BLOG by Nikola Foretic: Runners run & Players play (3)

Written by PHd Nikola Foretic (assistant coach Qatar Sports Club)

As it was expected in 1/8 finals we saw handball “for real”. Majority of favourites justified its rating. Some of them easier while some harder than it was expected. Some others left with their mindset in non obligatory preliminary round. Maybe they thought there would be a make-up exam if they don’t perform well in this particular match. Unfortunately for them handball WC don’t include „repechage“as in some martial art sports. Actual Olympic and European Champions gave their place in ¼ finals to less quality teams of Hungary and Qatar. Less quality was just on paper because on-court reality showed better tactical preparation of above mentioned teams. In both games Icelandic coaches Dagur Sigurdsson and Gudmundur Gudmundsson completely missed concept of game preparation and leading. Instead of playing their game which is based on contact defense and non-stop attack transition, without objective reason they slowed the game. This slow handball gave advantage to their opponents that nurture slow and controlled Spanish handball style. It is even more surprisingly when consider that their goalkeepers had a good day; Landin 11 and Wolf even 19 saves! Additional evidence about play collapse is that Denmark scored 7 and Germany 12 goals less in 1/8 finals comparing to tournament average. As it was announced “in 1 game everything is possible” even coach’s overrating the opponent.

Iceland and Brazil played nice and tactically opened matches against France and Spain. Brazil was close to one more surprise but nothing more than that. Sweden didn’t fell in trap like Danes and Germans. Playing Scandinavian fast handball, with 41-22, they overrun Belarus team. Even they were losing at halftime (13-15) Slovenia speed up the pace in 2^nd half. This resulted with more 100% shoots from wing and fast break situations. Croatia beat Egypt harder than was expected. Most problems they had with shallow 3-3 defense they didn’t encounter during this tournament. Game between Norway and Macedonia was uncertain just first half (12-10 result). Second half Norway enhanced its defense in contact and spatial aspect. This result with many interceptions and fast breaks that eventually “closed” the match.

BLOG by Nikola Foretic: Runners run & Players play

1/4 FINALS

                None of ¼ matches finished with goal difference bigger than 3 goals. But all matches weren’t so equal. Norway repeated play from 1/8 finals and overplayed Hungary in every segment. Hungarian team was to slow and probably too much tired to compete with this Norway.

France and Sweden played most beautiful match of ¼ finals. Swedish lead on halftime (16-15) must be connected with very mobile attack and organized defense transition that didn’t gave France possibility to score easy goals. In 2^nd half they fell into “French black hole”. In that period France score +5 goals what was unreachable in the end for Swedes.

Slovenia didn’t give chance for slow handball “jugglery” to Qatar. Great number of fast breaks (12) and high percentage of realization (70%) kept Qatar team far away from active result during whole match. Slovenia repeated historical ½ final (they played it in Spain 2013) and once again have chance for WC medal.

                Croatia and Spain played most uncertain match of ¼ finals. Both teams oscillated during match. But Croatia was better and stronger, especially in defense. Evidence of Spanish “softness” is just one 2 minute penalty during whole match. Croatian attack was governed by Luka Ciindrić and Marko Mamić, while best defensive individuals were Željko Musa and Ivan Stevanović.

BLOG by Nikola Foretic: Runners run & Players play (2)

1/2 FINAL

                Despite the impressions ½ final matches should be seen and analysed as objective as possible. Details that can be match winners are shown in tables and figures below. Although the data was taken from WC official web site and statistically are not 100% precise they characterise game structure of semi final opponents.