PHOTO: Croatia Victorious Against Poland 29:23

The second half-time belonged to Croatia, which had no problem breaking through the Polish defence.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Croatian handball team is going of the final, where France awaits. Before this match, they have one step – to defeat unpleasant Polls, who are current world vice champions. Balic, Metlicic, Vori and other Cowboys will have to do their best to break through the Polish defence.

Every single seat in Zagreb`s Arena sports hall is taken and there are no Polish fans. The atmosphere is infernal, just like ticket prices. Officially, al tickets were sold out, but the black market sells them at 5,000 kuna a piece (approximately 685 euros).

First half

Poland has the first attack of the match, but fails under pressure. Croatia strikes back with a counter-attack, but unfortunately does not score either, because attack foul was called. Mirko Alilovic catches the Polish attempt, followed by a counter-attack. Ivan Cupic is sure from the 7-metre line.

Poland fouls and Croatia again has a shot at increasing its lead. In the first operation, Domagoj Duvnjak switches place with captain Petar Metlicic, and scores the second goal of the match for Croatia.

Marcin Lijewski scores for Poland in the fifth minute. Ivan Cupic scores his second shot from the 7-metre line. Croatia`s Mirko Alilovic is excellent on the goal, defends and the ball bounces back to Croatian hands. Cupic scores yet again. Lijewski reduces the backlog at 4:2 in the next attack.

With an excellent game play by Valcic and Duvnjak, Croatia is again three points in the lead. The hosts` defence is great, headed by goalkeeper Alilovic, but the Polls managed to score nevertheless. Croatia strikes back with captain Metlicic, who scores his first goal of the match. Alilovic proves his worth with another catch.

Biggest advantage

The Cowboys attain the biggest point difference as Duvnjak nets the ball and he Polls are a man down for two minutes.

The Polish media assessed Croatian goalkeepers as average, but what Alilovic displayed is surely not the average. He defends his post again, but Croatia makes a mistake in the attack, the Polls strike with a counter-attack and Lijewski scores.

It seems that Croats are left without any ideas in the attack, but even in this situation, Blazenko Lackovic can score. Lijewski proves himself with this fourth goal out of five Polish goals.

Ivano Balic enters the game and the audience resounds with applause. A moment later, Ivan Cupic scores his fourth goal, third from the 7-metre line.

Bielecki torpedoes the Croatian goal, but this is Alilovic`s day and he saves his post. The only thing left for him to do is read Lijewski`s mind.

Croatian captain Metlicic scores his second goal. Tluczynski is successful from the 7-metre line and returns the score to a 3-point difference.

The match was briefly interrupted due to technical problems, but as this was taken care of, Croatia scores again and Alilovic is successful with failed Polish counter-attack. Jurasik scores his first goal, setting the score at 11:8. Ivano Balic also scores for Croatia.

The audience resounds with applause every time Alilovic defends the goal. This is his night. Croatia was a bit dodgyin the attach and Poland was there to punish it with Jurasik`s goal. Lackovic strikes back for Croatia, while Poll Bielecki pays backAlilovic for his fantastic defence and hits the right corner.

A drought period follows for both teams, which did not manage to take advantage of their attacks. Croatia was unsuccessful in three attacks, while Poland decided to take charge and came to a one-goal difference.  The Cowboys can`t seem to get back to the level they had at the start of the match and make another mistake. Poland scores and equalises.

Half-time sees Croatia in the lead with one point as Igor Vori scores. Poland tries to equalise again, but Mirko Alilovic is efficient.

Second half

After a bad end of the first half, Croatian handball players organised a good attack and Cupic scores for a two-point difference. Poland is a man short and fails to take advantage of its attack. Croatian captain Metlicic breaks through from the centre and scores: an ideal opportunity to increase their advantage when Poland is playing with a man down.

Again, Poland fails to take advantage of its attack, because Igor Vori steals the ball and starts a counter-attack. However, he was too slow. Toni Valcic they assists Vori, who scores after all. Poland is now complete and scores in their next attack. As soon as they scored, Poland received a goal as well. Ivan Cupic signed it, again.

Croatia selector Lino Cervar gave his players good instructions, because they are now at the biggest advantage of the match, with the score 19:14. The scorer is Ivan Cupic again, this is his seventh goal. Croatia manages to crown Alilovic`s defences with a new goal by Cupic, leaving Poland six points behind.

The Polls are forced to call a time-out to focus, however, not even this helped them, because Metlicic scored for an even greater advantage. The sort of play Croatia is displaying can rarely be seen. Their defence in impenetrable and the attack functions flawlessly. Domagoj Duvnjak scores his fourth goal.

Croatia “earned” its first exclusion of the match and young Marko Kopljar is forced to leave the court. Venio Losert replaced Mirko Alilovic to defend a penalty shot, sucessfully.

Croatia is now playing with all players, heading into attack, where Igor Vori is knocked down in the penalty area. Ivan Cupic is immaculate from the 7-metre line, scoring his ninth goal. What a goal for Croatia! The authors of the action plan which may as well come from the NBA are Cupic and Metlicic, who catches the ball in the air and sends it directly behind the Polish goalkeeper. Kopljar is excluded from the match for two minutes and Croatia is a man down.

Cupic is simply unstoppable tonight. He scores again for a 9-point advantage. Poland scores after a few minutes of fasting – Jurasik was the performer, followed by Jurecki Bartosz straight away.

Ten minutes before the end of the match, Croatia is in the lead 25:18, but with a slight crisis in the attack. Lijewski is excluded after knocking down Ivan Cupic, who soared for a counter-attack. He was not injured and was ready for another successful 7-metre shot, his 11 th of the match. However, he did not stop at that. After the ball circles along the outer line, Metlicic tried breaking through, but was unsuccessful and he passed the ball to Cupic, who netted it.

Croatian selector Lino Cervar calls a time-out to give final instructions to his team and surely end the match. At the moment, Croatia is in the lead, 27:20.

Polls are successful from the 7-metre line, which Losert did not defend. However, he did make up for it in the next attack. Croatia`s Hrvatin lobbies Szmal and scores the last goal of the match. Poland is defeated, France is up next!

Take a look at the attached photo galleries:

Fans Take Croatia To The Final

Croatia - Poland

Croatian Fans Cheer Cowboys On Against Poland

Croatian Fans Take Their Seats