The Croatian men’s handball team gathered in Zagreb 19 days before the start of the World Championship, which is jointly organized by Croatia, Denmark and Norway.
HRS announced that the national team left Zagreb’s Westin Hotel, as has been the custom for the last few years, after a short meeting with the media, on its way to its permanent base in Poreč.
They will in Poreč spend four days and play the first of three planned friendlies against ItalyDecember 29 at 5:30 p.m.
The coach missed the gathering due to air traffic problems Dagur Sigurdssonbut will attend the first evening training session at Diamant in Poreč.
Due to Bundesliga commitments, the captain will arrive two days late Domagoj Duvnjak, Ivan Martinović and Dominik Kuzmanovićand after them on Saturday they join David Mandić, Marko Mamić and Josip Šimić.
Since this term is not the so-called EHF week, Veszprem Telekom and Orlen Wisla Plock have activated the ban on arrival Luka Cindrić, Nikola Grahovac and Leon Šušnja so they will join the national team only after the New Year. In the meantime, they will work according to the individual program they received from the selectors, reports HRT.
Selector Dagur Sigurdsson is at this gathering invited 26 playersand among them is a trio that has been out of action for a long time. It is about Matej Mandić who is recovering after facial surgery, while they Zvonimir Srna and Ivano Pavlović long on the injured list, but now they are healthy and fit.
After Poreč, the national team will get three days off to celebrate New Year’s Eve with their loved ones, and the new gathering will be scheduled for January 2, 2025 in Prelog. As part of that part of the preparations, Croatian handball players will play a friendly match on January 8 at 8:15 p.m. in Varaždin. against Macedoniaand two days later the final check is against Slovenia in the Zagreb Arena, also at 8:15 p.m.
The World Cup for Croatia starts on January 15 at 20:30 against Bahrain. They are still in the group Argentina which Croatia will play on January 17 at 8:30 p.m Egypt which is scheduled for January 19 at 8:30 p.m. The three best teams from each of the eight groups advance.
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: HRS)
