January 23, 2022 - Losing to Denmark on Saturday night in Budapest came with even more consequences outside of the Euros - Croatia will likely have to play in the 2023 World Handball Championship qualifiers this spring. 

Not only did losing to Denmark in Budapest eliminate the last theoretical possibility for Croatia to reach the European Handball Championship semifinals, but it almost certainly left Croatia without a direct spot in the next big competition - the World Championships, to be played in Poland and Sweden in January 2023, reports Gol.hr.

In addition to the hosts Poland and Sweden and the current world champion Denmark, Europe will grant at least 12 national teams the chance to participate in the World Champs, three of which will qualify directly as the best at the current Euro held in Hungary and Slovakia, while nine will play in the qualifiers.

Thus, the three best national teams in this European Championship besides Denmark, Poland, and Sweden will qualify for the World Champs, which means that, in case Denmark and Sweden reach the Euro semifinals, then the fifth place will lead to a spot at the World Champs. The national teams that are third in the groups of the second round will play for fifth place, for which Croatia, which is currently at zero points, has a very small chance. 

Even if Hrvoje Horvat's team wins against Iceland and the Netherlands, many other factors would have to coincide again for Croatia to finish third in this group, on Friday, January 28, play the game for fifth place, and only then, if Denmark and Sweden are in semifinals, win direct placement at the World Champs.

A far more realistic scenario is that this will not happen and that Croatia will have to play qualifiers. They will be included in the second round, for which the draw will be held this weekend in Budapest, at the end of the Euro. It is played in two games between April 11 and 17 this year, and the opponent will be some of the national teams that will play the first round between March 14 and 20.

2023 Handball World Cup Qualifiers:
First round:

Seeded teams: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Northern Macedonia, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine

Unseeded: Belgium, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Israel, Greece, Italy, Romania, Switzerland

Second round:

Seeded: Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia + six national teams from the European Championship (potentially Croatia)

Unseeded: nine first-round winners

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

January 21, 2022 - Does Croatia handball have a chance at making the EHF Euro 2022 semifinals? Yes, but it won't be easy. 

Because the Croatia men's handball team did not transfer any points to the next phase of the competition and lost to Montenegro 32:26 in the first game of the second round, their chances of reaching the European Handball Championship semifinals are slim. However, there is a glimmer of hope, reports T.portal.

So, how can Croatia move to the knockout stage of the competition? 
1) The first condition is that Croatia can no longer lose and needs to win the next three games: Denmark (Saturday), Iceland (Monday), and the Netherlands (Wednesday). If they lose to Denmark, they have no shot. 
2) The second condition comes down to the other results, of which the key one is for France to beat Denmark in the group derby. In that case, France would be first in the group with ten points, Croatia and Denmark would have six points each, and Montenegro and Iceland four points each.
3) In addition, some other results must coincide, so it is so important that Montenegro beats the Netherlands on Saturday, and France beats Iceland.
4) Furthermore, Denmark should be expected to win against the Netherlands and France against Montenegro. It is also important that Iceland outplays Montenegro.

Thus, Croatia does not depend on themselves, and needing to secure three consecutive victories, including against powerhouses Denmark and Iceland, is not totally realistic. 

However, with so much at stake, coach Hrvoje Horvat decided to make several changes in the team in order to present the best possible players at the European Championship. 

Against Denmark tomorrow, Kristian Pilipović will be part of the team, who today (January 21, 2022), acquired the right to play for Croatia, in addition to Lovro Mihić and Mateo Maraš.

"We go game by game, defeat hurts and we are not happy that we lost. We are in a specific situation where we need to constantly revise, always start all over again. It will be very difficult to play, we will need to be maximally concentrated and provide the best possible game," said Horvat.

Croatia and Denmark meet on Saturday at 20:30. 

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

 January 20, 2022 - Croatia falls to Montenegro 26:32 in the first match of Group I in the EHF Euro 2022 main round in Budapest. 

The main round of the European Handball Championship began on Thursday. Croatia met Montenegro in their first match of Group I.

Croatia enters the second round of the competition without points. Denmark, France, and Iceland transferred two points each, while Montenegro and the Netherlands also entered without points.

In Group II, Germany, Spain and Russia have two points each, while Norway, Sweden, and Poland have no points.

Croatia coach Hrvoje Horvat was not able to count on Valentin Ravnić today and invited three new players to the national team as COVID-19 plagued the roster. Thus, Mirko Alilović, Ivan Slišković, and Veron Načinović joined the Croatia squad. 

Recap

Cupic scored the first goal for Croatia for 1:0. Cindric scored for 2:2 in the 5th minute. It was 3:3 in the 8th minute. 

Montenegro was leading by 2 goals in the 12th minute - (3:5). Cupic scored for 4:6. Cindric scored for 5:7 in the 18th - and Cindric made it 6:8 in the 20th. 

Cupic scored his 3rd goal of the game for 7:9. Lucin made it 8:10 in the 24th and 9:11 a minute later. 

Montenegro was leading 13:9 with two minutes to go in the first half. A catastrophic end to the first half - Montenegro was up by 6 goals - 15:9.

Croatia goalkeeper Alilovic saved Montenegro's first attack of the second half. Cupic scored for 10:15 in the 31st minute. 

Alilovic saved Montenegro's next attack and Nacinovic scored for 11:15! 

It was 13:19 for Montenegro in the 38th minute before Cindric scored for 14:19 a minute later.

Gadza brought Croatia back to -5 in the 41st minute - 15:20. Cupic scored from 7 meters for 16:21 in the 43rd. Gadza scored again for 17:21. Mandic scored for 18:22 a minute later. 

Cupic and Martinovic made it 20:25 in the 48th. But Croatia's hope quickly dwindled - they were behind by 6 goals entering the final 10 minutes of the game, and Montenegro was up by 7 goals moments later. It was 28:20 for Montenegro in the 51st minute. 

Lucin scored for 21:28 with 7 minutes to go. Jelinic scored for 23:29 with 4 minutes left. Cupic scored for 24:30 with 3 minutes to go and it was 25:31 with 2 left. Cindric made it 26:31. The match ended 26:32 for Montenegro. 

Croatia plays Denmark next on Saturday. 

For today's remaining matches of Group I, France and the Netherlands play at 6 pm and Denmark and Iceland at 8:30 pm. In Group II, Russia and Sweden also met at 3:30 pm, Germany and Spain (6 pm), and Poland and Norway (8:30 pm).

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

January 18, 2022 - The Croatia handball team has learned their first opponent of the EHF Euro 2022 second round, which will be played this Thursday in Budapest. 

Croatia fell to France in the first match of Group C on Thursday, topped Serbia on Sunday, and crushed Ukraine on Monday to advance to the second round of the EHF Euro 2022. Though their fate in the second round wasn't entirely left up to them. 

Because France defeated Serbia (29:25) on Monday to advance to the second round with a maximum of three victories, Croatia too advanced to the next phase of the competition. 

Croatia advanced to the second round of the European Handball Championship as the second-placed team in Group C.

The Cowboys finished in Szeged behind France, which beat Serbia, and now travel to Budapest to play four more games as part of the newly formed Group I.

The competition format is such that Group I will feature the two best teams from groups A, B, and C (with the transfer of points won in the mutual match with the national team that also moves forward). 

First-placed Denmark and second-placed Montenegro passed from group A, which knocked out Slovenia in the direct calculation for the second place. Denmark and France, who is the winner of Group C, transferred two points to the second round.

As for Group B, the last round will be played on Tuesday. So far, Iceland is the best, recording both victories. On the other hand, host Hungary managed to recover from the shock defeat at the opening of the Euro against the Netherlands and beat Portugal in the last seconds of the second match (Hungary and Iceland and the Netherlands and Portugal will meet in the last round).

Although the list of participants in the second round has not yet been completed, Croatia has already learned their first opponents. Thus, Hrvoje Horvat's team will first play on Thursday, January 20, against the second-placed team in Group A (Montenegro).

C2 (Croatia) will play against A1 on Saturday, January 22, the current world champion Denmark.

There will be a clash against the winner of Group B on Monday, January 24, and two days later (Wednesday, January 26) a match against the runner-up in Group B.

From this second-round group, the two best teams will advance to the semifinals of the European Championship, while the third-placed team will play for fifth place. All this will take place from January 28 to 30 in Budapest. 

Source: Gol.hr

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

January 17, 2022 - Croatia crushes Ukraine 38:25 in the final Group C match of the EHF Euro 2022 in Szeged, Hungary. Croatia's fate in the second round, however, depends on the outcome of the France-Serbia match later tonight. 

The Croatia men's handball team met Ukraine in the last round of Group C at the 2022 European Championship in Szeged, Hungary.

Bad news arrived before the match about two other infected players. Namely, David Mandić and Željko Musa received positive COVID-19 results, and Matej Mandić, Lovro Mihić, Marko Mamić, Zvonimir Srna, and Leon Šušnja had already been in isolation. Domagoj Duvnjak is still out and Halil Jaganjac could not play against Ukraine due to a minor concussion.

Recall, Croatia fell to France in the first match of Group C on Thursday and topped Serbia on Sunday to stay in the game for the second round. Croatia's spot in the second round, however, does not just depend on them. They must wait for the outcome of the match between France and Serbia. A victory or draw leads Croatia to the second round from second place in Group C. Croatia would be knocked out of the tournament if Serbia wins between two and six points. 

However, if everything goes as planned, Croatia will play in the second round, which includes two groups of six national teams. The two best teams from Group C intersect with the two best teams from Group A and Group B. 

Recap

The first goal of the match came in the 2nd minute when Lucin scored for 1:0 Croatia. Ukraine equalized moments later (1:1). Ukraine made it 1:2 in the 3rd minute. Martinovic equalized at 2:2. 

Ukraine retook the lead coming into the 4th minute for 2:3 and Lucin quickly equalized at 3:3. Martinovic made it 4:4 in the 7th minute. Maric made it 8:8 a minute later.

Ivic scored for 6:6 in the 9th minute. Jelinic scored for the Croatia lead in the 11th for 7:6, and Lucin for +2 moments later (8:6). 

Maric put Croatia ahead by 3 goals in the 13th minute for 9:6. Cupic scored from 7 meters for 10:7 a minute later. Lucin scored for 11:8 in the 15th! 

Sipic scored for 12:9 in the 17th and again for 13:10 a minute later! Martinovic scored from 7 meters for 14:10 with 9 minutes to go. 

Ukraine came back to just -1 with 3 minutes to go in the first half (14:13). Gadza made Croatia a bit more comfortable for 15:13 and Jelinic for 16:13 in the 28th. Gadza made it +4 for 17:13 with a minute and a half to go. Croatia scored in the final second of the first half for 18:13. 

Martinovic opened the second half with a goal for 19:14.  Lucin increased the score to 20:14 in the 33rd. 

Martinovic scored for 21:14 and Jelenic for 22:14 in the 35th. Ukraine had gone 5 minutes without a goal. Martinovic scored or 23:16 in the 38th minute - and it was 24:17 a minute later! Sipic made it 25:17 in the 40th. 

Sipic scored his 5th goal for 27:19 in the 42nd minute. Jelinic scored for 28:20 in the 43rd minute. Martinovic made it 29:20 in the 45th minute. 

Sipic scored for 30:21 in the 47th minute. Gadza scored for 31:22. Glavas scored from 7 meters for 32:22 - a comfortable 10 point lead. Glavas scored again from 7 meters for 33:23. 

Sipic scored for 34:24 with just over 5 minutes to go. Grahovac made it 35:25 in the 55th. Glavas scored for 36:25 with 4 minutes to go and again for 37:25 with 3 to go. 

Grahovac scored again for 38:25 with a minute left 

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

January 13, 2022 - The Croatia men's handball team fell to France 22:27 in the first match of Group C at the EHF Euro 2022 in Szeged.

The Croatia men's handball team met France in its first match in Group C at the European Championship, which is being held in Hungary and Slovakia. Coach Hrvoje Horvat led the team in Szeged, Hungary, where they had Croatian support from the stands.

Croatia entered this championship with many changes caused by the coronavirus. Luka Cindrić and Marino Marić did not play in tonight's match as their negative COVID-19 tests did not arrive in time. They are expected to be ready against Serbia in two days.

Croatia started with Mandić and Čupić on the wings, Šipić as the pivot, Jaganjac on the left, Gadža in the center, and Martinović on the right. Pesic started in goal. 

Recap

France scored the first goal to lead in the 50th second of the match. Martinovic scored Croatia's first goal for 1:1 in the 2nd minute. 

France led 1:3 in the 4th minute and it was 1:4 for France in the 5th. Mandic came back for 2:4 moments later. It was 2:5 for France in the 7th and 2:6 for France a minute later. 

After Croatia's missed opportunities, France led 2:7 in the 9th. Cupic finally scored for 3:7 Croatia in the 11th minute. 

A brilliant save by Pesic in the 12th minute kept Croatia in the game. Gadza scored for 4:7 in the 15th minute. 

It was 4:9 for France before Croatia made it 5:9 in the 19th. Pesic made an incredible save for a Croatia counter in the 20th for 6:9. 

Cupic scored from 7-meters for 7:10 in the 22nd minute. Croatia picked up the momentum as the first half came to a close, taking advantage of France's mistakes. Martinovic scored for 8:10 in the 23rd. 

It was 8:12 for France with 4 minutes to go. Cupic scored from 7 meters again for -3 (9:12). 

Mandic made it 10:12 with less than two minutes left in the first half.  Sipic scored for 11:13 going into halftime. 

France opened the second half with a goal in the 31st for 11:14, and it was 11:15 in the 32nd.

Sipic scored for 12:15 which was followed by a France penalty for 12:16. Martinovic scored for 13:16 in the 36th. Susnja scored for 14:17 a minute later. 

Sipic scored for 15:18 in the 40th. Susnja scored his second goal for 16:19 in the 42nd. Cupic scored for 7 meters for 17:20 a minute later. 

Lucin scored on a counter for -2 (18:20) and again for 19:21 in the 46th minute. Mandic was excluded with a red and blue card in the 46th minute which changed the dynamic of the game.

France scored from 7 meters for 19:22. Cupic scored from 7 meters for 20:23 with 7 minutes to go. Cupic scored again for 21:25 with 4 minutes on the clock.

Lucin made it 22:25 with two minutes left.  The match ended 22:27 for France. 

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

January 12, 2022 - The Euro 2022 Croatia handball player list has been set ahead of Croatia's first match against France on Thursday. 

After eleven days of preparations and two Croatia Cup matches against Russia, the Croatia handball team traveled to Hungary for the European Championship, reports HRS.

Luka Šebetić's injury, the positive COVID-19 tests for captain Domagoj Duvnjak and Luka Cindrić, and the minor injury of Marko Mamić, largely disrupted preparations in Osijek. As the situation with Duvnjak and Cindrić was quite uncertain, Tin Lučin later joined the national team.

The new temporary captain of the national team is Ivan Čupić.

On Tuesday, the epidemiologist gave the green light to Domagoj Duvnjak, but Luka Cindrić is still positive and will remain in isolation in Osijek until further notice. Unfortunately, COVID-19 left a mark on captain Duvnjak and he will continue his therapy in Croatia and join the national team later. Therefore, coach Hrvoje Horvat decided to take all 19 players he had at his disposal during the preparations to Hungary. Seventeen were on the bus to Szeged on Tuesday.

Those who test positive must have two negative tests in 24 hours before they can start training or playing. Croatia will face France on Thursday, then Serbia on January 15, and finally, Ukraine on January 17. Only the top two teams from each of the six groups advance.

Depending on the condition of Domagoj Duvnjak and Luka Cindrić, coach Horvat can invite another player later. 

Euro 2022 Croatia handball player list 

IVAN PEŠIĆ – TVB 1898 STUTTGART
MATE ŠUNJIĆ – US IVRY HANDBALL
MATEJ MANDIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
DAVID MANDIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
LOVRO MIHIĆ – ORLEN WISLA PLOCK
IVAN ĆUPIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
FILIP GLAVAŠ – HC TRIMO TREBNJE
MARIN ŠIPIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
LEON ŠUŠNJA – ORLEN WISLA PLOCK
ŠIME IVIĆ – SC DHfK LEIPZIG
IVAN MARTINOVIĆ – TSV HANNOVER-BURGDORF
LUKA CINDRIĆ – BARCA
DOMAGOJ DUVNJAK – THW KIEL
MARKO MAMIĆ – SC DHfK LEIPZIG
ZVONIMIR SRNA – RK PPD ZAGREB
HALIL JAGANJAC – RK NEXE
ANTE GADŽA – HC VARDAR 1961
NIKOLA GRAHOVAC – RK PPD ZAGREB
TIN LUČIN – ORLEN WISLA PLOCK

Professional Staff

HRVOJE HORVAT, COACH
IVANO BALIĆ, TRAINER
NINOSLAV PAVELIĆ, GOALKEEPER TRAINER
MILJENKO RAK , CONDITIONING TRAINER
GORAN KRUŠELJ, PHYSIOTHERAPIST
MATIJA RAJNOVIĆ, PHYSIOTHERAPIST

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

January 8, 2022 - After beating Russia in the first match on Friday, Croatia fell to Russia on Saturday in the Croatia Cup in Osijek.

The Croatia handball team had its second dress rehearsal ahead of the European Handball Championship, which starts on January 13. For the second time, Croatia met Russia in the Croatia Cup as the final friendly match of their preparations. In the first match, Croatia convincingly won 30:24.

Croatia was meant to meet Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Croatia Cup though they pulled out last-minute due to COVID-19. 

Croatia is still without the injured Luka Šebetić, and Domagoj Duvnjak and Luka Cindrić are in COVID-19 isolation. 

Recap

Croatia led 2:0 in the first minute of the game. Russia equalized at 2:2 in the 4th minute. Jaganjac put Croatia back in the lead for 3:2 in the 7th minute and again for 4:2 a minute later. 

Russia equalized at 4:4 in the 9th minute. Martinovic scored for 5:5 in the 11th minute. 

Croatia finally went back in the lead in the 17th minute for 6:5. Mandic made it 7:5 in the 19th. Mihic made it 8:8 in the 23rd minute. 

Jaganjac scored his 5th goal of the game for the Croatia lead in the 24th minute - 9:8. 

Mihic made it 10:9 with 5 minutes to go in the first half. Jaganjac scored for 11:10 with two minutes to go, and Mihic put Croatia up by 2 for 12:10 with a minute to go. 

Mihic scored for 13:10 and it was 13:11 going into halftime. 

Martinovic opened the second half with a goal for 14:11. Jaganjac made it 16:13 in the 6th minute of the second half. Gadza scored for 17:13. 

Jaganjac scored his 8th goal of the match for 18:15 in the 9th minute. Sipic scored for 19:16 one minute later. 

Mihic scored for 20:18 in the 16th minute. Russia took the lead with 10 minutes to go for 20:21. Sipic equalized for 21:21 one minute later. 

It was going goal for goal, and Martinovic scored for 22:22 and 23:23. 

Russia was up by 2 in the 26th minute (24:26). Jaganjac made it 25:26 moments later. It was 26:27 going into the final minute of the game. 

Russia scored to make it the final 26:28. 

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

January 7, 2022 - Because COVID-19 plagued the Bosnia and Herzegovina national handball team, Croatia handball met Russia to open the Croatia Cup in Osijek on Friday. 

As Russia's appearance at the tournament had been agreed upon earlier, the Croatian Handball Federation reacted quickly and arranged two friendly matches against Russia instead. The first was played on Friday, January 7, and the second to be played on Saturday, January 8, at the same time.

Croatia was left without Luka Šebetić due to an injury, while captain Domagoj Duvnjak and Luka Cindrić are in COVID isolation. Marko Mamić was ruled out of the Croatia Cup to prevent further injury. 

Russia was once an international handball powerhouse. In the last 30 years or so since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has won eight medals from major competitions. The last one, however, was a long time ago, in Athens at the Olympic Games when they won bronze.

Russia is in a very interesting group at the European Championship, along with Norway, Lithuania, and one of the two hosts, Slovakia. Their first round is played in Košice. 

Recap

Russia scored the first goal of the match for 0:1 at 1:41. Cupic equalized for 1:1 10 seconds later, before Russia took the lead again on a quick counterattack. Mandic made it 2:2 at 2:30. Martinovic scored for 3:2 in the 6th minute and a Mandic goal made it 4:2 in the 7th. 

Martinovic made it 5:2 before Russia finally scored for 5:3 in the 10th minute. Martinovic scored again for 6:3 a minute later!

Cupic made it 7:4 in the 12th and it was 8:4 for Croatia moments later. A Jaganjac lob made it 9:4 in the 14th. Mandic made it 11:7 in the 19th minute. 

Martinivoc hit the upper left corner for a goal in the 24th minute (12:9), again for 13:9 one minute later, and again for 14:10 in the 26th! 

Croatia's star continued to find the back of the net - Martinovic bent it around the keeper for 15:12 with 2 minutes to go in the first half. 

The first half ended 15:12 for Croatia. 

Croatia scored the first goal of the second half in the first minute for 16:12. Glavas scored from 7 meters for 17:12. 

Martinovic scored from 7 meters for 18:13 in the 5th minute. Mihic scored his first goal of the match in the 7th minute for 19:15. 

Sipic scored for 20:16 in the 10th minute and again for 21:17 one minute later.  

Gadza scored for 22:18 in the 13th minute. Jaganjac scored a rocket for 23:19 in the 15th minute. 

Martinovic scored his 10th goal of the game in the 17th minute for 24:20. A quick Croatia counter made it 25:20 in the 18th. 

Jaganjac scored again for 26:20 for Croatia's biggest advantage of the game. Jaganjac scored for 27:22 in the 22nd minute. 

Goalkeeper Mate Sunjic saved a Russia penalty in the 24th minute. 

With 3 minutes to go, Croatia was up by 5 points (28:23). 

A fab play by Glavas made it 29:23. Glavas scored again for 30:23 with 2 minutes to go. Russia scored the final goal of the game which ended 30:24. 

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

January 5, 2022 - Captain Duvnjak and Cindrić tested positive nine days before Croatia begins their European Handball Championship campaign. 

The Croatian Handball Federation released a statement that revealed that Domagoj Duvnjak and Luka Cindrić had tested positive for coronavirus nine days before the European Handball Championship, reports Gol.hr.

Duvnjak only joined the national team on January 1 due to his obligations in Kiel, while Cindrić has been preparing with Croatia for longer. It is not known where they became infected. Duvnjak complained of back problems from day one and missed training.

"Although the preparations of the Croatian men's senior national team for the Croatia Cup and the European Championship are taking place with the strictest epidemiological measures, the coronavirus has, unfortunately, penetrated our ranks, like many other national teams and clubs.

This morning's PCR tests, which are part of the commitment to the European Handball Federation before coming to the competition, revealed that two Croatian handball players are positive. They are Domagoj Duvnjak and Luka Cindrić. They are feeling well so far and have milder symptoms. Of course, according to the prescribed protocol, they were placed in isolation. All other players and professional staff members are negative and continue with regular training. Just in case, tomorrow morning, January 5, everyone will have PCR testing again," HRS reported on Tuesday. 

"We have no luck with that. We are implementing the measures envisaged in this situation. We conducted antigen testing, today a PCR test. The two players are positive, and the tests have justified their purpose.

Interestingly, these antigen tests were negative, we thought we were sure of that, but still, positive results arrived. Therefore, we will isolate the players and test ourselves later. Fortunately, there are milder symptoms, and I hope that they will get out of it quickly, but we can never be sure that they will be able to play," said the doctor of the national team Tomislav Kukina.

There is no need to waste words on how important the duo is for Croatia's game, especially Domagoj Duvnjak, who has led the national team for years. At the same time, the excellent performance by Barcelona player Luka Cindrić was expected at this Euro after injuries kept him out of Croatia' squad in the last year. However, they may both miss the competition. In the best-case scenario, they could return by the start of the championship if they receive the prescribed isolation of fewer than ten days and, in addition, must have a negative test. Both are vaccinated because players who have not received both doses cannot play in the Euro according to EHF rules.

Coach Hrvoje Horvat can call Igor Karačić or Domagoj Pavlović instead of Luka Cindrić.

As Duvnjak was planned to be used on the left outside, coach Horvat will have to think carefully about who to call if Duvnjak cannot play. The ideal options are Stipe Mandalinić and Ivan Slišković, who play very well at their clubs.

France and Serbia have also been affected by the coronavirus. As a result, both national teams canceled friendly matches ahead of the Euros. 

Due to injuries, France is deprived of three Olympic champions (Timothey N'Guessan, Nedim Remili, and Luka Karabatic). In addition, they may be without a fourth, goalkeeper Vincent Gérard, due to family issues, while Elohim Prandi was violently attacked on December 31, 2021. 

A total of nine positive cases among the invited players, including pivot Théa Monara, was revealed on Sunday.

The only good news for France is the return of four infected players, including Nikola Karabatic, who started training separately on Sunday.

Serbia also received positive tests on Tuesday. Infected players Vladimir Cupara and Bogdan Radiojevic and coach Toni Gerona, goalkeeper coach Dimitrija Pejanovic, physio Petar Radulovic and head of the delegation Milorad Krivokapic are in isolation and have milder symptoms.

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