The Croatia national handball team represents Croatia in international men's team handball competitions and friendly matches. The handball team is controlled by the Croatian Handball Federation.
Croatia has often been portrayed as an international force in handball, having won two Olympic gold medals and one World Championship, but never winning the Euros, having lost two finals, one to rivals France and the other to Scandinavian handball team Denmark. The Croatian handball team that won the 1996 Olympic Gold medal was often credited as the biggest upset in history of handball, with handball making its debut appearance. The Croatian national team won a so-called "international double" after winning both the gold medal at the Olympics (2004) and the World Championships (2003), beating Germany in both finals.
Croatia's handball team has often been labelled as a model for sport, often being the replacement for Romania in Europe's "Big Three" in handball, alongside France and Denmark. Some of their biggest rivals are neighbors Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia. Germany are also called rivals of the handball team, although matches between Germany and Croatia have been met with Croatian dominance, Germany only winning once in their nine meetings, and Croatia winning seven times. Mediterranean side Spain have also been called as close rivals, having played 23 games with them, the most out of any sides the Croatians have played with in handball. However, the French are often remarked as Croatia's biggest-ever rival in handball, due to both countries' success. In recent history though, Croatia often suffered eliminations at the hands of the French .
Video Croatia national handball team
History
Handball in Austria-Hungary monarchy (1904-1918)
The word handball in the Croatian region was first used by Franjo Bu?ar, describing the German game Schleuderball in the journal Sokol 1904. The earliest documented forms of playing handball in these areas appear in 1911 in the gymnasium of Pazin, which is among other things due to the fact that programs for education in Istria, as part of the then Austrian coast, coming from the education center in Graz. In Croatia, at the time handball was in high school programs closing ceremony. It was a kind of Czech handball extended from the Czech Republic, where it was adopted by the Osijek and Vukovar students from Prague.
Between the two world wars (1918-1941)
In the early beginnings of the Croatian handball, venues played field handball and handball. Students were still more attracted to field handball, because the little handball were played on makeshift courts without the right door, as opposed to the field handball, which is played on the existing football fields. During the Kingdom of Yugoslavia first public handball match in the Croatian region was played and in the wider neighborhood. It was played in a high school in Vara?din 29 May 1930 under the guidance of physical education teachers Zvonimir ?uligoj. Since that game, until 1950, in Croatia and Yugoslavia publicly played exclusively field handball, on the football field with eleven players on each side. In high school in Zagreb on June 1, 1935, opened the first handball courts in Yugoslavia.
The establishment of Croatian Handball Federation and the first Croatian national team (1941-1945)
At the beginning of World War II Kingdom of Yugoslavia disintegrated. Most of the territory inhabited by Croats on April 10, 1941, it became part of the newly formed Independent State of Croatia (NDH). As part of the new state on 2 October 1941 in Zagreb for the first time in history the Croatian Handball Federation (HRS) was established. The place of foundation is recorded to be at the Croatian Sports home in Juri?i?eva, Zagreb. HRS is the umbrella organization of handball in the ISC coordinated the work of a dozen clubs and until 1944 organized national championships. In the state of NDH was established the first Croatian handball team. The first training for practice-match team NDH was held on 12 October 1941 between the two teams selected from the head coach Dragutin Pehe. His first and only international match this team played on June 14, 1942 with Hungary in Budapest where they lost 0:9. This field handball match was played in front of 30,000 spectators at the then NEP Stadium (since 2002 Ferenc Puskás Stadium) was a prelude meeting of the football teams of the same name. The best handball player in the field was the goalkeeper Branko Kralj. Under the direction of the coach Ante ?krti?, the players for Croatia were Vlado Abramovi?, Irislav Dolenec, ?arko Galetovi?, Zvonko Leskovar, Todor Marinov, Viktor Medved, Kre?o Pavlin, Vlado ?imanovi? Stjepan ?iri?, Josip ?itnik and reserve goalkeeper Zdenko ?urina. HRS stopped functioning in 1944 because of the war in World War II.
Handball in SFR Yugoslavia (1945-1991)
- Yugoslavia national handball team
When the 1945 World War II ended, the territory of the Independent State of Croatia was included in the newly established SFR Yugoslavia.
Immediately after that began the reconstruction of the war abandoned handball in Yugoslavia, and that same year founded the Committee for handball Gymnastics Association Croatian, and in May 1948 the Committee for handball Gymnastics Association of Yugoslavia. Operation HRS is restored on 19 December 1948, in which he, in accordance with the national policy of the new Yugoslav state, name changed in the Croatian Handball Association (RSH). Handball Federation of Yugoslavia (RSJ) was established on December 17, 1949 in Belgrade by pooling national and provincial associations, and it became a member of the International Handball Federation (IHF) in 1950.
After the end of World War II, most field handball players of NDH completed courses and became instructors or referees in handball. Some of them have become members of the field handball national team of Yugoslavia and played in its first international match, played on June 19, 1950 at the stadium in Stadion Kranj?evi?eva in Zagreb, against Belgium. Yugoslavia won 18:3 playing with nine players from Zagreb, one from Split and one from Sarajevo.
Since the end of World War II until the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the best Croatian handball players in field and team handball played for the national team of Yugoslavia. With this national team Croatians have performed at 17 major competitions and won seven medals. These are two Olympic gold medals, the Olympic bronze, world gold, world silver and two bronze world. Among the other famous trophy, in this period they won 5 gold medals in five appearances at the Mediterranean Games (1967, 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1991), two gold and one bronze medal at the World Cups held in 1971, 1974 and 1984 in Sweden, 2 bronze medals at handball Super League held in 1981 and 1983 in Germany and silver at the 1990 goodwill Games in Seattle.
At the World Junior Championship in 1987 in Rijeka there was created a nucleus generation that will define the nineties and bring some of the most beautiful handball stories for the Croatian national team. Alvaro Na?inovi?, Iztok Puc, Vladimir Jel?i? and other predominantly have won this championship playing for Yugoslavia, and their talent and knowledge are later incorporated as seniors in the first Croatian success after independence of the country.
Maps Croatia national handball team
Modern Croatian national handball team (1991-present)
Official formation and first competitions (1991-1996)
Croatia on 30 May 1990 began the process of creating the independent state, and soon established and modern Croatian handball team. The first international match of the Croatian handball team was played on January 14, 1991 in Zagreb, in Kutija ?ibica. It was a friendly match with Japan witch ended in a draw 23:23. The team was coached by Josip Milkovi? with assistant coach Lino ?ervar and the players were Patrik ?avar, Ton?i Peribonio, Vlado ?ola, Ivica Obrvan, Nenad Kljai?, Iztok Puc, Ratko Tomljanovi?, Bruno Gudelj, ?eljko Zovko, Stjepan Obran, Tomislav Farka?, Robert Ip?a, Ivo Glavini? and Goran Stojanovi?. The dissolution of Yugoslavia that followed, Croatia gained full independence on 8 October 1991 the Croatian Handball Association (RSH) in 1992 restored the original name of the Croatian Handball Federation (HRS), and on April 10, 1992 became a member of the International Handball Federation (IHF), and 23 July 1992 members of the European Handball Federation (EHF).
Taking fourth place at the 1990 World Championship in Czechoslovakia the Yugoslav national team was placed among the nine best teams of the tournament, which acquired them the right to participate in the upcoming 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Because of the war and the disintegration of Yugoslavia, this team was disqualified, and should it was supposed to be specified who will replaced them in the games. Since the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) was provisionally recognized on 17 January 1992 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and since Croatia had already on 22 May 1992 become a member of the United Nations, Croatian handball players had conditions to perform at the Olympic Games in 1992. This unfortunately did not happen. Although Croatia in terms of game was handball superpower, it was decided that Yugoslavia would be replaced by Iceland at the games as they finished tenth at the 1990 World Championship. Adverse effects of certain officials in the IOC prevented even the option of maintaining an additional qualifying tournament like the one held for the Croatian basketball players. Croatia also missed the 1993 World Championship in Sweden, because the World Championship in 1990 was an elimination tournament for this championship.
The following years, in spite of the short history of the country brought the Croatian team very significant results in important competitions. Croatia won its first official competition at the Mediterranean Games in 1993 in Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Croatia won gold. At the first ever European Championship in 1994 held in Portugal the team was led by Zdravko Zovko they won their first medal at this first major international competition. The group stage ended with Croatia finishing behind then powerful Russians, but in front of the French, led by the famous Jackson Richardson. In the semi finals, the Swedes were better and Croatia played the third place match and won in a dramatic match against Denmark. Sweden won the tournament demolishing the Russians in the final with 13 points. A year later at the 1995 World Championships in Iceland Croatia relatively went easily from group stage to the quarter final where there was brought a rarely seen drama. Tunisia was defeated after penalty shootout. Then the team beat Egypt in the quarter finals and Sweden national handball team in the semi finals. In the final they the French were too big an obstacle for Zovko guys won their first Croatian World Championship silver medal. Sweden won the bronze defeating Germany. The next year at the European Championship in 1996 in Spain, Croatia, was led by Abas Arslanagi?. Croatia lost took fifth place with victory over the Czech Republic where the match was led by Vladimir Neki? because Arslanagi? quit after Croatia failed to enter the semi-finals. The championship was won by Russia.
- Bronze medal at European Championship 1994 in Portugal
- Silver medal at World Championship 1995 in Iceland
- Fifth place at European Championship 1996 in Spain
Gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
On the second Olympics in which Croatian athletes performed under the banner of the Croatian flag and won their first gold medal. This was won by the athletes who were least expected to win it, handball players. They were sent off to Atlanta without hope, because at the European Championship in 1996 they had finished in a weak fifth place, and relations in the national team were bad. Coach Abas Arslanagi? quit during the end of the European championship and the national handball selection was filled with confrontation and fights. 38 days before the Olympic Games, the team was taken over by coach Velimir Kljai?, whose statement: "Will go back swimming if we don't win a medal" no one took seriously.
Before the Olympics there were still problems. Preliminary matches didn't offer much optimism. A few days before the start of the handball tournament a friendly encounter with Algeria was not played to the end. The Croatian players left the court because the Algerians went too far with their abusive playing and hurt three players, Goran Perkovac, Slavko Golu?a and Nenad Kljai?.
The opening match of the Olympic games against Switzerland was tough. A victory was achieved in an already lost match. The Swiss led by as much as 6 goals, but then the goal was kept safe with a superb save from Venio Losert who just during the Olympic Games celebrated his 20th birthday. Making it a minimal victory, scoring in the 55th second before the end of the match, Patrik ?avar brought a stellar victory.
The next two matches against Kuwait and hosts United States were easy victories. This was followed by the decisive encounter to enter the semi-finals, where there were only the two first-placed teams from each group.
The match with the then current Olympic and European champions Russia had a shocking finale. The Russians were leading by four points, but the Croats were arriving. The last minute was not for the faint of heart, but from the Russian roulette though the Croats came out as winners. One her of this triumph for the semifinals was Valter Mato?evi?. 40 seconds before the end of the match, when the result was 24:24, he defended a penalty shot from Torgovanov. Another hero was Bo?idar Jovi?, who just 3 seconds before the siren rang scored the winning goal.
The last match in the group was with the Swedes. This was the one in which yoneou could choose an opponent in the semi-finals, but Kljun omitted Patrik ?avar, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Sara?evi? and Irfan Smajlagi? from the match. Croatia was defeated with nine goals difference, but without their poker aces there wasn't much to expect. The defeat did not have larger significance, except that it took to save face. In the semifinals they waited for the French who were World Champions. Croatian handball showed the best possible way to respond to defeat in the final of the 1995 World Championship in Iceland. Engaged and disciplined, Croatian players did a great job and ensured the silver medal the same brightness as did the water polo team.
In the grand finale again Croatia faced the Swedes. In the semifinals they defeated Spain, who later won the bronze medal. It was a great generation that only needed an Olympic gold medal to complete their collection. They probably hoped that Croatia was not with those who were missing against Sweden would not much raise the quality that they could be threatened. In the end their plans were foiled, and the Vikings failed to win. After starting 0: 1 followed by a brilliant game from the players Kljai? chose and the series of 6:1. The defense was solid and impenetrable and the attack varied and deadly. Perkovac great led his boys and Bo?idar Jovi? was the revelation of the tournament. Worried only in the final Zlatko Sara?evi? was not playing properly, but Kljai? brought the perfect replacement, Zoran Mikuli?. Although the Croatians twice led with seven goals difference, the second half offered drama. Swedes switched to defense 4-2 which created big problems. Decreased the difference and 6:30 minutes before the end came at just hit behind. Croatian handball players still in those crucial minutes they had never trembled hands.
Thirty seconds before the end of the line player Nenad Kljai? scored a crucial goal for the final 27:26 and brought a glorious victory. With the sound of sirens was created indescribable celebration and parquet Georgia Dome in front of 25,000 visitors in the hall and millions of TV viewers, witch is today known caterpillar gold handball. It was the biggest win in the history of Croatian sport. The handball players were not yet aware of this gold they had placed around his neck President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Antun Vrdoljak, who previously predicted 6 Atlanta medal and otherwise announced "As running from the day he was born" at Zagreb's main square. Still not running, but the handball players after returning from Atlanta to thousands of fans being greeted at the airport and on Jela?i? Square. And they did the famous caterpillar crawl.
A series of poor results (1996-2002)
After winning the Olympic gold medal on August 4, 1996 it was followed by a slow decline in the Croatian national team and the change of generations in which the handball players were far from winning a medal. It when Croatia was knocked-out in the round of 16 of the World Championships. In Japan in 1997, Croatia was knocked out by Spain 31:25 and was ranked in 13th place. In Egypt 1999 they were knocked-out by Yugoslavia 30:23 leaving Croatia in 10th place. In France 2001 the national team would lose in the next round after two extra time (4 x 5 minutes) stopped Ukraine 37:34 (29: 29/33: 33) finishing in 9th place. At the European Championships in 1998, 2000 and 2002 finished in 8th, 6th and 16th place. Croatia in 2000 hosted the European Championship, they had high expectations from this tournament but they weren't fulfilled. After the defeat from Slovenia in the match for fifth place Croatia took only 6th place and failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. The national team is also lost its ability to defend the gold from Atlanta in Sydney.
?ervar era (2002-2010)
Once the team reached bottom with their results, being ranked last or in 16th place at the 2002 European Championship, in March 2002 the Federation entrusted Lino ?ervar and with him the team that suffered a seven-year drought medal in two years was created into the world champions and Olympic winners. In the period between these two gold medals Croatia is still ranked 4th place at the European Championships in 2004 in Slovenia. With ?evar in charge Croatia would be at the top of the handball world.
With the arrival of Lino ?ervar and a maturing exceptionally talented new generation of with a young Ivano Bali? the revival of the national team culminated at the 2003 World Championship. The start of the competition was disastrous. Croatia lost in their first match to Argentina who was at the time a punching for serious national teams in official competitions. Although the first half led with 5 goals, but 14 minutes before the end of the match conceded 6 goals. At the end of the match, Croatian handball players fired five successive attacks, and Mirza D?omba 20 seconds before the end missed the equalizer. How Croatian players badly played that match by was proven by the fact they missed 6 penalty shots. During halftime of the second match against another underdog Saudi Arabia Croatia was losing with 2 differences and was playing desperately. Yet the team found strength to win this match. The turning point was marvelous - the group's dramatic victories in the end against giants Russia, France and Hungary securing first place to the second part where the Croats were convincing against Egypt and Denmark. In semifinals the match went into overtime (4 x 5 minutes) defeating the Spaniards 39:37 (26: 26/31: 31) and in the grand final they outscored Germany 34:31 and won their first title of world champions and wrote surely one of the most beautiful story's in the history of Croatian sport.
In January 2004 Croatia played at the 2004 European Championship in Slovenia. They got to the semifinals where they were knocked out by the hosts 25:27. They finished in fourth place losing the third place match to Denmark 27:31.
In Summer 2004 the Olympics were held in Athens. The national team continued its dominating play and were undefeated in all eight matches played. They defeated Iceland, Slovenia, South Korea, Russia, Spain, Greece and Hungary before getting to the final. In a dramatic final Croatia defeated Germany 26-24 and with the title of world champions they won the Olympic gold. In the last 5 minutes of the match went a goal ahead for Croatia, and then Nik?a Kaleb who had not scored no goal with 3 consecutive goals sealed a great victory. The gold was an even greater success considering the fact that Croatia traveled to Athens without their best line player Renato Suli? who was recovering from a car accident, without important defense player Ton?i Val?i? and without Patrik ?avar who was ill.
Rivalries
Croatia has developed several handball rivalries. Their most played rivalry is against France, which is often considered to be the one of the biggest modern handball rivalry since the end of the Cold War, since Croatia,Denmark,Spain and France are the most successful nations in handball both in Europe and worldwide. Their second biggest rivalry is with neighbors Slovenia, whom they played 14 times, winning 9 games and losing 5. In recent years, a rivalry with Spain has also developed, sometimes called the Mediterranean derby. Other rivalries include Denmark, Poland, Germany, Serbia and Hungary.
The 2009 World Men's Handball Championship, hosted in Croatia, was remembered for constant refereeing mistakes ( seen through Croatian eyes), through which France ultimately won the final against Croatia. The final was memorable for starting the "curse of Arena Zagreb", in which many Croatian sports teams had lost finals in the Arena. Many had questioned the appointment of Danish referee Olesen Pedersen, who was remarked for his constant mistakes against several Croatian handball players, through which France won the final. After the final, the rivalry sparked more in Croatia, but later became a famous French phenomenon.
Results at international competitions
- Croatian national handball team results
Prior to 1991 Croatia men's national handball team played as a part of Yugoslavia men's national handball team.
Croatia played its first match on 14 January 1991 against Japan which ended 23-23.
Summer Olympics
World Championship
European Championship
Mediterranean Games
List of cities in which the games were played
Team
Current squad
Squad for the 2018 European Men's Handball Championship.
Head coach: Lino ?ervar
Coaching staff
From 5 March 2018
- Head coach: Lino ?ervar
- Assistant coaches:
Davor Dominikovi? - Goalkeeping coaches:
Mirko Ba?i? - Condition coaches:
Pero Kuterovac
Mirko Krolo
Head coaches
- Josip Milkovi? and Ivica Horvat (1990-1991)
- Zdravko Zovko (1991-1995)
- Abas Arslanagi? (1995-1996)
- Vlado Neki? (1996)
- Velimir Kljai? (1996)
- Ivan Duvnjak (1996)
- Damir ?avlovi? (1996)
- Josip Glava? (1997)
- Ilija Puljevi? (1997-1998)
- Velimir Kljai? (1998)
- Zdravko Zovko (1999-2000)
- Josip Milkovi? (2000-2002)
- Lino ?ervar (2002-2010)
- Irfan Smajlagi? (2003, 2004, 2005)
- Slavko Golu?a (2010-2015)
- ?eljko Babi? (2015-2017)
- Lino ?ervar (2017-present)
Captains
- Alvaro Na?inovi? (1992-1996)
- Goran Perkovac (1996-1998)
- Patrik ?avar (1998-1999)
- Slavko Golu?a (1999-2006)
- Petar Metli?i? (2006-2009)
- Igor Vori (2009-2015)
- Marko Kopljar (2015-2016)
- Domagoj Duvnjak (2017-present)
Medal-winning squads
- Gold medal at the 1993 Mediterranean Games: Ton?i Peribonio, Mirko Ba?i?, Goran Perkovac, Alvaro Na?inovi?, Ivica Obrvan, Bruno Gudelj, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Sara?evi?, Ratko Tomljanovi?, Vlado ?ola, Vladimir Jel?i?, Patrik ?avar, Irfan Smajlagi?, Nenad Kljai?
- coach: Zdravko Zovko
- Bronze medal at the 1994 European Championship: Zvonimir Bili?, Patrik ?avar, Darko Franovi?, Bruno Gudelj, Vladimir Jel?i?, Nenad Kljai?, Ivica Obrvan, Ton?i Peribonio, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Sara?evi?, Irfan Smajlagi?, Vlado ?ola, Ratko Tomljanovi?
- coach: Zdravko Zovko
- Silver medal at the 1995 World Championship: Goran Perkovac, Irfan Smajlagi?, Alvaro Na?inovi?, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Sara?evi?, Patrik ?avar, Ratko Tomljanovi?, Vlado ?ola, Valter Mato?evi?, Zvonimir Bili?, Slavko Golu?a, Bo?idar Jovi?, Venio Losert, Boris Jarak, Tomislav Farka?, Mirza ?ari?
- coach: Zdravko Zovko
- Gold medal at the 1996 Olympics: Patrik ?avar, Valner Frankovi?, Slavko Golu?a, Bruno Gudelj, Vladimir Jel?i?, Bo?idar Jovi?, Nenad Kljai?, Venio Losert, Valter Mato?evi?, Zoran Mikuli?, Alvaro Na?inovi?, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Sara?evi?, Irfan Smajlagi?, Vladimir ?ujster
- coach: Velimir Kljai?
- Gold medal at the 1997 Mediterranean Games: Goran Perkovac, Valter Mato?evi?, Valner Frankovi?, Bo?idar Jovi?, Miro Bari?i?, Mario Bjeli?, Goran Jerkovi?, Mirza D?omba, Enes Halki?, Davor Dominikovi?, Silvio Ivandija, Igor Kos, Dragan Jerkovi?, Neno Boban, Mario Kelentri?, Mladen Prskalo
- coach: Velimir Kljai?
- Gold medal at the 2001 Mediterranean Games: Ivano Bali?, Tihomir Balti?, Zvonimir Bili?, Davor Dominikovi?, Mirza D?omba, Slavko Golu?a, Bo?idar Jovi?, Mario Kelentri?, Igor Kos, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Valter Mato?evi?, Diego Modru?an, Goran ?prem, Renato Suli?, Vedran Zrni?
- coach: Josip Milkovi?
- Gold medal at the 2003 World Championship: Ivano Bali?, Davor Dominikovi?, Mirza D?omba, Slavko Golu?a, Bo?idar Jovi?, Nik?a Kaleb, Mario Kelentri?, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Valter Mato?evi?, Petar Metli?i?, Vlado ?ola, Denis ?poljari?, Goran ?prem, Renato Suli?, Ton?i Val?i?, Igor Vori, Vedran Zrni?
- coach: Lino ?ervar
- Gold medal at the 2004 Olympics: Ivano Bali?, Davor Dominikovi?, Mirza D?omba, Slavko Golu?a, Nik?a Kaleb, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Venio Losert, Valter Mato?evi?, Petar Metli?i?, Vlado ?ola, Denis ?poljari?, Goran ?prem, Igor Vori, Drago Vukovi?, Vedran Zrni?
- coach: Lino ?ervar
- Silver medal at the 2005 World Championship: Venio Losert, Nik?a Kaleb, Ivano Bali?, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Vedran Zrni?, Igor Vori, Davor Dominikovi?, Mirza D?omba, Vlado ?ola, Zoran Jefti?, Slavko Golu?a, Nikola Bla?i?ko, Goran ?prem, Denis ?poljari?, Petar Metli?i?, Denis Bunti?
- coach: Lino ?ervar
- Silver medal at the 2005 Mediterranean Games: Damir Bi?ani?, Nikola Bla?i?ko, Denis Bunti?, Josip ?ale, Ivan ?upi?, Zlatko Horvat, Tomislav Huljina, Kre?imir Ivankovi?, Marin Knez, Branimir Koloper, Mario Obad, Vladimir Ostar?evi?, Ivan Pongra?i?, Vjenceslav Somi?, Ljubo Vuki?, Drago Vukovi?
- coach: Lino ?ervar
- Silver medal at the 2008 European Championship: Nik?a Kaleb, Renato Suli?, Ivano Bali?, Domagoj Duvnjak, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Igor Vori, Davor Dominikovi?, Vjenceslav Somi?, Zlatko Horvat, Drago Vukovi?, Dragan Jerkovi?, Denis ?poljari?, Petar Metli?i?, Josip Val?i?, Ljubo Vuki?, Ton?i Val?i?, Mirko Alilovi?, Ivan ?upi?
- coach: Lino ?ervar
- Silver medal at the 2009 World Championship: Venio Losert, Mateo Hrvatin, Ivano Bali?, Domagoj Duvnjak, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Vedran Zrni?, Marko Kopljar, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Zlatko Horvat, Ivan Pe?i?, Goran ?prem, Denis ?poljari?, Petar Metli?i?, Denis Bunti?, Josip Val?i?, Ton?i Val?i?, Mirko Alilovi?, Ivan ?upi?, Dalibor Anu?i?, Ivan Nin?evi?
- coach: Lino ?ervar
- Silver medal at the 2010 European Championship: Ivano Bali?, Domagoj Duvnjak, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Vedran Zrni?, Marko Kopljar, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Goran ?arapina, Drago Vukovi?, Vedran Mataija, Damir Bi?ani?, Denis Bunti?, Ton?i Val?i?, Mirko Alilovi?, Manuel ?trlek, Ivan ?upi?, ?eljko Musa, Luka Rakovi?.
- coach: Lino ?ervar
- Bronze medal at the 2012 European Championship: Ivano Bali?, Domagoj Duvnjak, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Marko Kopljar, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Venio Losert, Zlatko Horvat, Drago Vukovi?, Damir Bi?ani?, Denis Bunti?, Mirko Alilovi?, Manuel ?trlek, Ivan ?upi?, ?eljko Musa, Ivan Nin?evi?
- coach: Slavko Golu?a
- Bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics: Venio Losert, Ivano Bali?, Domagoj Duvnjak, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Marko Kopljar, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Zlatko Horvat, Drago Vukovi?, Damir Bi?ani?, Denis Bunti?, Mirko Alilovi?, Manuel ?trlek, Ivan ?upi?, Ivan Nin?evi?
- coach: Slavko Golu?a
- Bronze medal at the 2013 World Championship: Mirko Alilovi?, Filip Ivi?, Ivan ?upi?, Zlatko Horvat, Manuel ?trlek, Lovro ?prem, Marko Kopljar, Luka Stepan?i?, Domagoj Duvnjak, Jakov Gojun, Damir Bi?ani?, Drago Vukovi?, Stipe Mandalini?, Bla?enko Lackovi?, Igor Vori, Marino Mari?, Ivan Nin?evi?
- coach: Slavko Golu?a
- Silver medal at the 2013 Mediterranean Games: Ivan Pe?i?, Ivan Stevanovi?, Hrvoje Batinovi?, Lovro ?prem, Jerko Matuli?, Nik Dominik Tominec, Marino Mari?, Filip Gavranovi?, Ivan Sli?kovi?, Stefan Vuji?, Marko Matic, Luka Stepan?i?, Robert Markoti?, Igor Kara?i?, Damir Batinovi?, Josip Vidovi?
- coach: Slavko Golu?a
- Bronze medal at the 2016 European Championship:Ivan Stevanovi?, Marino Mari?, Domagoj Duvnjak, Marko Kopljar, Jakov Gojun, Zlatko Horvat, Igor Kara?i?, Kre?imir Kozina, Mirko Alilovi?, Manuel ?trlek, Ivan ?upi?, Antonio Kova?evi?, Marko Mami?, Luka ?ebeti?, Ivan Sli?kovi?, Luka Cindri?, Ilija Brozovi?
- coach: ?eljko Babi?
Notable players
- Alvaro Na?inovi?
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 1996
- Irfan Smajlagi?
- part of the all-star team of the 1995 World Championship as the best right wing
- Best Croatian handballer of 1995 by CHF & SN
- part of the all-star team of the 1996 Olympic tournament as the best right wing
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 1996 and 2004
- Patrik ?avar
- Best Croatian handballer of 1994, 1997 and 2000 by CHF & SN
- top scorer and part of the all-star team of the 1996 Olympic tournament as the best left wing
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 1996
- Best % of goals scored for the national team - 5.33
- 2nd top goalscorer of the national team - 639 goals
- Ivano Bali?
- IHF World Player of the Year 2003 and 2006
- Croatian Sportsman of the Year: 2007
- part of the all-star team of the 2004 Olympic tournament as the best central back
- MVP and part of the all-star team of the 2005 World Championship as the best central back
- top scorer and part of the all-star team of the 2006 European Championship as the best central back
- MVP of the 2007 World Championship
- top scorer and part of the all-star team of the 2008 European Championship as the best central back
- Mirza D?omba
- part of the all-star team of the 2003 World Championship as the best right wing
- MVP and top scorer of the 2004 European Championship
- part of the all-star team of the 2004 Olympic tournament as the best right wing
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 2004
- part of the all-star team of the 2005 World Championship as the best right wing
- Best Croatian handballer of 2005 by CHF & SN
- Best right wing in the history by EHF
- All-time goalscorer of the national team - 719 goals
- Valter Mato?evi?
- 2nd best goalkeeper at 1995 World Championship
- Best Croatian handballer of 1995 by CHF & SN
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 1996 and 2004
- Record in the national team for the number of saves in one match - 24
- Slavko Golu?a
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 1996, 2004 and 2009
- Best Croatian handball player by CHF & Sportske novosti: 2001
- Trophy MOO for sports and promoting optimism: 2007
- Igor Vori
- best defence player of the 2008 European Championship
- MVP and part of the all-star team of the 2009 World Championship as the best pivot
- part of the all-star team of the 2010 European Championship as the best pivot
- Ivan ?upi?
- part of the all-star team of the 2009 World Championship as the best right wing
- part of the all-star team of the 2012 Olympic tournament as the best right wing
- Bla?enko Lackovi?
- part of the all-star team of the 2009 World Championship as the best left back
- Jakov Gojun
- best defence player of the 2010 European Championship
- Manuel ?trlek
- part of the all-star team of the 2010 European Championship as the best left wing
- part of the all-star team of the 2016 European Championship as the best left wing
- Vedran Zrni?
- part of the all-star team of the 2011 World Championship as the best right wing
- Marko Kopljar
- part of the all-star team of the 2012 European Championship as the best right back
- Domagoj Duvnjak
- IHF World Player of the Year 2013
- part of the all-star team of the 2013 World Championship as the best playmaker
- part of the all-star team of the 2014 European Championship as the best centre back
- part of the all-star team of the 2017 World Championship as the best centre back
- Venio Losert
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 1996 and 2004
- 3rd best goalkeeper at 2004 Summer Olympics
- Davor Dominikovi?
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 2004
- Iztok Puc
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 1996
Statistics
Record against other teams
As of 13 Jan 2018
- * includes games against Serbia and Montenegro
Biggest wins
Double digit goal difference
Biggest losses
Youth teams
Croatia has various youth selection which compete at the highest European and World level in handball. Various Croatia players have also played for the youth selection of Yugoslavia. At the 1981 1981 World U-21 Championship Yugoslavia U-21 won the gold medal in Portugal.
Awards
The Croatia national handball team has received numerous award throughout the years.
Senior squad
- Sportske novosti awards team of the year: 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004 and 2009
- Franjo Bu?ar State Award for Sport: 1996 and 2004
- Selection of the most successful athletes by COC male team: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009
- Selection of the most successful athletes by COC for promoting Croatia: 2003, 2004 and 2012
- Ivica Jobo Kurtini Award - 2004
U-19 squad
- Dra?en Petrovi? Award: 2007 and 2009
Source: hrs.hr
Squads
Major tournaments
Minor tournaments
See also
- Croatia women's national handball team
- Croatia national beach handball team
- Croatia women's national beach handball team
References
External links
- Official website
- IHF profile
Source of the article : Wikipedia