Croatia beats Serbia to secure 2020 European Handball Championship spot
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
ZADAR, 14 April 2019 – A 27-23 victory over Serbia in Zadar on Sunday night has secured Croatia a spot at the 2020 European Handball Championships.
After drawing 25-25 on Friday night in Belgrade, it was a much better performance tonight by Lino Ćevar’s side as they comfortably secured the win 27-23 to book their place at next year’s European Championships in Austria, Norway and Sweden.
Croatia’s victory tonight in front of 7,000 fans in Zadar was never in doubt after they went into the break 17-11 up.
“We play a solid 6-0 defence and scored against them on the the counter attack. We had a lead of 6, 7 goals on the first half and that is where we won the game,” Ćevar said after the match, before adding.
“I have to thank the fans and the city of Zadar. So much love, passion…Ten years has passed since they last hosted us here and they made up for it. What can I say but a big ‘thank you’.”
Croatia is now at the top of their Euro qualifying Group 2 with the top two teams qualifying.
CROATIA – SERBIA 27:23 (17:11)
ZADAR SD Krešimira Ćosića. Gledatelja 7.000
CROATIA: Šego (2), Ivić (6+1); Duvnjak 4, Stepančić 1, Vida, Karačić 2, Božić Pavletić 3, Štrlek 8 (4), Musa, Mamić 3 Mandić 2 (1), Jaganjac, Vranković 2, Šipić 1, Sršen, Bećiri 1.
SERBIA: Milosavljev, Cupara (9+2); Pušica 3, Vorkapić 1, Krsmančić, Crnoglavac 2, Pešić 3, N. Ilić 3 (2), Mošić 2, V. Ilić 2, Nikolić, Kukić 1, Zelenović 3, Sretenović 2, Marsenić 1, Živković.
