November 2, 2021 - The Croatia handball European Championship prep began on Monday in Poreč. The European Champs will be held in January 2022.

For the first time since the summer, the Croatia men's senior national handball team gathered in Zagreb. After quickly socializing with the media and testing, the national team traveled to Poreč where they will stay and train for the next seven days. As part of these preparations, which are actually the beginning of preparations for next year's European Championship in Slovakia and Hungary, a friendly match will be played against Slovenia, on November 6 at 18:00 in Novigrad / Cittanova.

The match will be broadcast live on Croatian Television's Second Program.

Of the 19 invited players, 18 responded to coach Hrvoje Horvat. The only ones who could not play are Luka Cindrić, who has not yet fully recovered from a shoulder injury he suffered in mid-September in the Champions League, and Fran Mileta, who was seriously injured in a Europa League match. Vlado Matanović was called up instead.

Croatia handball squad:

1. IVAN PEŠIĆ – HC MESHKOV BREST
2. KRISTIAN PILIPOVIĆ – KADETTEN SCHAFFHAUSEN
3. MATEJ MANDIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
4. DAVID MANDIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
5. LOVRO MIHIĆ – ORLEN WISLA PLOCK
6. IVAN ČUPIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
7. LEON ŠUŠNJA – ORLEN WISLA PLOCK
8. MARIN ŠIPIĆ – RK PPD ZAGREB
9. VERON NAČINOVIĆ – MONTPELLIER HB
10. IVAN MARTINOVIĆ – TSV HANNOVER – BURGDORF
11. LUKA ŠEBETIĆ – HC MOTOR
12. DOMAGOJ PAVLOVIĆ – MT MELSUNGEN
13. ANTE GADŽA – HC VARDAR 1961
14. DOMAGOJ DUVNJAK – THW KIEL
15. HALIL JAGANJAC – RK NEXE
16. ZVONIMIR SRNA – RK PPD ZAGREB
17. TIN LUČIN – ORLEN WISLA PLOCK
18. VLADO MATANOVIĆ – PPD ZAGREB

Reserves:

1. FILIP VISTOROP – RK PPD ZAGREB
2. LUKA LOVRE KLARICA – RK PPD ZAGREB
3. MORENO CAR – RK NEXE
4. NIKOLA GRAHOVAC – RK PPD ZAGREB
5. KREŠIMIR KOZINA – FRISCH AUF GOPPINGEN
6. BORNA MANCI MIČEVIĆ – RK NEXE
7. MARIN JELINIĆ – RK NEXE
8. ANTE KUDUZ – HC VARDAR 1961

Coaching staff:

1. HRVOJE HORVAT, COACH
2. IVANO BALIĆ, TRAINER
3. NINOSLAV PAVELIĆ, GOALIE TRAINER
4. MILJENKO RAK, CONDITIONING TRAINER
5. DANIJEL BRAJKOVIĆ, CONDITIONING TRAINER
6. GORAN KRUŠELJ, PHYSIOTHERAPIST
7. MATIJA RAJNOVIĆ, PHYSIOTHERAPIST
8. SILVIA JURATOVAC, MT THERAPY
9. KREŠIMIR ROTIM, DOCTOR
10. TOMISLAV KUKIN, DOCTOR
11. IVICA UDOVIČIĆ, DIRECTIOR OF NATIONAL SELECTION
12. IGOR VORI, SPORTS DIRECTOR OF THE MALE TEAM
13. IVICA MARAŠ, SPOKESPERSON & TEAM MANAGER
14. ZDRAVKO MIRILOVIĆ, TECHNICAL
    Source: HRS
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January 22, 2020 - The Croatia handball team met Spain for their final game of the second round in the European Championships in Vienna. The meeting was crucial to determine first place in the group, and thus Croatia’s semifinal opponent. 

Croatia could not count on Luka Cindric for this game, who has been one of their best players of the tournament thus far.

Spain had the first attack of the game, which they scored for 0:1 in the 38th second. Croatia was unsuccessful in its first attack. 

Stepancic, however, equalized in the 2nd minute for 1:1. Karacic made it 2:2 in the 3rd minute, scored again for 3:3 in the 5th minute, and made it 4:4 in the 6th. 

Karacic continued with his brilliance to make it 5:5 in the 9th minute. Croatia and Spain were going-for-goal. 

Croatia took the lead for the first time in the game thanks to a Mamic goal in the 12th minute for 6:5.

Stepancic made it 7:6 in the 17th minute, and Sipic scored to increase Croatia’s lead to 8:6 in the 19th minute. Sego was brilliant in goal.

At this point in the game, there hadn’t been a goal for over three minutes.

Karacic scored his fifth goal of the game for 9:7 in the 23rd minute. 

Horvat scored a 7-meter shot for 10:8 in the 24th minute.

Spain equalized in the 25th minute for 10:10.

Croatia retook the lead in the 26th minute for 11:10 thanks to Karacic once again, though it was Spain to regain their lead one minute before the half for 11:12. 

Spain increased its lead at the start of the second half for 11:13, and they were up by three goals in the 33rd minute (11:14). It was 11:15 for Spain in the 35th.

Karacic scored his seventh goal of the game to make it 12:15 - but in the 37th minute, it was 12:17... and in the 39th, 12:18.

Duvnjak scored a 7-meter shot for 13:18 and Brozovic scored in the 41st for 14:19.

Karacic reduced Croatia's deficit back to -5 for 15:20 in the 46th minute. Sipic made it 16:20 in the 47th minute, and 17:21 in the 48th.

Karacic scored for -3 and 18:21 in the 50th minute, and scored his 10th goal of the game in the 52nd for 19:21!

Croatia was well on its way to a comeback and Horvat scored for 20:21 in the 53rd minute.  

Mamic scored the equalizer for 21:21 with five minutes to go!

Duvnjak scored a rocket in the 58th minute to give Croatia the lead (22:21).

Spain was given a 7-meter shot in the 58th minute, though Asanin was unable to make the save. Spain equalized for 22:22, which was the final score of the game.

Igor Karacic was named the man of the match.

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

January 20, 2020 - The Croatia handball team met the Czech Republic for the third game of the second round of the European Championship.

Croatia secured the semifinal of the Euros on Saturday after a thriller against Germany, though every game was still crucial to determine their place in the group.

Luka Cindric, Croatia’s best player in this championship, did not play against the Czech Republic due to a wrist injury. It is not yet known if he will play against Spain, but should be ready for the semifinal match. 

Kasparek scored the first goal of the match in the 2nd minute, though Matej Hrstic returned on the other side for 1:1. 

Marko Mamic scores a great goal for 2:1.

In the 6th minute, Sarac scored to put Croatia in the lead, though the Czech Republic came back to equalize.

Mamic scored his second goal of the game in the 8th minute. 

Asanin made his first save of the game in the 9th minute, and Croatia went up by two goals for 5:3.

The Czech Republic scored a quick two goals in the 11th minute to equalize.

The Czech Republic retook the lead in the 14th minute, though Horak came back to equalize. 

In the 17th minute, Mandic used a counter-attack to equalize. Neither team had a significant advantage yet. 

In the 19th minute, Hrstic found Maric, who scored Croatia’s 8th goal of the game. 

In the 20th minute, Sarac put Croatia back in the lead, and in the 23rd minute, Croatia was up by two goals. 

Mamić scored his third goal of the match and Croatia went into halftime up 11:9. 

Croatia opened the second half with a goal by Mandic for 12:9 in the 32nd minute. 

Brozovic scored for 13:9 in the 36th minute. 

The Czech Republic reduced the score to 13:12 in the 40th minute, though Mamic made it 14:12 seconds later.

Maric scored for 15:13 in the 42nd minute, and Stepancic scored his first goal of the game in the 44th minute for 16:14.

Duvnjak scored a 7-meter shot for 17:16 in the 46th minute. 

Matanovic scored for 18:17 in the 49th minute, and Mamic scored his fifth goal of the game in the 50th minute for 19:17. 

Matanovic scored his second goal of the game for 20:18 with eight minutes to go. 

Stepancic scored his second goal of the game for 21:19 in the 55th minute. 

With seconds to go in the game, Stepancic scored the winning goal of the game. Croatia won 22:21!

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

January 2, 2019 -  The Croatia handball team will compete in the European Handball Championship, to be held from January 9 to 26. Coach Lino Cervar finally has the complete squad in Porec ahead of the competition. 

Gol.hr reports that the Croatia men's handball team gathered in Zagreb on Wednesday before heading to Porec where they will hold the last part of preparations for the European Championship, which will be held in Sweden, Norway and Austria from January 9 to 26.

The Croatia squad is finally complete, as the players who compete in Germany have joined. Thus, coach Lino Cervar can finally begin playing the team according to his visions and wishes.

An unfortunate circumstance of these preparations, as well as for the Euros, is that Croatia will not be able to count on the three players with injuries - Lovro Mihic, Fran Mile and Luka Sebetic. Their absence will significantly change Cervar's plans and ideas for the team, especially in the defense.

Namely, two of these three players were to find their place in Croatia’s final team in Graz for the first round of the European Championship. Croatia captain Domagoj Duvnjak said that despite this bit of bad luck, he and Croatia are ready to perform at the Euros. 

"The group looks easier on paper, but it's not like that. I think it's very tough and that we have difficult games. Like every year, I repeat that the first game is the hardest one, and this one is against Montenegro. I'm healthy and I can't wait for it to start,” Duvnjak said.

As part of the third cycle of preparations, the Croatian Cup will be played in Porec, with Bosnia and Qatar participating alongside Croatia. It is these two teams that open the tournament on Friday, January 3, at 6 pm in Zatika. A day later, on January 4, at 4:50 pm, Croatia and BiH will play. The tournament ends on Sunday, January 5, with Croatia and Qatar, which also begins at 4:50 pm.

At the European Championship, Croatia will play in Graz against Montenegro, Belarus and Serbia in the first round.

List of players for the third phase of preparations;

Marin Šego – Montpellier

Matej Ašanin – PPD Zagreb

Zlatko Horvat – PPD Zagreb

Vlado Matanović – Gorenje Velenje

David Mandić – PPD Zagreb

Valentino Ravnić – PPD Zagreb

Željko Musa – Magdeburg

Marino Marić – Melsungen

Marin Šipić – PPD Zagreb

Domagoj Duvnjak – THW Kiel

Marko Mamić – Leipzig

Josip Šarac – Celje PL

Matej Hrstić – PPD Zagreb

Luka Cindrić – Barcelona

Igor Karačić – Vive Kielce

Luka Stepančić – MOL-PICK Szeged

Josip Vekić – PPD Zagreb

Ivan Martinović – Hannover-Burgdorf

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

The European Handball Championships will be held in Croatia from January 12 to 28, 2018.

Lino Červar, the coach of the Croatian men’s handball team, has released a list of 28 players he will count on during the preparations for the European Championship in Croatia this January. 

The European Handball Championships will be held in Croatia from January 12 to 28, 2018.