National Team - Men's seniors - News

MECh 2010 Qualification: Suffered victory for Serbia

Led by Ilić and Pejanović, Serbia defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina in Niš 28:23 (12:12).

5,000 fans in Čair hall created superb atmosphere and they were awarded with exciting match which was decided only in last ten minutes.

Serbia started with surprising 3-3 defence. On other side Tahirović had good start too. After his saves Bosnia and Herzegovina took the lead (1:0 and 2:1), but Serbia soon equalised. Team of Jovica Cvetković went on 9:7 in 22nd minute but guests once again showed great character and soon equalised. Great defences in first half were the reason why first half ended with (only) 12:12.

Thriller continued in second half. Key moment happened in 49th minute – Serbia scored four consecutive goals for 22:17 lead. In 54th minute team of Halid Demirović managed to decrease margin on 24:22 but then it was obvious that Bosnian key players got tired. Serbia finished the match with result 28:23.

Ilić scored 13 goals for Serbia. Pejanović had 12 saves.

Best player of Bosnia and Herzegovina was Tahirović with 10 saves. Obradović scored five and Jaškić four goals.

Best scorer of the match Momir Ilić said after the match:

“We were very nervous in first half because we wanted to show good performance in front of our fans. We did not underestimate Bosnia, they are good team, but our problem was that we wanted to decide match in first half. Defence was good, but we have to improve our play in offence.“

Best player of Bosnia and Herzegovina Enid Tahirović congratulated to opponents on deserved victory:

“In both matches defence were better parts of both teams play. I have to thank all the players on fair play and also to spectators on great atmosphere. I am sure Serbia expected much easier victory, but we played good first 50 minutes. Our problem was that we played with seven players and Serbian coach used 11 players. Now we must try to win all the matches and hope that Serbia will lose points.“

Serbia is now on second place in group 2 with nine points, one point behind Russia and two points in front of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

MECh 2010 Qualification: Tahirović stops Serbia

Led by 7,000 loud fans in Skenderija hall, Bosnia and Herzegovina defeat Serbia 31:28 (18:14).

Enid Tahirović opened the match with a shot saved and made it clear that this would be “his night“. Kojić scored the first goal, but Terzić equilised immediately for home team. It was really intense and close first half and only in last three minutes Bosnians managed to score three consecutive goals and to take biggest margin of the game – 18:14.

In the second half Bosnian fans gave additional support to their team. In superb the atmosphere of Skenderija hall, Tahirović was great in the goal and Toromanović was unstoppable in offence. At that point, the team of Halid Demirović had margin of seven goals (24:17).

Although Serbian team came close on 29:27 in 57th minute, Stojanović and Terzić scored for 31:28 and decided the winner.

Tahirović was best player of the match with 17 impressive saves (many of them were clear shots). Toromanović, Harmandić and Stojanović scored six goals each, Terzić five and Jaškić four.

Ilić scored seven goals for Serbia; Bojinović, Marković and Mitrović scored four goals each.

Halid Demirović, coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was very happy after the match:

“Serbia are better team but we fought with our hearts and we had bigger desire to win. I congratulate all players and especially our fans. Our defence and goalkeeper decided the match. We have now five more matches to play, I hope we can go to EURO with eight more points.“

Jovica Cvetković was not satisfied with his team’s performance, but he is still optimistic:

“Bosnia and Herzegovina deserved this victory. We did not play well today, but in Niš it will be a completely different story. Nothing is over yet. I’m convinced that we will take the first place in our group and qualify for the EURO at the end.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina is now on second position on table of group 2 - with seven points after five matches played. With this victory players of Halid Demirović announced big fight with Russia and Serbia for two spots which lead to EURO.

By: Ivan Ambroš                                                                                                        www.ehf-euro.com/aut2010

Uros Vilovski received an award for saving the life of his team-mate

Before the match MKB Veszprém–Tatabánya Carbonex, dr. János Debreczenyi, mayor of Veszprém and dr. Ákos Hunyadfalvi, president of the club has handed over a gold commemorative medal to Uros Vilovski, pivot of MKB Veszprém. The player, during the attack against the team on the 8th of February, saved the life of his team-mate, Ivan Pesic, who was stabbed on his kidney. Vilovski pressed the bleeding stab-wound and immediately carried the seriously injured player to the nearby hospital.

MWCh 2009: The best 7 players of the World Championship chosen

Although all of these selections are mostly subjective, we can say that the best seven players of the World Championship are:

GOALKEEPER: Omeyer (France)

PIVOT: Vori (Croatia)

LEFT WING: Guigou (France)

RIGHT WING: Cupic (Croatia)

LEFT OUTSIDE: Lackovic (Croatia)

MIDDLE OUTSIDE: Karabatic (France)

RIGHT OUTSIDE: M. Lijewski (Poland)

As the most valuable player of the World Championship is declared Igor Vori (Croatia), the best scorer is Kiril Lazarov (Macedonia) with 92 goals, and the best goalkeeper is Omeyer (France).

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Gold for France

World Champion - France

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, Spoljarić, Metlicic 1, Valcic, Alilovic (6), Cupic 6
SELECTOR: Lino Cervar

REFEREES Olesen and Pedersen (Denmark)

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
FRANCE: 4 minutes
CROATIA: 6 minutes

PLAYER OF THE MATCH:

The Bronze Medal Belongs to Poland

DENMARK - POLAND 23:31 (11:14)

DENMARK: Hvidt 10 savings, Mogensen 2, Boesen, Laen 1, Jorgensen, Christiansen 7, Bruun Jorgensen 1, Landin Jacobsen 2 savings, Spellerberg, Knudsen, Svan Hansen, Hansen 10, Lindberg 2, Nielsen

POLAND: Szmal 13 savings, Jaszka 4, K. Lijewski 4, Kuchczynski, Bielecki 10, Siodmiak, Wleklak, B. Jurecki 2, Jurasik 1, M. Jurecki 3, Tluczyinski 5, Malcher, M. Lijewski 2, Glinski

REFEREES: Lazaar and Reveret (France)

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
DENMARK: 10 minutes
POLAND: 6 minutes

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: KAROL BIELECKI (Poland)

Ulrik Wilbek (selector of Denmark): - I congratulate to Poland on another victory against my team on this championship. Poland deserved to win and they won bronze medal. We had several opportunities to change the outcome of the match, but unfortunately, we didn't make it. I congratulate to Bieleckom, who so far at the tournament didn't play much but today he was very well and we were all surprised.

Bogdan Wenta (selector of Poland): - I am very happy. Denmark is a difficult opponent and I have to admit we did not expect such a result. I congratulate to my players.  We had some difficult time, we were not good in the beginning of the WCh and that's why I am extremely happy that we won bronze.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: France and Croatia enters the Finals

DENMARK – FRANCE  22 : 27 (11:16)

DENMARK: Hvidt, Mogensen 2, Boesen, Jorgensen, Jensen 1, Christiansen 2, Bruun Jorgensen 5, Eggert Jensen 3 (1), Landin Jacobsen, Spellerberg, Knudsen 4, Hansen 4, Lindberg , Nielsen 1

FRANCE: Karaboue, Omeyer; G. Gille 5, Fernandez 2, Narcisse 3, Karabatić 2, Kempe 2, Junillon, Abalo 7, Abati 1 (81), Sorhaindo 1, Guigou 4 (3), Bosquet, Ostertag

Claude Onesta (selector of France): - We are very satisfied with the placement in the Finals. We knew that against the Danes we're expecting a difficult game because they are still one of the world's best teams. We respected them and in the first 15 minutes the game was draw. Thanks to our good defense, especially to excellent Omeyer, we managed to pull out and bring the match to an end in our favor.

Ulrich Wilbek (selector of Denmark): - I am satisfied only with the initial 15 minutes of the match when we were managing to brake through their defense. The rest of the game was not interesting because the French made too large advantage. I hope that Croatia and France will play in the Finals because those are two best teams in the world. We are now turning to fight for third place.

CROATIA – POLAND  29 : 23 (14:13)

CROATIA: Losert, Alilovic; Hrvatin 1, Balic 2, Duvnjak 4, Lackovic 2, Horvat, Vori 3, Gojun, Metlicic 5, Kopljar, T. Valcic, Cupic 12 (6), Spoljaric

POLAND: Szmal, Malcher; Jaszka , K. Lijewski , Kuchczynski , Bielecki 1, Siodmiak 3, Wleklak , B. Jurecki 3, Jurasik 6, M. Jurecki 2, Tluczynski 4 (4), M. Lijewski 4, Glinski

Lino Cervar (selector of Croatia): - I would like to congratulate to Poland on fair and correct playing, and to my players on our victory. I would be very sad if this team hadn't won its 5th medal. Silver is now ensured, but we want the golden one. Thanks to all who have supported us. Tonight we will drink some beer and celebrate a little, and tomorrow we will consider about the Finals and France.

Bogdan Wenta (selector of Poland):v- I congratulate Croatia on victory and to the selector Cervar whose work I've admired over the years and on which model I will try to build my team. Croatia was better today. We were looking for a chance, but, unfortunately, we lost. I hope that we'll have more success in the match against Denmark. I wish to Croatia a lot of success in the final match against France.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Sweden in fight for the 7th place overcame Serbia

SWEDEN – SERBIA 37:29 (20:16)
Zagreb - Arena Zagreb. Spectators: 1200
January 29th 2009, 17:30

SWEDEN: Palicka 10 savings, Gustafsson 7, Andersson 4, Källman 6, Lennartsson, Doder 3, Sjöstrand 6 savings, Stenbäcken, Arrhenius 3, Larholm 3, Carlén 5, Karlsson, Jakobsson 2, Fahlgren 4
 
SERBIA: Kojic 2, Curuvija 2, Sesum 2, Vujin 5, Vuckovic 5, Stojanovic 1, Toskic 3, Stanic 4 defenses, Ilic 2, Bojinovic 3,  Markovic 2, Pejanovic 5 defenses, Prodanovic 2, Nikolic

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
SWEDEN: 8 minutes
SERBIA: 2 minutes
 
7-meter:
SWEDEN: 3/3
SERBIA: 1/1

THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH: OSCAR CARLEN (Sweden)

With victory over Serbia, Sweden in Zagreb Arena gained 7th place on the 21st World Handball Championship. Lindgren's selected team dominated during entire match. Already by the 10th minute of encounter the Swedes had an advantage of 4 goals 7:3. In 19th minute the Serbs came near to just a goal behind, but the Swedes ran again to the plus 4, how much they had at the end of the first part 20:16. The superiority of Sweden marked the second half-time too. By the 44th minute of meeting Swedes gathered 8 goals of advantage 30:22, and a minute before the end of the game at 37:28 made the biggest advantage of plus 9. The final result was 37:29 and 7th place for Sweden. Swedes came to the playoff for the 7th position after beating Cuba, South Korea, Spain and Kuwait in Preliminary Round in Group B in Split, and lost from Croatia, and then in the Main Round in Group I in Zagreb beat Slovakia and lost from France and Hungary. Serbia in the Preliminary Round in Group D in Porec beat Egypt, Norway and Saudi Arabia and lost from Denmark and Brazil, then in the Main Round in Group II in Zadar beat Macedonia, lost from Poland and played a draw with Germany.

Ola Lindgren (selector of Sweden): I am very satisfied with the victory. We were motivated, quickly realized the advantage and after that easier controlled the match. The 7th place for a young team like ours – it's an excellent result.

Jovica Cvetkovic (selector of Serbia): Congratulations to Sweden on the victory. We played with injured players and it affected on the result. I am pleased with what we showed on this World Championship. The 8th place is a great result for us.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: The battle for ranking and medals is starting

World Championships slowly enters to the last phase. Half of the teams has already finished the competition, and the 12 best go to battle for ranking.
Today, are being played the matches for ranking from 5th to 12th place. All matches will be played in Arena Zagreb, and the schedule is following:

For 11th place      S. Korea – FYR Macedonia 31:32 (14:14)
With the victory over South Korea in Arena Zagreb, Macedonia took 11th place on the 21st Men's World Handball Championship. Since they surprised just by entering in the main round, Macedonians can be satisfied with their placement, and as of today can praise with the fact that their team captain is a new world record holder. The Macedonian team captain Kiril Lazarov broke a 14 years old world record by the number of goals achieved on one World Championship, and set a new set of 92 hits.

For 9th  place       Slovakia – Norway 27:34 (14:18)
Norway won the 9th place on the 21st World Handball Championship by Slovakia 34:27 in Zagreb. - I am pleased with today's games. We were a little low spirited before the match for the 9th place for not enterinf into the Semifinals, but we were able to gather strength and win. Maybe it was not the most exciting match, but I am proud of the result, said Robert Hedin, selector of Norway.

For 7th  place       Sweden - Serbia 37:29 (20:16)
With victory over Serbia, Sweden in Zagreb Arena gained 7th place on the 21st World Handball Championship.

For 5th  place       Hungary – Germany 25:28 (13:16)
The current world champions, Germans, won the 5th place on 21st Men's World Handball Championship, after defeating Hungarians 28:25 in Zagreb. - The 5th place at the World Championship in Croatia is on my opinion a success. Although, when you come so close to the Semifinal, you're disappointed. All in all, 5th place is, given the team line-up that has played - a success, said Brand, whose players won the 5th place Arena Zagreb by defeating Hungary, which ended on the 6th place.

Semi-Final matches are being played on Friday, January 30th. At 17:30 in Split play France and Denmark, and at 20:30 in Zagreb meet Croatia and Poland.
On Sunday, February 1st, will be decided of presentation of medals. The match for 3rd place will be played at 15:00, while the final duel of the WC will start at 17:30. Both final matches will be played in Zagreb Arena.

Spain - winner of the President Cup

The competition in Pula and Porec ended with the matches for rankings from 13th to 24th place. 

After many disappointments on this Championship, Spain however leaves Croatia with the victory. They won against Egypt, 28:24 in the match for 13th place. The most efficient in Spaniards' farewell victory was Reixach with 9 hits, and Hassan scored 7 goals for the Egyptians.

For the Russians this WC ended a lot earlier, so they were defeated by Romania in the todays encounter for the 15th place, 42:38. Romanians were in a better mood for the game, and a leading role had Irimescu, who scored 8 goals. Dibirov reached 12 farewell goals before returning to Russia. 

Tunisia was better than Argentina in the match for 17th the place, 29:23. Gharbi and Kraiem were the most efficient players of Tunisia, scored 6 goals each, and again the goalkeeper Magaiez was excellent, who defended 15 Argentine blows. Miguels achieved 5 hits for the Argentine team.

Algeria mastered Cuba without trouble, 34:27 thus ended the WC on 19th place. Chehbour and Kerboouche shook the Cuban net 6 times each, while Turino, with 8 goals was most effective in Cuban ranks. 

Brazil was better than Kuwait, 27:24, thus leaving Croatia as the 21st team in the world. Ribeiro has achieved almost a half of Brazilian goals, 11, while Algharaballi, with 8, was the most efficient Kuwaiti.

S. Arabia ranking 23rd, said goodbye to the hosts of the World Championship with the victory over Australia, 23:19. B. Alharbi scored 6 goals and also Fletcher as much for the Australin team.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Serbia defeated Macedonia

FYR MACEDONIA - SERBIA 28 : 32 (16:15)
 
FYR MACEDONIA: M. Stoilov, S. Stoilov, K. Lazarov , Mitkov, Temelkov 4, Mirkulovski 3, Markovski, Ristovski 1, Jovic 2, Dimovski 1, Angelov, F. Lazarov 4, Makalovski 2, Gjorgonovski 4.

SERBIA: Kojic, Curuvija 2, Sesum 3, Vujin 5, Vuckovic 6, Stojanovic 1, Toskic, Stanic, Ilic 8, Bojinovic 1,  Markovic 3, Pejanovic, Prodanovic 3, Nikolic.

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
MACEDONIA:  6 minutes
SERBIA: 10 minutes

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: MOMIR ILIC (SERBIA)

Balkan "derby" between the Serbs and Macedonians ended with the victory of Serbian team 32:28. Each team got one half-time, but Serbs had more knowledge and skills, so in their last match in Zadar they got two points. Although Serbs led very quickly, Macedonians were returning with goals of brothers Lazarov, and turned to the leadership of 4:1. Serbs managed to reduce the lead through Ilic and Vuckovic, but effective Macedonian attack and great defense led by goalkeeper Ristovski successfully stopped Serbian attacks.

In the 22nd the minute Macedonians came to their largest advantage in the game, had the 13:7, but already three minutes after the Serbs reduced it with hits of Prodanovic and Curuvija. Although Lazarov kept his team in the game, his missed 7-meter in the last minute of the match took teams at half-time with the result 16:15.

The other share started with two-minute suspension of Sesum, but that didn't stop Serbs to equalize the result first, and then to cross in the lead. Two minutes of exclusion for Stanic and then the red card for Kojic the Macedonians used only for getting closer to the result, but they failed to come to the result beginning.

The Serbian goalkeeper was excellent, and his team used it to go to five goals difference in the 19th minute of the second part. Macedonians left without power and motives, and the game ended with the result 32:28.

Serbian coach Jovica Cvetkovic, despite the victory wasn't happy, because, according to him, this day has been a torture on the ground due to a catastrophic competition system.

Ile Temelkovski, although agreeing with Serbian colleague, however, will leave Zadar satisfied because his team has shown it can equally fight with anyone.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Poland in a great dash against Serbia

SERBIA : POLAND 22 : 35 (7:21)

SERBIA: Kojic 2, Curuvija, Sesum 1, Vujin 5, Vuckovic  2, Stojanovic 2, Toskic 1, Stanic, Ilic 6, Bojinovic 4,  Markovic, Pejanovic, Prodanovic, Mester.

POLAND: Szmal , Jaszka 1, K. Liewski 1, Kuchczynski 3, Bielecki , Siodmiak, Wleklak 1, B. Jurecki 5, Jurasik 4, M. Jurecki 3, Tluczyinski 11, Malcher , M. Lijewski  5, Glinski 1.

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
SERBIA:  4 minutes
POLAND: 4 minutes

THE PLAYER OF THE GAME: SLAWOMIR SZMAL (Poland)

The first match of the second day of Zadar group brought us a duel of Serbia and Poland. In a very convincing match, the Poles took their victory with the result 35:23.

The first minutes of the encounter showed in which direction would go today's duel between Serbs and Poles, but after 20 minutes everything was clear. Excellent Poles led by the excellent goalkeeper Szmal, who had 55% defenses at the end of the meeting, scored to Serbs from all sides. The initial leadership of four goals the Poles were increasing from one minute to another, and already in the 22nd minute came up to ten goals of advantage. They went on a break with the result 7:21.

In the second part of the game nothing new happened. Poles have continued in their rhythm, the Serbs have unsuccessfully tried to answer. The team of Bogdan Wenta had the biggest advantage in 45th minute, at leadership15:31. After that, given that the winner was already been known, the game looked like a friendly encounter of two teams.

The only unknown thing was the result, which was at the end 35:23 in favor of the Polish team.

Serbian coach Jovica Cvetkovic said that he will not grieve after this defeat.  "This system of matches is brutal, and 16 is too small number of players who can rotate in this kind of competition. We are turning to the next match and we will try to play the best we can in next matches".

Polish coach Bogdan is satisfied with the match epilogue and with domination of his team.  “Serbia plays very fast and risky, but the key to our victory was a great defense with which we stopped their attacks“.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Germany and Serbia – one point for each team

GERMANY - SERBIA  35:35 (16:19)

GERMANY: Bitter, Hens 2, Roggisch, Klein 2, Müller 3, Strobel 3, Preiß 3, Tiedtke 1, Glandorf 4, Jansen 10, Lichtlein, Kraus 6, Schöne 1, Kaufmann

SERBIA: Kojić, Curuvija, Sesum 5, Vujin 4, Vuckovic, Stojanovic 4, Toskic 3, Stanić, Ilic 5, Bojinovic 8, Markovic 5, Pejanović, Prodanović, Nikolic 1.

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
GERMANY: 8 minutes
SERBIA: 8 minutes

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: TORSTEN JANSEN (GERMANY)

The second match of the day at the Sports Center Visnjik, the one between Germany and Serbia, ended draw 35:35. Serbian national team just after five minutes by goals of Stojanovic, Toskic and Markovic had the lead 5:2.
From the minute in minute Serbs’ excellent game and the closing lines of German foreign raised the leadership which in 17th minute was + 5 (13:8). However, the Germans returned fast, and the first-half ended with the result of 16:19 in favor of today’s guest team Serbia.

Continuation brings a lot better game of Germans. Jansen and Krauss scored and reduced to -2 and in the 12th minute of the second-half they finally equaling the score at 24:24. Then the match continues goal after goal, with occasional alternating leadership on both sides.
Two minutes before the end of the match Serbian player Ratko Nikolic is punished, but it was not too much influence on the result of the match. Bojinovic’s goal in the last moments of the game brought a point to Serbia against world’s champion.
Selector of Germany Heiner Brandt was content with this one point, though he believes that the victory was possible, while Serbian strategist believes that the inexperience was crucial for loosing a chance for two points.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Serbia grabs the victory in Porec

SERBIA – SAUDI ARABIA 38:29 (21:13)

SERBIA: Kojic 3, Curuvija 3, Sesum, Vujin 4, Vuckovic 5, Stojanovic 1, Toskic 1, Stanic, Ilic 5, Bojinovic 6, Markovic 6, Pejanovic, Prodanovic 3, Nikolic 1.

SAUDI ARABIA: Alobaidi, Alsaeed, Alkhudaimi, Shakhor 2, Alabdulali 1, Alflati 4, Alsalem 3, Alsaeed, Alhabib 7, Alobaidi 3, A Alharabi, B Alharabi 6,  Alabadalali,  Alanbaway 3.

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS: 
SERBIA: 0 minutes,
SAUDI ARABIA: 12 minutes

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: NENAD VUCKOVIC (Serbia)

Serbian national team finished the match in the Group D, in Porec, as was expected - they defeated the team of Saudi Arabia. Everyone expected a higher goal - difference. With more comfortable and optional game in the defense they let the opponents "fill" the goal with 29 hits. Serbians goalkeepers, Pejanovic and Stanic, defeated only 11 out of 40 attacks.
Alsaeed (Saudi Arabia) defended only 12 out of 50 attacks in the goal-bar.

Jovica Cvetkovic (selector of Serbia): We have made our best in the preliminary competition. In the last match we didn't exhausted ourselves competing against a correct opponent. Now we are waiting for the result of the match between Brazil and Egypt.

Ratko Nikolic (players of Serbian national team): We have done our job here, in Porec. Whether we continue to compete in the World Championship or not, that depends on the outcome of other matches.

Khadir Alibrahim (captain of the national team of Saudi Arabia): We played the best match in the championship. We spend our time useful in Porec by learning from the better teams and we will surely take advantage of this knowledge.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Serbia got all

NORWAY – SERBIA   26 : 27  (10:12)

NORWAY: Ege, Jensen, Vatne, Drange, Loke 6, Bjornsen 4, Myrhol 2, Tvedten 3, Mamelund 1, Buchmann, Kjelling 2, Medhus, Samdhal 3, Skoglund  5.

SERBIA: Kojic, Curuvija 3, Sesum 1, Vujin 8, Vuckovic, Stojanovic 3, Toskic 3, Stanic, Ilic 4, Bojinovic 2, Pejanovic, Prodanovic, Andjelkovic 1, Nikolic 2.

EXCLUSIONS F THE PLAYERS:
NORWAY: 4 minutes
SERBIA: 10 minutes
 
 PLAYER OF THE MATCH: MARKO VUJIN (Serbia)

We saw one more handball beauty in the first round of group D in Porec. The Serbian national team finally healed his soul after two sadly lost matches against Denmark and Brazil. 
The victory over the Norwegian team, with one goal difference, put a big happy smile on the faces of the players and the headquarters staff.
Serbia „reversed“ the match in the 40th minute of the second half-time against the Norwegians, which were persistent and defended well.
After the result 17:16 for Norway, Stojanovic started a real avalanche of 5 goals (17:20). Afterwards all doors were open for Serbia to end successfully the match with one, but exceptional goal of difference.
This game was flu of excellent actions and goalkeeper defenses; on the Serbian side by Pejanovic (10 defenses) and Stanic (9 defenses) and by Ege, on the Norwegian side, with fabulous 20 defenses.

Jovica Cvetkovic (selector of Serbia): I am glad that we after two unfortunately lost games won powerful Norway. A beautiful handball story was told on the court and we have to finish it with good play over in the match against Saudi Arabia.

Ratko Nikolic (player of the Serbian national team): It is obvious that at the championship something we do wrong, from the hole we break the surface. But we've found strength and beat a very good and very correct opponent, and we are grateful to our supporters that were our player plus.

Robert Hedin (selector of Noway): I am not so happy as my colleague Cvetkovic but I congratulate the Serbian team, which played a great match in front of a large number of spectators which surely enjoyed the match.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Serbia get surprised by Brazil

BRAZIL – SERBIA 32:30 (14: 14)

BRAZIL: Santos, Silva  1, Souza 1, Nascimento, Gaeta 1, E..Silva  3, Laureano 5,  Gomes  2, Torres, Ribeiro 10, Fereirra 2, M.Silva, Ertel 3, Hubner 4.

SERBIA: Kojic, Curuvija, Sesum 2, Vujin 4, Vuckovic 3, Toskic 1, Stanic, Ilic 7, Bojinovic 2, Markovic 1, Pejanovic, Prodanovic 3, Andelkovic 2, Nikolic 5.

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
BRAZIL: 4 minutes
SERBIA: 4 minutes

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: RIBEIRO FELIPE BORGES  (Brazil)

Brazil made the biggest surprise of recent course of the World Championship and won Serbia 32:30. They were obviously a bit undervalued by Serbia. Serbians not started seriously, what Brazilians took as advantage. When they realized that victory will not come itself, the Serbs have started harder and much serious, but it was too late. In addition, Serbian goalkeepers did not have a great day so excellent Ribeiro scored in their net 10 goals, enough for a victory and celebration for Brazilians.

Brazilians have finally danced samba in the Hall Zatika. The passionate rhythm by which the players of Washington Silva Nunes moved on the field, the Serbians players could not follow. Dramatic match against Denmark left a big print on Serbian players who couldn’t have "opened" the defense of Brazil.
Equal result at the end of the first half-time gave the Serbs hope that they will succeed to make a final result in their favor. Brazilians managed to resist the Serbs goal after goal. Brazil made a Step towards the victory two minutes before the end, when they scored two goals and registered the victory, which they celebrated on the field with lot of emotions.

Washington Silva Nunes (selector of Brazil): In Brazil, we learn a lot from the Serbian handball and against Serbian team we played a good match. Our defense was better than in previous matches, in the attack we made fewer mistakes than in the matches with the previous opponents.

Felipe Borges Ribiero (player of Brazil): It is important that we won the school of handball like Serbian is, because we have a lot of problems in matches against European teams. Before us are still two matches and we will try to win them both.

Jovica Cvetković (selector of Serbia): Defeat in the match against Denmark for us was obviously a big shock, because I do not see any other reason why we lost the match against Brazil. We will attempt to rebuild and play well against Norway.

Ratko Nikolic (player of Serbia): We started this match pretty bad, and, in addition, we undervalued the strength of Brazil’s team, which avenged to us in the end.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Serbia – Denmark, the match for remembrance

SERBIA - DENMARK 36:37 (22:16)

SERBIA: Kojic, Sesum, Vujin, Nikcevic, Vuckovic, Stojanovic  5, Toskic 1, Stanic, Ilic  10, Bojinovic  8, Pejanovic, Prodanovic 2, Andelkovic 3, Nikolic 4.

DENMARK: Hvidt, Mogensen 3, Boesen 5, Laen, Jorgensen, Jensen, Christiansen  6, Landin, Spellenberg 2,  Knudsen  4, Hansen  6, Sondergaard, Lindberg 8, Nielsen 3.

EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
SERBIA: 18 minuta
DENMARK: 8 minutes
 
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: MLADEN BOJANOVIC (Serbia)

A handball delicacy. Match to remember. Shocking match which is difficult to be determined and to say who has lost and who has won. Match with two faces, two full content "faces", in the end belonged to Denmark, in the last seconds due to the goal of L. Boesen.

In the first half-time which ended with 6 goals differences for Serbia's team, the goalkeepers of Denmark almost nothing defended. Serbian team had everything under control, what were not difficult thanks to their thundering loud supporters, in addition to indisposed Danish players.
Reversal of the match arrived in 41st minute of the second half with result 30:24 for Serbia. Due to 6 consecutive hits Danes reached Serbs and the rest of the match until the very passed in the game goal after goal.

Jovica Cvetkovic (selector of Serbia): This is the first big competition for our boys and this oscillation in the game that we had done in this match with Denmark we just did not have to do. We didn’t count on this points but we was very close, that’s why was much harder for us. Serious injury of Ivan Nikcevic obviously disrupted the rhythm which was hard again to gain at the end of the match.

Mladen Bojinović (player of the Serbian team): We just burned in the high desire to gain a good result, especially after excellent first half of the match.

Ulrik Wilbek (selector of Denmark): I would like to thank to Serbian team on fantastic game that was played against us. We knew that they are a good team but in Porec they showed that are really strong. In the first half we just couldn't do anything.

www.croatia2009.com

MWCh 2009: Serbia started with the victory over Egypt

EGYPT - SERBIA 22:30 (12:12)

EGYPT: Hussein 2, El Ahmar 8, Shebib, Ramadan, EL Kalioby 1, Abdel Razek, Nakib Bakir, Osman 2, Mabrouk, Hassan, El Fakharany 2, Rabie 4, Hussein 3, El Sayed

SERBIA: Kojic 1, Curuvija 1, Sesum 2, Vujin 2, Nikcevic 5, Stojanovic 6, Toskic 2, Stanic, Ilic 5, Bojinovic 4, Pejanovic, Prodanovic 1, Andjelkovic 1, Nikolic.


EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLAYERS:
EGYPT 12 minutes
SERBIA 12 minutes

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: DIMITRIJE PEJANOVIC (Serbia)

The “surprise” lasted only for 30 minutes of the first half-time. The pending result at the end of the first part of the game made angry the representation of Serbia and in the “fifth speed” they worked out the sequel of the game in which all team members entered in the "goal list" by solving the other section of the match in their favour (18:11) by winning their opponents of Irfan Smajlagic, who because of inappropriate behaviour towards the judge earned yellow card, with high eight "pieces" of difference.

Jovica Cvetkovic, Serbia’s coach: I am very satisfied with the victory because this was the first team appearance of Serbia in the WC and because of that we played the first half-time in a cramp. We defeated a remarkable team.

Ratko Nikolic, the player of Serbia: We overcame the first obstacle which is the toughest on big competitions. The first half-time we were chasing each other but the finale was good.

Hussein Mahmoud Mahmoud, the official representative of the team: We are recording only the first half-time, later we were completely lost.

Karim Osman, the player of Egypt: The second half-time I do not want to remember because we played very bad. Their goalkeeper was excellent and that made us big problems.

www.croatia2009.com

Candidates for the national team

Mr. Jovica Cvetkovic, selector of the Serbian national team, has designated candidates for the national team for the forthcoming matches of the Euro 2010 Qualification, against Switzerland in Zurich on 26 November and the Russian Federation in Nis on 30 November.

The schedule of matches at the World Championship in Croatia

Serbia plays in group D in Porec and starts the World Championship playing a match against Egypt on 17.01.2009. Then, on 18 January 2009, Serbia plays against Denmark and on 19 January against Brazil. After a day of rest (20 January), Serbia will continue the competition with a match against Norway, and a day later (22 January), Serbia will finish the group competition with a match against Saudi Arabia.