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Handball News  (01/02/2009) Gold for France |
Thanks to Didier Dinart the French were stronger in the Finals. Dinart has certainly meant a lot, since he is the best defensive player.
On the other hand, the Croatian selector, Cervar, didn’t chose the left wing, Hrvatin, among the 14 players, instead of him played Goran Sprem. France had the first attack and it was immediately evident that Onesta tried to surprise the opponents. In the back line instead of Narcisse started G. Gill, so Karabatic started on the left back. Croatia started with the best defense, 3-2-1, while France, played 5-1. It was a little strange that the Danish referee immediately at the beginning, excluded Metlicic for 2 minutes, without the prior warning. France took advantage of it and took the lead 2:1. Sprem equals the result, but Giugou managed to score from 2nd 7-meter attack in a row and France takes lead again.
It was clear from the beginning, as expected, that this is going to be the match where the defense will decide the final result. In the 12th minute Sprem took lead with his 2nd score 5:4. The same player misses a sure shot just a minute later and Guigou equals to 5:5. The referees have excluded Dinart. Lackovic uses this situation and Croatia leads again 6:5. In 19th minute Balic got injured and instead of him in the game returns Duvnjak. Afterwards French couldn't have done anything from the back, but they had few fast actions, with help of Gouiguo and Abalo kept the score equal. Since Karabatic didn't score in the first 20 minutes, Onesta introduces Narcisse, who immediately scores and France takes a lead 8:7, however Lackovic draws: 8:8.
Daniel Narcisse speed up the French game, and achieved 3 scores in a row, but Ivan Cupic scores twice in 27th minutes and Croatia leads 11:10. The French selector returns Karabatic in the game, but it was obvious that this was not his day, at least in the 1st half-time, he got 0:3. After his exclusion Croatia had the opportunity to advance for +2 points, but Sprem misses 3 time and makes it easier for Narcisse to equals the result with his 4th goal; 11:11. However, Cupic, after 7-meter shot, scores and Croatia takes a lead 12:11. This was the final result of the first half-time.
Second half was opened with Lackovic's 2nd goal and Croatia in the 32nd minute for the first time led with 2 differences, 13:11. Croatia in continuation went with the defense 6-0, but Guigou with 3 goals brought France into the lead 14:13. Ivano Balic, who entered instead of Metlicic, achieved 14th hit for Croatia. In 39th minute his first goal hits Nikola Karabatic. Sprem misses from the wings, but hits from the counter for new Croatian leadership, 16:15. In 44th minute Danish referees do not judge clean foul on Balic, which uses Guigou and brings France into the lead, 18:17.
Between 45th and 50th minute Croatia wasn't able to find solutions for a solid French defense and the French through Guigou and Karabatic fled to +2, 20:18. Omeyer has defended on the way several strokes and Narcisse in 55th minute raises to 21:18. Lackovic reduces to 21:19, and after another declared brake-through in the attack, Abalo rises to 22:19.
Fernandez has, after pushing Sprem with a 6 meters line, achieved a hit for the lead of the French 23:19 and then the question of the world Champion was solved. Due to complaints, Danish referees have assigned a red card to Igor Vori, and the French did the work routinely by the end and won the match, 24:19.
Lino Cervar (selector of Croatia):
- Usually the coach is sad after such match, but we must find strength and congratulate to the rival. We played well up to 50th minute, after that we just could not more. On the two World Championships we have lost only 2 matches, and won only one, the silver medal. For a couple of days we will realize that the silver in the World Championship in a great success and therefore I can only congratulate to my players.
Claude Onesta (selector of France):
- We are happy for the Gold and I have to congratulate to my players because of all that was shown in such a difficult ambient for us. I congratulate to the colleague Cervar and to Croatian players, which are the true ambassadors of handball in the world. I also congratulate to the organizers, which have made all that this World Championship is fantastic organized. I must commend fans too, which have made that this championship successful by their supporting, they made a great atmosphere.
Thierry Omeyer (the best goalkeeper of the World Championship):
- I think this was a great match and great Finals and we are very proud of this Gold. All the 60 minutes we played well, as well as the Croats, and it was a truly magnificent finale. I must commend all supporters who have made an excellent atmosphere.
Igor Vori (the best player of the World Championship):
- I congratulate to the French at another one medal. We gave our best, but they were simply better. I hope that we have not disappointed anyone, today, and through all these 15-16 days. The French have been better today, and we must admit that.
21st Men’s World Handball Championship - CROATIA 2009
THE FINALS
Zagreb - Arena Zagreb. Spectators: 15500
February 1st 2009, 20:30
FRANCE - CROATIA 24 : 19 (11:12)
FRANCE: Fernandez 2, Dinart, Gille, Narcisse 6, Karaboue, Karabatic 2, Kempe, Junillon, Omeyer (10), Abati, Abalo 2, Sorhaindo 2, Guigou 10, Ostertag
SELECTOR: Claude Onesta
CROATIA: Losert (1), Balic 1, Duvnjak 2, Lackovic 4, Kopljar, Vori 2, Gojun, Horvat, Sprem 3, Spoljaric, Metlicic 1, Valcic, Alilovic (6), Cupic 6
SELECTOR: Lino Cervar
REFEREES: Olesen and Pedersen (Denmark)
EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
FRANCE: 4 minute
CROATIA: 6 minuta
7-meter:
FRANCE: 7/7
CROATIA: 4/4 |
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