Photo courtesy: HRS
January 12, 2024 – Croatia opened EHF Euro 2024 in Germany with an impressive victory over favorites Spain (39-29).
Croatia’s handball team faced Spain on Friday night in the first round of Group B of the European Championship in Germany. This competition is her 16th European Championship, and Croatia is one of her three national teams that have participated in all previous championships.
Goran Perkovac’s side will face the toughest opponents in their group early in the tournament, and will also face Austria and Romania in Group B.
Spain were the favorites to win this game, but Croatia surprised them tonight with their great play and outstanding support from the Mannheim stands. Croatia came back and showed they were ready to do something big in Germany. This new and improved team has fresh, intense energy on the court, and if there’s anything to be said tonight, it’s that this team is hungry for a medal.
Croatia were more than convincing in the first half and were already leading 5-1 in the seventh minute. They held a nearly +5 lead going into halftime up 18-14. The momentum continued into the second half, and by the 34th minute Croatia had led by eight points. The score was 25-16 at the 37th minute and 34-23 with 10 minutes remaining.
There was a lot of noise in the stands, with Croatian fans singing “Vechelas je naša festa”. There’s a lot to celebrate after this performance.
Croatia led by 10 goals (38-28) with two minutes left and by 11 in the final moments. The match ended with him 39-29.
Croatia will play Austria next Sunday at 20:30. The top two teams in the group advance to the next round.
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