CROATIAN TALENT
Since independence in 1992, Croatia has established itself as a worthy successor to the former Yugoslavia. Gold medallist at the 1993 Mediterranean Games (its first title), Croatia has since shown an impressive consistency, with no less than 13 medals at the Olympic Games, as well as European and World Championships. Croatia has never missed a major event thanks to its handball school that allows it to regenerate its national team despite a limited pool of players (4 million inhabitants). Finishing in 3rd place at the last Euro in Poland, it proved unpredictable at the Games in Rio — in its group they beat both Denmark and France, eventual finalists at the Games, but fell to Poland in the quarter finals. The Croatian selection comes to France with the aim of winning on their rivals’ home turf, determined to erase the memory of that 2009 final lost in Zagreb by Ivano Balić’s team against the Bleus.
DID YOU KNOW?
Leading the Croatian selection since the spring of 2015, Zeljko Babic resigned last September, as he thought that he was not sufficiently supported by his Federation. The Federation accepted his resignation before refusing it a month later when they failed to find a successor. As a result, it was the same 44 year-old man who managed the double Olympic champions at the World Championship in France.
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Stars of the World Championship : Domagoj Duvnjak
COACH: Zeljko BABIC (Croatia)
PLAYERS
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Domagoj Duvnjak 01/06/1988 Centre Back
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Filip Ivic 30/08/1992 Goalkeeper
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Ivan Stevanovic 18/05/1982 Goalkeeper
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Jakov Gojun 18/04/1986 Left Back
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Josip Bozic Pavletic 06/08/1994 Right Wing
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Lovro Jotic 12/11/1994 Centre back
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Lovro Mihic 25/08/1994 Left Wing
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Luka Cindric 05/07/1993 Centre back
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Luka Sebetic 26/05/1994 Right Back
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Luka Stepancic 20/11/1990 Right Back
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Manuel Strlek 01/12/1988 Left Wing
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Marko Mamic 06/03/1994 Left Back
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Stipe Mandalinic 09/09/1992 Left Back
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Tin Kontrec 09/09/1989 Pivot
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Zeljko Musa 08/01/1986 Pivot
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Zlatko Horvat 25/09/1984 Right Wing