The French monkey is finally off their back. Croatia defeated the mighty French 30-23 Wednesday night in the quarterfinal round of the 2013 World Handball Championships. Domagoj Duvnjak (match MVP) led all scorers with nine goals as Croatia only trailed for the first three minutes of the match and never looked back after that. They received a scare from France approaching halftime, as their 3-4 goal lead throughout the first half was cut to one at the break with the French gaining momentum. But Croatia fought hard and went goal for goal with the French, finally pulling away in the last 10 minutes of the match with victory locked up.
FIRST HALF: In an extremely defensive battle from Zaragoza Wednesday night, Croatia got the better of France in the opening 15 minutes with goalie Mirko Alilović only allowing four goals from 11 French shots in the first 15 minutes. The first quarter of the match ended 7-4 in Croatia’s favor. Igor Vori seemed to have twisted his knee in the sixth minute of play and remained sidelined for 10 minutes while Drago Vuković was red carded 41 seconds into the match. Vori returned in the 17th min and seemed to be fine after a 2-minute Croatian penalty kill. Croatia played quick after dead balls and caught France sleeping while trying to set up their defense. Three first half French goals came directly from the penalty spot as the half would end 13-12, with the Cowboys on top. They will be disappointed with this score line, however, as they let France take the momentum at the end of the half and were up by 3-4 goals the majority of the first period.
SECOND HALF: Croatia started hot with a Kopljar goal and a Duvnjak break away score, followed by a power play. The power play wouldn’t last long as Duvnjak would cancel it out with a penalty of his own. Alilović then blocked a penalty with 20 minutes left to keep Croatia up by three. With 15 minutes to go in the match, France pulled within one with all the momentum on their side, scoring twice while on a penalty kill. Croatia took an all important time out to figure things out with Horvat converting a penalty to make it 22-19 with 12 minutes to go, but France added one of their own moments later. Horvat scored two more late to make it 26-22, with his shot percentage at 100% on the night. Croatia played clock management correctly in the waning minutes with the French down four with only four minutes to go. Game over.
Croatia wouldn’t let go of the lead, and with all the wind sucked out of the French sails, victory was inevitable for the Cowboys with three minutes remaining on the clock. Croatia and Denmark will face off in the semifinal round Friday from Barcelona.
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@HAET put down your copy of Beowulf. I dont carry Thor’s hammer for I hold the Axe of Perun.
Different mentality between the handball team and the soccer team.
Incidentally Ante is my brother’s name lol
Good idea Ante, actually Gotovina should speak before the serb game, that would be the most fitting. Although we’ll smash em either way
@Josip B
Every region of every country has their little rivalaries. Its normal and sometimes fun. In the end we are all brothers.
@Dejan NO, we are nationlists and we believe that our borders and people need someone to watch over them from time to time. I suspect that maybe you arent really one of us. We also feel that our NT should not have Africans on it. Does that bother you?
nemoj te biti bitches i da pokazate ni kao da uvjek surrender..sta bi bilo da bi francuska pobjedila? lets all relax and not be racist.
ALSO, I NEED TO CAPITALIZE THIS…THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER MONITORING FOR THIS WEBSITES RACIST SIDE, THERE ARE SOME RACIST COMMENTS IN THIS SITE, LETS FILTER IT BETTER
Its funny Croatians refs did the spain germany game and called it well got a no complaints yet our game Spanish refs did it and a bad job if that game was close we would have lost Nincevic scores the ball is in they wave it off, 47 second red card lol and the countess offensive fauls not called on france i hope we get good ref the next 2 games
How awesome would it be to get a Pre game speech from Gotovina? Or at least a message? That would make me hit harder, run faster and give it that much more. Svaka cast
It’s always hilarious witnessing the fools attempt to retract shit they posted in the past in order to adjust to current circumstances.
Too, too funny.
For those in the U.S. with Direct TV, it looks like tomorrow’s game may possibly be broadcast on channel 620, BeIn Sport. That channel may be part of the soccer/sports package.
drago mi je da i Vi Ameri pratite rukomet
I looked all over but I couldn’t see Sammir? Was he not called up?
Udba radi
Ivan Cupic the best!! pozdrav for croatian players from poland!!
Actually he’s a really good keeper
Pleti is cool too tho
wouldn’t the handball keeper be an improvement for back up on the NT soccer? just sayin
here here
im happy to agree with that, and im also happy to admit when i’ve been wrong and perhaps a bit paranoid or.. touchy
as Josip says we’re all on the same team here
so let’s go smash some serbs (^__^)
I agree with Bee, Mr Black, Iggy, etc. 100%. We are too small a people to be attacking one another. I have been extremely shocked, embarrassed, and disappointed by the recent hateful vitriol on this website directed at Hrvati from specific regions by other alleged Hrvati. I called out 19Tornado65 because he had made such offensive comments in the past, but was now praising one of the handball players from the same region as his idol. I’m not sure how his past comments were “political” and not offensive generalizations directed at an entire group, but nevertheless, the man has apologized, and may not have intended his comments the way they came out… and I accept that.
We need to be aware of this crap and stomp it out immediately in the future. Call it “politics”, hate, jugo-ism, racism, prejudice… whatever. Croatians attacking and offending other Croatians based on where they or their families are from on a sports website needs to stop. This website lauds itself as “uniting Croatian fans”, well let’s all ensure that that is what it does, because until the big win today, the last couple months seem to be more of the opposite.
apologies if i was being paranoid..
my bad
Ok.. good
cos goodness me.. i like smashing serbs as much as the next guy !
@Iggy
stop being paranoid, no one called you a jugo
Who is a jugo ?
Are u saying i am ?
you got it this is a sports page for all Croats, none of that politics bs, page for Croats, if you are a Jugo leave
i must admit i have a bit of an erection when we smash the serbs
Ah yes.. that water polo Gold was good
Only prob was the serbs didnt make it to the final.. would’ve been a dream run if we smashed them in the final
To answer your initial question quite simply:
NO.
CAN EVERYONE PLEASE STOP TALKING POLITICS THIS IS A SPORTS PAGE TAKE THAT SHIT SOMEWHERE ELSE. I am a very very proud Croat but you guys need to take that somewhere else i hate the older generation who went through the war stuff n when i go back are still beefing man its in the past lets all live in peace please no name calling and racist remarks we all have blood flowing through our veins dont we? and we all came to this awesome site for a reason so man up and grow up thats old news im tired of Croatian soccer club getting fined and losing FIFA points but iam more embarrassed and disappointed with all the hatred and racist remarks out there n having to defend my country from people here bashing it saying we are violent and racist people. thank you
@ Iggy
Re: first time us beating the frogs…
Actually, we beat France last year as well during the 2012 European Championships. France choked in that tournament and got eliminated in the first round. Then France got us back in the semis during the Olympics this past summer. Now we got them during these World Championships again.
Croatia, France, and Denmark are easily the three best teams in the world. Spain is a not-too-distant fourth. What a ROUGH path for us this tournament. We are somehow grouped with the hosts, Spain, in the first round. We top the group yet still have to play France in the Quarters. We play Denmark in the Semis. If we win that, we likely play Spain again in the Finals.
If we win this Gold medal, it will be our most deserved Gold ever (next to maybe that Olympic Gold we received in Waterpolo these past Olympics).
Croats are Croats, no matter where they live. We’re a small country, too little to start a fight between ourselves.
Hrvatska rules!!
@ Iggy Sorri if i offended i was not meant toward working people and averge Joes Politics sucks lets forget. Idemo do kraja svi zajedno!
@ Mishko haha he should have went to man United i bet in the summer Modric.
@Tornado – Thanks brother. I’ve tivoed the game, and will report “reality” not what the indebted Spanish bastards say. 🙂
.
either way lets hope we smash the danes
Fair enough Tornado.. i can live and let live
@Mishko 1-1 real tied modric 15 mins and wasnt that great from what i read. Rakitic scored and assisted sevilla won 4-0
Again we were talking politics not sports nothing against hercegovci i was making a point about Hercegovian mafia and that it ruined and is ruining croatia never said hercegovians average joe is bad never
Just got to my home office from work and missed everything. I’m so delighted we beat that multishit country of what used to be called France.
Anyone see the Real Madrid game today?
oh u were quoting.. my bad josip
accept my apology on that 1
looks like tornado is the so and so
You’re making it out like Bosnians are all a bunch of Sammirs
Why are u picking on Bosnians ? My dad is from Bihac on the border so am i not a croat ? What then ?
I can understand not accepting the muslims for obvious reasons but catholics.. cmon .. give us a break.. we’re as croat as anyone
posted by 19Tornado65 on December 29, 2012
“19Tornado65 says:
Hercegovci ruined croatian beacuse they think they are croatians, you people are bosnians of catholic faith, You people brought down croatia with mafia coruption and brain wasing people with what a pravi Hrvat is but you guys are not Croatians”
Looks like you DID say Hercegovci are bad
Denmark is better than France glave gori idemo before the tournament people said he would repeat 2001 under goluza
hahah now everyone thinks Croatia will win what about before they played france? beautiful win hail Croatia always
Yes i am a drunkard. Now when is the Denmark game ? My mum was a Dane so it’s like both nationalities playing for me. Going for Cro of course
So glad Croatia beat France, if those black guys think they’re French, then Napolean was Japanese, who are they fooling? Vive la France!
Mirko is not a lopov mafia i never said hercegovci are bad dumbass listen what i say!
Please don’t tell me you’re surprised that a Hercegovac is one of Hrvatskas best!? 🙂
19Tornado65,
Mirko is your idol? Isn’t he from Hercegovina? According to you, he is ruining Croatia and shouldn’t even be playing for Hrvatska.
Great win momci!
I NA STRANI I KOD KUCE
MIRKO BRANI NEMOGUCE!!!
FRANCUSKE KURVE NI STE IMALI SANSE JER MI IDEMO NA SADA NA DANCE!
MIRKO JE MOJ IDOL MIRKO PIJE ALKOHOL PIJE GA MIRKO PIJEM GA JA I PITCE MEMO GA DO JUTRA
Yeah ok i’ve had some vodka lol
I think this is the first time i can recall us beating the froggies. When is the Denmark game ?
IZNAD SVIH
HRVATSKA!!!!
AJMO AJMO AJMO USTASEEEEEE
Spain would have lost today pitcke pitcke pussies
Enjoy some vino tonight. Need to celebrate this victory. The boys played amazing tonight, everyone of them.
MIRKOOOOOOOO MY IDOL great keeper I hope hes in form 2 more games vamos a barcelona for ORO MEDALA
Drago Cosic legenda.
Francia hasta la vista, croacia es semifinalista.
WWWWWOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!
It might be an aging French team, but they are always a pain in the ass for us. Unreal match.
Friday will be tougher. Denmark is damn good. Good thing we don’t play tomorrow because we need that extra day to calm down after this great win.
Hrvatska of course. I’m drunk already.
Au revoir Frogs
We are back and France is no more young players are here a new generation lets go ive been waiting since 2004 for a gold medal ajmoooooooooooooooooooooooo
Karabatic called. He isn’t too dissapointed. He’s having a great time showering with his black teammates.
Fuckin’ Serb and his shit team are out. Payback for the Olympic Games! Bravo Hvratska. Give Alilovic a statue. Love the way the announcer announced Hooorvat. Horvat was great too. But what am I saying: the whole team played great.
Also Pitcke Spanjolske I hope we meet them in final and lets see if they let us beat them Pitcke tika taka pedercine
Cosic: “France Asta Lavista, Croacia Semi Finalista!!!!!”
Jeben im mater smece fransuzi pitcke nece vas sudac dati kao 2009 2010 2012 necu cigani ajmo protiv danske idemo momci
This is so sweet. Brings a smile to my face. Well done Hrvatska.
if it weren’t for the refs we would be up +10 on the french. they are purposely doing this so it isn’t a blow out.
Horvat is a beast today.
These bitch french are complaining on refs where 6 of their goals were thanks to ref
I think the town drunk can ref better
Drago Cosic is such a legend, I love this guy
http://tashlive.blogspot.ca/2012/12/tash-live-1.html
Croatian commentary for the game. Intermission now.
@ Ziva Corectamundo in the words of te Fonz same story different year
We’ve seen this dance before. We are with them at the half and then France jumps all over us in the middle of the 2nd half.
Will see if anything changes this time around.
Found one,
http://www.profreetv.com/index.php?content=watch&tvid=289
take it off ‘HD’ and it will work
France have way too much luck i cannot believe it alway the same gaem close at half time and then the refs fuck with our players and we lose focuse
Good half. Gonna be tough to pull this off
@CroatHrvat
Most have no commentary, couldnt find an hrt one
We are playing against the refs for the 1000 time in hanball history ajmo nasi
Sapin closer to France people made the trip, but the refs man we will lose this watch
Anyone with a link with Croatian commentary???
Seems to be about 80% French fans judging from the cheers
This Karabatic asshole
Zach my god Spainish refs hahaha they always try to rob us my god
Vukovic red card one minute in, He was our best player last game
sheeeet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SsVoIV-lUw
I don’t like Cowboys nickname either.
Ajmo, Hrvatska…………..
Click on Dolcesport 2 in the stream
@IvanMalilug
“French monkey off their backs” means that in the past we have had a difficult time with you guys. It’s a common saying. “The Experts” by the way is a terrible nickname!
Zivila Hrvatska!!!
Pranjic off to Celta de Vigo, Primera Division.
French monkey?
In France, french team is called “The Experts”, Croatia… Croatia.