
Last two quarter-finals spots to be decided in Group IV, as main round concludes
January 26, 2025
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January 27, 2025If you have a friend you wanted to introduced to handball then this was one of those games to bring them to.
It had everything – drama, suspense, raised temperatures, skills, mistakes, tactics, but more importantly for the co-hosts – a winning score.
Their three-goal win meant that they will now face Hungary in the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship quarter-finals on Tuesday (28 January), joining Egypt from their main round group in the last eight and sending Iceland home, with Slovenia.
MAIN ROUND GROUP IV
Croatia vs Slovenia 29:26 (15:15)
After Iceland’s victory against Argentina in the first game of the day, Slovenia knew they could not progress into the quarter-finals but that did not stop them putting up one hell of a fight in the co-host home.
In front of a sell-out 15,600-capacity crowd, including a large number of Slovenian and Icelandic fans, both supporting the same team, Uros Zorman’s side shocked most of the Arena Zagreb by going ahead 5:0.
Croatia were in disbelief and it was of little surprise to anyone inside the hall that Dagur Sigurdsson called his first time out just before the seven-minute mark.
Soon after (8th minute) their first goal came, from Filip Glavas and the catch-up had started.
The Croatian defence, deploying Marko Mamic as the outlier in a 5-1 option, started to find its rhythm, while the attack took notice too.
Gradually the deficit was clawed back but and by the 27th minute, Zorman tried to stem the flow with a time out as his side were in danger of getting caught (15:13), but they exited it by turning over the ball, David Mandic stealing it to set up Zvonimir Srna.
This led to the gap finally being closed just before the break, through Marin Sipic who wheeled away from his strike, rushing past the Slovenian bench in full celebratory mood.
Sipic, like the rest of the team, were energised by the pure emotion and adrenaline inside the arena – and this was in evidence on court too as the half ended with a coming together of both squads, Blaz Blagotinsek acting as a peacemaker, while Domagoj Duvnjak and Blaz Janc exchanged thoughts.
This was indicative as what was at stake for Croatia who were aiming to reach the last eight for the first time since 2019.
The scores stayed locked early on in the second half, with Duvnjak a wound-up spring of emotion, ranging from calm and collected moments to his players, tactical help and sheer frustration and nervousness. At one stage he was down on his hands and knees on the side of the court – living every minute from the bench, almost (he played for under three minutes in total).
Not surprisingly, Glavas’ emotions were full, pushing the crowd to sing throughout, kicking his chair, then standing on top of it, two fists pumping full of energy which he needed to dissipate.
But when a team needs to turn the screw, they look to their superhero and for Croatia, that was goalkeeper Dominik Kuzmanovic who stepped up, making save after save, causing his coach to celebrate wildly when he made another stop in the 39th minute, leading to Sipic finally putting his side straight after.
Kuzmanovic would ensure that Slovenia did not take the lead again, despite their best attempts at 22:22 with 15 minutes remaining. The 22-year-old would quickly add to his save totals, preventing three Slovenian attempts in a row to help push them to a two-goal lead soon after.
With the team three ahead (25:22) with 10 minutes remaining, the cool, calm and collected Czechia referee pair paused the game for a change of ball, such was the sweat dripping off of it and this gave everyone a chance to take stock.
Croatia just about saw out the final 10 minutes and when the final whistle went there was relief from the majority of those inside, best summed up by Igor Karacic looking up to the sky and giving a big breath out in relief.
An monumental clash had finished and Croatia march on.
hummel Player of the Match: Marin Sipic (Croatia)