Croatia Advances to the EHF EURO Semi-Finals!

In a dramatic showdown, Croatia defeated Hungary 27–25 to secure a place in the EHF EURO semi-finals! Dagur Sigurdsson’s team topped their group and will now face the runner-up from Group I in the final four.

Croatia finished the first two stages of the competition with six wins and one loss, the only defeat coming against Sweden, who have since been eliminated from medal contention.

Croatia’s semi-final opponent will be decided later tonight, after the Denmark vs. Norway match at 10 pm. If Denmark wins, Croatia will meet Germany in the semis; but if the Danes slip, Croatia will face the same team that defeated them in last year’s World Championship final.

Croatia trailed 15–13 at halftime in their decisive match for a place in the European Championship semi-finals after a shaky start. Hungary took control early, led by goalkeeper Bartucz, who stopped several Croatian shots, while Szita and Imre punished every defensive lapse.

Croatia struggled in the attack with turnovers and poor transitions, falling behind 6–2. Coach Dagur Sigurdsson quickly called a timeout, changed goalkeepers, and rotated his back line. Midway through the half, Croatia rallied with a 3–0 run to close the gap to one (11–12). The absence of the injured Zvonimir Srna was felt, as Croatia missed his shooting from the left, leaving Cindrić and Martinović to carry the creative load.

Croatia opened the second half a man down and quickly conceded 16–13. Hungary continued to play seven-on-six, maintaining a three- to four-goal lead and capitalizing on Croatian errors. But Croatia’s defense grew stronger, and Dominik Kuzmanović began to make key saves. The momentum shifted midway through the half as Sigurdsson took a tactical risk, sending Croatia into a seven-on-six attack.

With a stunning 7–1 run, Croatia turned a 19–15 deficit into a 22–20 lead. The closing minutes were tense, with both teams trading goals. In the final two minutes, Croatia held a one-goal advantage and a man up. Martinović missed the chance to extend the lead, but Croatia forced a turnover seconds later. With just four seconds left, David Mandić sealed the win.

Croatia’s top scorers were David Mandić, Luka Lovre Klarica, Mario Šoštarić, and Tin Lučin, each with four goals, while Kuzmanović tallied eight saves.