The main round of the European Handball Championship began on Thursday. Croatia met Montenegro in their first match of Group I.
Croatia enters the second round of the competition without points. Denmark, France, and Iceland transferred two points each, while Montenegro and the Netherlands also entered without points.
In Group II, Germany, Spain and Russia have two points each, while Norway, Sweden, and Poland have no points.
Croatia coach Hrvoje Horvat was not able to count on Valentin Ravnić today and invited three new players to the national team as COVID-19 plagued the roster. Thus, Mirko Alilović, Ivan Slišković, and Veron Načinović joined the Croatia squad.
Recap
Cupic scored the first goal for Croatia for 1:0. Cindric scored for 2:2 in the 5th minute. It was 3:3 in the 8th minute.
Montenegro was leading by 2 goals in the 12th minute – (3:5). Cupic scored for 4:6. Cindric scored for 5:7 in the 18th – and Cindric made it 6:8 in the 20th.
Cupic scored his 3rd goal of the game for 7:9. Lucin made it 8:10 in the 24th and 9:11 a minute later.
Montenegro was leading 13:9 with two minutes to go in the first half. A catastrophic end to the first half – Montenegro was up by 6 goals – 15:9.
Croatia goalkeeper Alilovic saved Montenegro’s first attack of the second half. Cupic scored for 10:15 in the 31st minute.
Alilovic saved Montenegro’s next attack and Nacinovic scored for 11:15!
It was 13:19 for Montenegro in the 38th minute before Cindric scored for 14:19 a minute later.
Gadza brought Croatia back to -5 in the 41st minute – 15:20. Cupic scored from 7 meters for 16:21 in the 43rd. Gadza scored again for 17:21. Mandic scored for 18:22 a minute later.
Cupic and Martinovic made it 20:25 in the 48th. But Croatia’s hope quickly dwindled – they were behind by 6 goals entering the final 10 minutes of the game, and Montenegro was up by 7 goals moments later. It was 28:20 for Montenegro in the 51st minute.
Lucin scored for 21:28 with 7 minutes to go. Jelinic scored for 23:29 with 4 minutes left. Cupic scored for 24:30 with 3 minutes to go and it was 25:31 with 2 left. Cindric made it 26:31. The match ended 26:32 for Montenegro.
Croatia plays Denmark next on Saturday.
For today’s remaining matches of Group I, France and the Netherlands play at 6 pm and Denmark and Iceland at 8:30 pm. In Group II, Russia and Sweden also met at 3:30 pm, Germany and Spain (6 pm), and Poland and Norway (8:30 pm).
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