January 16, 2020 - The Croatia handball team opened the second round of the European Championship against Austria on Thursday. 

The Croatia handball team and Austria met in Vienna on Thursday to open the second round of the Euros. Croatia had the support of Croatian fans in the stands. 

Both teams transferred two points to the second round, and with a win, would be one step closer to Sweden and the Euro final.

Austria had the first attack of the match in front of a roaring arena boasting 9,500 spectators. The commentators were confident at least half were Croatian.

After an unsuccessful Austria attack, Horvat missed from seven meters during the first Croatian attack. The game was still 0:0 three minutes in. 

However, it was the captain to score the first goal of the game moments later - Duvnjak scored for 1:0. 

Mandic increased the lead to 2:1 in the 5th minute, and Cindric scored for 3:1 in the 6th minute. Austria equalized in the 7th for 3:3.

Austria took the lead in the 8th minute thanks to a goal from 7-meters, though Mandic equalized in the 11th for 4:4. Croatia retook the lead thanks to a Horvat goal moments later, and Karacic scored for 6:4 in the 13th minute. 

Cindric increased the lead to +3 in the 14th (7:4), and Duvnjak made it 8:4 in the 17th minute. Horvat nailed another shot from 7-meters for 9:5 in the 20th minute, and another in the 21st for 10:5.

Cindric scored in the 25th minute for 11:6, and Stepancic made it 12:7 with two minutes to go before halftime. Cindric scored right before the buzzer for 13:8. 

Croatia opened the second half with a Stepancic goal for a +6 advantage in the 30th minute. Horvat scored yet another 7-meter shot for 15:9.

Stepancic scored for 16:11 in the 34th, and Mandic scored for 17:12 in the 36th. The Croatia captain made it 18:13 moments later.

Mandic continued his scoring streak for 19:14, and the two nations had been playing goal-for-goal for most of the second half.

Horvat nutmegged the Austria defense to bring Croatia back to +5, and Stepancic scored for 21:16 in the 42nd.

Cindric was on fire with another goal at 97 km/hour for 22:16, and Duvnjak brought Croatia back to +6 for 23:17 in the 44th. By this point in the game, Croatia had blocked four shots to Austria’s one, while Sego had made 5/17 saves in the game thus far. 

A new 7-meter shot for Croatia saw Horvat lob the ball over the keeper for 24:18. Austria reduced their deficit to just four goals in the 51st.

Sipic scored for 25:20 in the 54th, and Duvnjak intercepted the ball for 26:20. With a minute to go, Karacic scored for 27:22. The final score of the game was 28:24 for Croatia.

Luka Stepancic was named the man of the match! 

The 'Cowboys' next game is against Germany this Saturday at 8:30 pm. 

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

January 9, 2020 - The Croatia handball team opened the European Championship in Graz with a win against Montenegro 27-21 (12-13) in Group A.

Croatia and Montenegro met in front of 5,000 spectators on Thursday at the Stadthalle Hall in Graz, Austria, to begin their European Championship campaign.

Croatia showed a lot of weaknesses in the first half, especially in the defense, but the persistent Montenegrin team was broken at the beginning of the second half thanks to a 9-3 series. Croatia was phenomenal in the second half and overcame any weaknesses shown in the first.

Croatia started the match with two missed shots by Cindric, and their first goal came only in the 5th minute. Montenegro led 3-1. By the 19th minute, Croatia came to an advantage for the first time and was up by two goals (9-7).

However, Lino Cervar's side failed to reach a more significant advantage by the end of the first half. Moreover, Montenegrin goalkeeper Simic defended well, and with a mini-series of 4-0, Montenegro led 13-11 at the end of the half. Maric scored in the last second of the first half for 12-13.

At the beginning of the second half, and namely in the first five minutes, Croatia had a 5-1 series to lead 17-14. Croatia then increased their lead to 21-16 in the 46th minute. With a Mandic goal, Croatia increased their lead by six goals (23-17) and the Cowboys secured a peaceful ending to the game, with debutants Sarac, Ravnic, Matanovic and Hrstic entering the court. 

Luka Cindric was the most efficient for Croatia with six goals, followed by Marino Maric and Zlatko Horvat, who scored four each and Marin Sipic, who scored three goals. Montenegro was led by Nemanja Grbovic (6) and Vladan Lipovina (4).

In round 2 on Saturday, Croatia plays against Belarus at 4 pm, and Serbia-Montenegro will meet at 6.15 pm.

The two first-ranked teams from the group move to the second round in Vienna.

Source: HRT

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

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

Croatia handball defeats Belgium! In the second round of the Group 2 qualifiers for the European Handball Championship in 2020, Croatia handball secured another two new points, defeating Belgium 30:25 (18:12). Lino Červar’s team faced no major problems playing away in Leuven, and with the win in Belgium, they are now first place in the qualifying Group 2, reports 24 Sata on October 28, 2018. 

The Croatia men’s handball team overcame Switzerland in the last 10 minutes of the game to secure the win.