Spain One Step Towards Medal for Croatia

Concentrated play is best to match Spain, who often lose their path if they do not find a solution in the game soon enough.

The moment when the Croatian national handball team will show how much they are worth is near, and their task will not at all be easy, because Spain are an awkward team, totally unpredictable in their play.

A good thing is that they are prone to oscillations, but they score a lot of goals, the most at this championship. Up until now they have scored 122 goals, which is slightly less than 41 per match. If the Croatian defence, which is not too great, remains at the level as the first two matches, a shock could occur.

Every time when Croatia was losing against Spain it was close to a ten goal difference, and the match was decided in the first half. Only once did the Croatian team come back from a great disadvantage, in 2003, when Croatia were the world champions.

But, in the Tunis final and match for third place at the Olympic games in Beijing, Croatia was defeated because they were not concentrated. Only with a concentrated game-play can Spain be beaten, which the Swedes showed well.

The Spanish team are unstoppable when everything goes according to plan, but if some clear shots are missed, some 7 meter penalties, or if they receive a funny or easy goal, they “break” easily and then it is easier for the opponent.

So Spain are the greatest danger to themselves, they only need to be forced to fall apart, and that can be done with excellent defensive play and smart offence.

Because, if the Spanish offence finds itself in front of a wall, they will want to penetrate it by force, and whilst they find a solution, it is possible to separate the score with a few goals. So all bad moments must be reduced to a minimum.

A concentrated game will easily lead to a win

Special care needs to be taken with Iker Romer, who is convincingly the best player of the Spanish national team. The man played against the Swedes by himself, and scored 11 goals, but the others did not follow him. Not even the goalkeepers, who together gathered only 12 saves. That is too little for greats like Barrufet.

This will truly be a match that will let us know where Croatia is are how strong they are, and this is why they need Lackovic, the real Blaz who has not been in his best form for a long time. Many still remember the goals that he gave against Barrufet, which made him crazy.

If that would succeed now, it is hard that Spain’s defence would be able to stop them, because every opening towards the outside line will open room for Croatia’s wings, who are great players. With that we need to mention Balic, who usually plays great when it is most needed, and when Spain is on the other side. Besides if he gets injured.

It is positive news that Spain are no longer as powerful as they once were on the line, the players that they were proud of for years are no longer playing or are injured, so there is one less danger for the Croatian defence. Along with all of that, Croatia will have the public on their side.

Lino must convince the players that they are the best

The full Spaladium arena will freeze the blood of the Spaniards, regardless that Romero claims that he is not impressed. Split’s residents will show that they know what they are recognizable for, so that before the match they could finally be the favourites.

Before that was not the case, because the referee lobby always “pushed” the Spaniards forward, sometimes quite arrogantly and openly.

The boys only need to place their heads together, Lino needs to physically prepare for all challenges, and they should get out onto the court, show their true strength, and then confirm what is expected from them against the Swedes, and that is that they be the best – they are certainly capable of that.