May 1, 2021 - In the EHF EURO Cup on Saturday in Veszprem, Croatia handball falls to Hungary (22:26). 

The Croatia men's handball team was defeated by Hungary in Veszprem in the EHF Euro Cup on Saturday - 26:22 (9:10). Croatia celebrated against the same opponent in Osijek 31:27.

After two victories against Slovakia, Croatia lost away without their best players. Throughout the match, the teams were equal, but in the end, the hosts reacted better and reached two points.

Croatia held up well until the 52nd minute when Hungary took the 22:19 lead. The Cowboys also had a three-goal difference (8:5, 15:12), but the experience of Hungary, who played against Croatia with their strongest team, was decisive in the end.

Cupic scored five goals for Croatia, and Kusan, Pavlovic, Lucin, and Sebetic scored three goals each. Croatia must still play a postponed match against Spain before the competition finishes.

This was Croatia's first defeat in the EHF EURO Cup group and has recorded four victories thus far. Hungary has five wins and one defeat in six games. Spain has two points in third place and Slovakia none.

This was Croatia's third game in four days. Croatia continued its winning streak with two wins against Slovakia (32:24, 26:23) in Varazdin earlier this week. 

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April 29, 2021 - The Croatia handball winning streak continued on Wednesday night after defeating Slovakia in Varaždin.

After Hungary and Spain, the Croatia men's senior national team also beat Slovakia in the EHF EURO Cup (32:24) and continued their winning streak. In three competition games, Croatia has recorded three victories. There will be a rematch in Varaždin tonight. 

SLOVAKIA: T. Paul 4/12, M. Žernovič 7/31, P. Hruščak - / -, T. Rečičar - / -, M. Briatka 1/2, J. Prokop 3/6, T. Urban 6/7, L. Duriš 2/4, L. Pechy 1/4, M. Kovačech 1/3, T. Bornar 1/1, L. Urban 2/2, D. Calafut 4/6, M. Slaninka 2/2, M. Jakub 1/4 Coach: Peter Kukučka

CROATIA: I. Pešić 8/38, M. Mandić 2/8, L. Mihić 5/5, A, Gadža 4/4, V. Načinović - / -, T. Kušan 2/2, I. Čupić 2/4, L. Šebetić 4/5, V. Matanović 1/2, D. Mandić 5/6, N. Grahovac 1/1, T. Lučin 2/6, M. Maraš 4/6, L. Šušnja 1/2, F. Grubisic 1/2, D. Pavlović 1/2 Coach: Hrvoje Horvat

Of the 18 players available, coach Hrvoje Horvat decided to send Karel Godec and Fran Mile to the stands. The new extremely young Croatia, with as many as seven debutants, and without a whole series of their stars, started the match with Pešić in goal, D. Mandić on the left, I. Čupić as the captain on the right, L. Šušnja as the pivot, and Domagoj Pavlović, Tin Lučin and Luka Šebetić on the outside positions.

Both teams started with a 6:0 defense. Croatia's defense reacted brilliantly in the opening. They stole three balls from Slovakia and, in less than five minutes, went to 5:1. Ivan Pešić had several saves, and in the 13th minute, it was 7:3.

Slovakia was saved from a complete flood of goals in that period thanks to the excellent Marian Žernovič, who collected six saves in the 15th minute. Slovakia also changed the defense and reached a 7:7 draw. 

Horvat rotated a lot in the first half. Given the huge number of players who found themselves on the court together for the first time, the game was not as fluid and beautiful as expected. However, Croatia did not allow Slovakia to take the lead for a single moment. In fact, at the end of the first half, Croatia scored a 6:0 series and left Slovakia without a goal for eight minutes. Croatia calmly went to the break with a six-goal difference (16:10).

It took Croatia a full three minutes to score the first goal in the second half. Admittedly, even more for Slovakia. Croatia's net finally shook for the 11th time after four and a half minutes of play. Croatia's defense was very mobile and aggressive, and Slovakia called a timeout after only seven minutes of play because Croatia was already nine goals ahead (20:11). Croatia's biggest advantage was +11. Debut goals were scored by Kušan, Maraš, Grubišić, Lučin. 

Croatia's best scorers were David Mandić and Lovro Mihić, with five goals each. Tomas Urban was best for Slovakia with six goals.

Source: HRS

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April 26, 2021 - Croatia handball and Ivano Balić are together again as the new assistant coach will guide the national team to new victories this week at the EHF EURO Cup. 

The Croatia handball team gathered this morning in Zagreb ahead of the EHF EURO Cup matches against Slovakia and Hungary.

On April 28 (Wednesday) and April 29 (Thursday) in Varaždin, the national team will play two matches against Slovakia and then travel to play Hungary in Veszprem.

There are many new names on coach Hrvoje Horvat's list, and the most resounding is the reinforcement in his coaching staff. Ivano Balić is back, who will be the right hand of the new coach. The new goalkeeper coach is Ninoslav Pavletić.

The national team has had a turbulent year: for the first time in 21 years, they failed to qualify for the Olympics, and in January, they experienced a debacle at the World Cup in Egypt.

Croatia has won the two matches they've played in the EURO Cup so far. In Osijek, Croatia celebrated against Hungary 31:27, and then in January, just before the World Cup, they defeated Spain 31:28.

Captain Domagoj Duvnjak, Željko Musa and Igor Karačić have been spared.

"This is a new role. The coach and I speak the same language. There are a lot of young players; we will need more time and more work. I think everything will come on its own. I came back because handball is my life. The goal is to improve the overall game. Croatia has potential, and we can do it. I have always helped young people throughout my career, and it is a challenge for me; it fulfills me, and I think I can help. I have no ambitions to be a coach; I am here to help Horvat. The goal is for the national team to progress, day by day," said Ivano Balić. 

"So far, I've watched the games as a fan. We were better in France than in Egypt, but I wouldn't go back in time. We need to look to the future."

"Due to the situation with COVID-19, Martinović, Cindrić, Mamić, and Ivanković dropped out of the list. We stopped there. Our first goal is to select players who can play in both directions to reduce the substitutions. That has been a problem for us so far. We have a lot of new faces, especially in the pivot position. Every coach has time, and then when he loses the national team, he has very little time. We must not wander; we must not waste time on it. We have to work patiently and find players who will follow my and Balić's vision for Euro 2022 in Slovakia and Hungary. I also worked with Ivan when he was an assistant to Željko Babić, and I led the young national team. We clicked. The coaching staff must blow in the same sail."

Player list:

Goalkeepers: 

IVAN PEŠIĆ – MC MESHKOV BREST
MORENO CAR – RK NEXE
MATEJ MANDIĆ – RK IZVIĐAČ CO

DAVID MANDIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
LOVRO MIHIĆ – ORLEN WISLA PLOCK
KARLO GODEC – RK DUBRAVA
IVAN ČUPIĆ – RK VARDAR 1961
VLADO MATANOVIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
FRAN MILETA – RK NEXE
LEON ŠUŠNJA – ORLEN WISLA PLOCK
TOMISLAV KUŠAN – HC EUROFARM PELISTER
NIKOLA GRAHOVAC – RK PPD ZAGREB
VERON NAČINOVIĆ – RK CELJE PIVOVARNA LAŠKO
MARKO MAMIĆ – SCDHFK LEIPZIG
HALIL JAGANJAC – RK NEXE
ANTE IVANKOVIĆ – RK DUBRAVA
LUKA CINDRIĆ – BARCA
DOMAGOJ PAVLOVIĆ – MT MELSUNGEN
TIN LUČIN – ABANCA ADEMAR LEON
IVAN MARTINOVIĆ – HC HANNOVER -BURGDORF
LUKA ŠEBETIĆ – TREMBLAY EN FRANCE HANDBALL
MATEO MARAŠ – HC EUROFARM PELISTER
 

Coaching staff: 
HRVOJE HORVAT, IZBORNIK
IVANO BALIĆ, TRENER
NINOSLAV PAVELIĆ, TRENER VRATARA
MILJENKO RAK, KONDICIJSKI TRENER

Source: Index.hr

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January 9, 2021 - The handball match between Croatia and Spain in the 3rd round of the EHF EURO Cup, which was supposed to be played in Madrid on Saturday, has been canceled due to a snowstorm that closed the Madrid airport and caused problems in the Spanish capital.

The Spanish capital, Madrid, has experienced a snowstorm, unlike anything the capital has seen for the past 50 years, causing dozens of cars to be trapped in the snow. Commuter rail traffic has also been suspended. Winters in Madrid are otherwise dry and quite mild, and according to the latest information, many streets are impassable, because plows are practically non-existent and all traffic is collapsing. The last time such heavy snow fell in Madrid was in 1971.

The match was to be played from 6 pm in Madrid's "Palacio de los Deportes", or the WiZink Center, where Real Madrid and Estudiantes basketball teams play.

Croatia and Spain are participating in the EHF EURO Cup since they were the finalists of the last European Championships, in which Spain celebrated. Hungary and Slovakia are also in the group as the hosts of the next European Championships. 

“Our handball team changed its schedule and adjusted it to the new circumstances. The players returned to their rooms at the Sheraton Hotel to sleep, and training is planned for the afternoon,” the Croatian Handball Federation announced.

Recall, the first duel was played in Porec on Tuesday. Croatia topped the European Championship in a rematch of the 2020 final, 31:28

As previously known, the Croatia national handball team will travel to the World Championships in Egypt on Tuesday, January 12, in the morning. Croatia is in a group with Japan, Angola and Qatar. The first meeting is scheduled for January 15 against Japan at 6 pm.

Source: HRS

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