For the first time in 16 years, the Croatian handball team has reached the final of the World Handball Championship. The “Cowboys” faced France in the final on their home turf back in 2009, but now, after 16 years, they were prepared to seek revenge.

This rematch didn’t occur in the final, but rather a round earlier. Last night in the Zagreb Arena, Croatia triumphed over France in the semi-finals (31:28), securing their place in the final. This marks their first medal claim at the Handball World Cup since 2013, when they took home bronze in Spain a decade ago. In all major competitions, the Croatians have claimed a medal for the first time since 2016 during the Euro in Poland, where they also won bronze.

“An incredible, historic moment. I couldn’t be happier; you must believe me. I feel like I played the entire game; I’m utterly exhausted. All the players are heroes, and this is a fantastic moment for us. It was crucial to start the game strong. It felt like scoring a last-minute goal in the World Cup. The second half was tough, with players getting sent off and fatigue setting in… But the players are heroes. Unfortunately, we can’t play the final here, but we will give everything to secure the gold,” said Croatia’s coach, Dagur Sigurdsson.

Croatia will compete against Denmark and Portugal in the final, who will clash tonight (20:30) in Oslo. This final will also mark the last match in the illustrious career of the legendary Domagoj Duvnjak.

“A huge thank you to my teammates and the wonderful crowd. What we delivered today was defensive perfection. My heart is heavy. Honestly, I’m in shock that such young players performed so bravely and intelligently. I’m thrilled for them. I hope we don’t have to wait long for our next medal,” expressed Duvnjak.

He reflected on the entire tournament.

“It’s unbelievable how many challenges we faced during the tournament. In the end, no one complained. I feared we might tire out. I admire how smartly they played; it’s as if they were seasoned veterans. Some have never even participated before. Croatian handball has a bright future. My world crumbled after the match against Argentina. I thank the coach for supporting an injured player on the bench. I can leave the national team peacefully. This is a victory for all our supporters. I’m elated. We’ll be prepared for the final. Just saying ‘final’ feels surreal. I’m in complete shock,” said a jubilant Duvnjak.

Among the heroes is goalkeeper Dominik Kuzmanović.

“I don’t think we’re fully aware that we’re in the final; we’re enjoying the wonderful atmosphere with our fans and families. We dreamed of this final, and now it’s a dream realized. I’m overjoyed. The fans have ignited a flood of emotions in us. We couldn’t wait for the game to begin. We even had a nine-point lead; we all fought for every ball. We maintained control; we have some of the best players in the world. We have one more match, and we want to approach it just like the previous ones. Regardless of our opponent in the final, it doesn’t matter,” stated Kuzmanović.

France will compete for bronze.

“Congratulations to Croatia for their well-deserved victory and for making it to the final. It was a challenging game for us, particularly in the first half where we trailed by seven points at halftime. We gave it our all in the second half, and I can proudly say that. We fought until the very end. Winning is always better, but the most important thing is to fight for your country, your team, and your teammates. I wish Croatia the best of luck in the final, and I hope we’re ready for our bronze match,” commented French captain Ludovic Fabregas.

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