- by croatiaweek
- January 30, 2026
-
in
Sport
(Photo credit © Uros Hocevar / kolektiff)
The Croatian handball team will play for the bronze medal at the EHF EURO 2026 after suffering a 31–28 defeat to Germany in the semi-final on Friday evening in Herning.
The match was closely contested in the first half, with Croatia staying firmly in the game and trailing by just two goals at the break, 17–15.
Led by strong performances from Ivan Martinović, Luka Lovre Klarica and Tin Lučin, Croatia matched Germany for large periods and showed impressive intensity and resilience.
However, Germany’s defensive strength proved decisive in the second half.
Their compact back line, combined with an excellent display from goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, gradually limited Croatia’s attacking options and shifted momentum in Germany’s favour.
Despite trailing by six goals with 15 minutes to go, the Croatian side continued to fight until the final whistle.
Croatia will now turn its attention to Sunday’s bronze medal match, where they will face the loser of the other semi-final between Denmark and Iceland.
With a podium finish still within reach, Croatia will be aiming to finish the tournament on a high and add another European medal to its proud handball history.
