After a nail-biting final minutes, Qatar defeated Argentina 26:25 in their final main round match of the World Championship in Egypt on Monday, significantly helping Croatia’s chance at a quarterfinal spot.
Recall, Croatia needed Qatar to win to stay in the game for the quarterfinals – and with a victory against Denmark on Monday, Croatia would secure a spot in the quarterfinal match against Sweden.
Not only did this game mean nothing to Denmark, who already secured first place in the group, but at least eight players caught the stomach flu, forcing them to play with a weakened squad.
Unfortunately, the reigning Olympic and World Champs were still able to show why they are the best in the world.
Denmark v. Croatia Recap
Mamic scored the first goal of the match for 0:1 Croatia. Pesic saved Denmark’s first attack.
Mandic made it 0:2 for Croatia in the 2nd minute.
Denmark scored their first goal from a 7-meter throw just under 4 minutes in (1:2). Denmark equalized for 2:2 in the 5th minute.
Maric scored for 2:3 one minute later – and Horvat made it 2:4 second after that.
Mamic scored his second goal of the game for 3:5, and Horvat scored his second for 4:6 in the 11th minute.
Denmark equalized in the 15th minute – 6:6.
Karacic scored a rocket one minute later to put Croatia back in the lead – 6:7.
Denmark took the lead for the first time in the 18th minute – 8:7.
Martinovic scored to slightly reduce Denmark’s lead – 9:8 in the 20th minute. The young Croatia player scored again for 10:9.
Maric scored for 11:10 in the 23rd minute, and Sebetic for 12:11 in the 24th.
Duvnjak scored his first goal of the game for 13:12 with four minutes to go in the first half. Martinovic scored for 14:13 in the 27th.
Karacic scored his second goal of the game for 15:14 – Croatia was still behind by one with two minutes to go.
With just over 30 seconds to go, Cupic scored from 7-meters for 16:15. Denmark scored from 7-meters with 5 seconds to go, going into halftime at 17:15.
Only two minutes into the second half and Denmark was up by four goals – 19:15.
In the 36th minute, Denmark lead by 7 goals – 22:15.
Karacic scored Croatia’s first goal of the second half in the 37th minute for 22:16 – and scored again three minutes later for 25:17.
Cupic scored for 28:18 in the 43rd minute. Maric scored for 32:19 in the 48th minute – Croatia was down by 13 goals. Maric scored for 33:20 in the 52nd.
Karacic scored for 35:22 in the 53rd minute. Cupic scored from 7-meters with five minutes to go (36:24).
With one minute to go, Denmark led 37:26. The match ended 38:26 for Denmark.
The Croatia national team will gather again soon to play a qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympics in March.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
