The first World Cup finalist is certain! Croatia wins 31:28 (18:11) thanks to an outstanding performance in the Zagreb cauldron for the final. It could be the crowning glory of the career of Croatia legend Domagoj Duvnjak.
The Croatian fans sang, they jumped and they cheered on their team’s sensational final. The players were also crying in their arms after the final whistle before starting the exuberant round of honor. In a fantastic handball game in front of even impressive backdrop, Croatia successfully used his home advantage. The host is fighting for gold on Sunday (6 p.m.) in Oslo. The team won the last medal in 2020 in Stockholm when they lost just against Spain in the final. A strong Dika Mem (8 goals) is not enough for the European champion and sends the favorite to the game for third place.
There was impressive pictures before the kick -off! With an escort through a red and white fan sea-the Croatian handball players went into the capital for the World Cup semi-final. The experienced German referee duo Robert Schulze and Tobias Tönnies was set for the game to keep the “Tollhaus of Zagreb” in check. In addition to the final, it was also about no less than the last international match of two Croatian legends: Domagoj Duvnjak and Igor Karačić.
But probably none of the over 15,000 spectators in the Arena Zagreb thought of this when they were allowed to cheer after a minute. Left -wing Marin Jelinić scored 1-0 and the Croatian bench jumped up for the first time. The bubbling energy ensured that France had to take the first time-out after 12 minutes. The Croatians only swept across the field (9: 5).
Record world champion France paralyzed by an ecstatic backdrop
But the experienced world-class selection of France was not unsettled by the impressive backdrop. In the event of a five-goal deficit, the European champion unpacked Kempa-Benoît Kunkoud on 7:11 (17th). The campaign was still somewhat “breadless art” than the initial spark for a catch -up because Croatia continued as unleashed. Inserted by the loud audience, the Croatians pulled up to 15: 7 (22nd) with a 4-0 run. Dagur Sigurðsson got his team together and calmed down: “Take the time!”
With 11:18 we went into the cabins, a flattering gap when you show the blatant overview of the Croatians. Especially the nine Fernwurftore (9/18 attempts) were an important remedy for the previously strong French cover in the tournament. The second half could not have started much worse for the French. After an unfortunate campaign in the attack, the Aymeric Minne (3/3), which had been convincing to date, had to get from the field with a red card.
Duvnjak with important short operations in overnight
The French still found further their final chances, only they just didn’t convert them. Reason for this again the strong motivator in the Croatian goal: Dominik Kuzmanović. The Gummersbacher was on the spot twice against Nahi in a decisive urge for the French before he brought the fans to frank again through his seven-meter parade against Remili (43.).
In the final phase, left -handed Dika Mem took responsibility. The man from FC Barcelona scored three important goal and brought France to three goals for the first time in the 54th minute. Then Kuzmanović became a spoiler again. The second best goalkeeper in the tournament previously steered the ball into the goal shortly before the line and prevented the connection goal.
A strong Dika Mem is not enough France
The second goal of quarter-final hero Marin Šipić on 31:27 (58th) brought the preliminary decision. At the back, with Mathieu Grebille, the second left wing at Kuzmanović also despaired and completely overflowed the “Tollhaus Zagreb” with its fourteenth parade.