatar from the 15th to the 30th minute.

In the second half, Denmark reached the biggest advantage of +10 (23:13), mostly thanks to Denmark's 5:0 series from the 34th to the 38th minute. By the end, Qatar managed to reduce the score to -9. Among the winners, PSG player Mikkel Hansen was the best with six goals, while Qatar was led by Cuban shooter Frankis Marzo with ten goals. The goalkeepers did not excel, but seven defenses by Niklas Landin can be singled out.

In the next round on Saturday, Denmark will play against Japan and Qatar against Bahrain. From 6 pm, Croatia will play against Argentina in the same group, and a victory would ensure Croatia's spot in the quarterfinals. Lino Cervar's team would then have seven points, three more than Argentina and Qatar (if Qatar defeats Bahrain).

In the last round on Monday, Croatia will play against Denmark for first place and a more favorable draw in the quarterfinals, where possible opponents are Sweden, Egypt, and Slovenia, the top three teams in the group with which Croatia overlaps. 

Recall, Croatia topped Bahrain (28:18) in the first match of the main round (28:18) on Thursday evening. Marin Sego was named the player of the match. 

"We made a few mistakes at the back at times," said Cervar after the victory. "I trust my players. I am totally happy with the win. The match against Argentina will be a big one; we have to focus because they have done really well so far."

"I think we did well and were able to win. We have a big match coming up against Argentina, and it's our way into the next round, and then we have world champions Denmark. We are fully focused on Argentina, though," added Zlatko Horvat. 

Source: Index.hr

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January 21, 2021 - Croatia tops Bahrain (28:18) in the first match of the 2021 World Handball Championship main round. 

Croatia met Bahrain in the first match of the main round of the 2021 World Handball Championship in Egypt. 

Croatia entered this match as a big favorite in the fight for the quarterfinals of the tournament. Recall, Croatia transferred three points to the second round (main round) and is in second place behind Denmark, which transferred a maximum of four. Bahrain did not transfer any points because they lost to Denmark (34:20) and Argentina (24:21). They advanced thanks to a 34:27 victory over DR Congo. In the group stage, Croatia drew with Japan (29:29) and beat Angola (28:20) and Qatar (26:24).

Croatia v. Bahrain Recap

Strlek scored the first goal of the match to give Croatia the 1:0 lead in the first minute. Mamic scored for 2:0 just under 3 minutes in.

Maric scored for 3:0 in the 4th minute. Sego kept Croatia's goal clean in the first five minutes of play.

Horvat scored a 7-meter throw for 4:1 in the 6th minute. Duvnjak made it 5:1 in the 8th minute. Sebetic increased Croatia's lead even more - 6:1 in the 9th minute. 

Cupic scored from 7-meters in the 10th minute (7:1). Mamic scored for 8:2 in the 14th. 

Maric scored his second goal of the game in the 15th minute (9:2). Horvat scored with a lob for 10:3 in the 21st minute.

Maric scored his third goal of the game for 11:4 two minutes later. Mandic scored for 12:6 in the 25th. 

With two minutes to go in the first half, Horvat made it 13:6. Croatia went into halftime up by 5 goals - 13:8.

Horvat's famous lob made it into the gal to open the second half.

Croatia was up by six goals in the 35th minute - 16:10. Cupic scored for 17:11 two minutes later.

Maric scored his fourth goal of the game in the 39th minute for 18:12. Jaganjac scored for +7 - 19:12.

Martinovic scored an upper-corner rocket in the 42nd for 20:13 - and again for 21:14.

Yet another lob by Horvat made its way into the goal for 22:14 with just over 10 minutes to go. And Horvat's fourth lob made it 23:17 in the 53rd.

Martinovic scored moments later to make it 24:17. 

Mandic scored in an empty goal with five minutes to go (25:18). Horvat scored in another empty goal seconds later for 26:18 - Croatia's biggest advantage of the game.

Mandic scored with a minute and a half to go for 27:18. Croatia ended the game +10 thanks to a goal in the final seconds (28:18). Marin Sego was named the player of the match!

After Bahrain, Croatia will play against Argentina (Saturday) and Denmark (Monday). The best two teams will place among the top eight.

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

January 16, 2019 - After three wins in the World Handball Championship against Iceland, Japan and Macedonia, the Croatia handball team met Bahrain in their fourth game of Group B on Wednesday.

The least crucial game for Croatia in the tournament so far, Lino Červar decided to rest some of the team’s best players before they meet Spain on Thursday. 

Croatia was the first to score with a goal by Kozina for 1:0 in the first minute. Bičanić made it 2:0 in the third. 

All fans welcomed the return of Luka Cindrić in today’s meeting, who was rested for two games - and he scored for 3:1 Croatia in the 5th minute. 

With the help of Štrlek and Vida, Croatia was up 7:3 in the 10th, giving them their most significant advantage yet. And they continued with strength, to be up five goals in the 14th minute. 

Manuel Štrlek scored his fourth goal in the 21st minute for 13:6, and it was clear that this game would be a walk in the park for the Croatian side. 

With five minutes to go, Croatia was up by 8, and the first half ended 19:9. 

Croatia started the second half strong, and Damir Bičanić scored for Croatia in the first attack. Štrlek scored his fifth goal in the 32nd minute, Mandić scored his first in the game in the 34th, and in the 39th minute, Croatia was up by 9 in the 40th (23:14). By the 45th minute, it was 25:14 for Croatia.

In the 52nd minute, Štrlek scored his 10th goal of the game, and it was 28:18 for Croatia. 

A brilliant Croatia ended the game with a final result of 32:20, and Manuel Štrlek was named the player of the game. 

Croatia will play Spain for the biggest game of Group B on Thursday at 8:30 pm. 

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