Thousands of fans on Zagreb’s main square welcomed the Croatian handball players, who returned home with the bronze medal won at the European Championships in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Several tens of thousands of people greeted their pets with songs and ovations, who cheered them up once again during January.
Emotional captain Martinović: “I think I’m still dreaming”
From the stage, the players addressed the fans who cheered them on throughout the championship. The first to take the microphone was captain Ivan Martinović, who did not hide his emotions:
This is a miracle, we were there a year ago. I love you all and all the best to you. When I see this, I think I’m still dreaming, I’m close to crying even though I have no more tears. This medal is for you too! It is a great honor for me to be the captain of this team. We believed that last year was no accident. We came back with a home medal! said the emotional captain.
David Mandić: “It’s **** how many of us there are”
After the captain, David Mandić also greeted the fans. The great defender, who despite his injury problems gave his best, appeared at the reception with a visible cut under his right eye, received in the fight for bronze against Iceland. Despite the “war wounds”, Mandić was full of energy:
Today I’m like new, I could play another game. The effort pays off and here is the bronze in Croatia. Is*** how many of us are there…*exclaimed Mandić, to which the entire Square responded with thunderous singing of verses “Call, just call!”.
Croatian handball players have once again shown an unbreakable bond with the fans, and the bronze medal from this championship will be celebrated as proof of continuity and quality in the very top of the world, reports Večernji list.
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(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: Neva Zganec/Pixsell)
