Croatia Win Basketball & Handball Groups to Reach Quarter-Finals

Convincing wins overnight by the Croatian basketball and handball teams means they have both topped their groups in Rio to advance through to the quarter-finals…

Croatia inflicted a heavy defeat on Tunisia 41:26 in the last group match of the handball tournament at the Future Arena in Rio to win their group and set up a quarter-final clash with Poland.

The victory means that Croatia will now avoid defending champions France, whom they beat on Saturday in group play, until the final if they both qualify. Croatia’s next opponents will be Poland, whom they comfortably beat 37:23 early this year in Poland. The match will take place at 01:30 Thursday morning Central European Time. The winner of that match will play the winner of the Denmark – Slovenia quarter-final in the semis.

(photo credit: Damir Sagolj)

CROATIA- TUNISIA 41-26 (25-10)

CROATIA: Stevanović, Pešić; Duvnjak 1, Stepančić 2, Kopljar 1, Gojun 2, Horvat 2, Karačić 9, Štrlek 4, Čupić 5, Mamić 5, Slišković 1, Brozović 5, Kozina 4

TUNISIA: Missaoui, Maggaiz, Toumi 2, Tej, Maaref, Bannour 3, Bhar, Haj Youssef, Boughanmi 7, Saied 3, Hosni 1, Hammed 1, Chouiref 4, Soussi 5

The Croatian basketball team have joined their handball counterparts in the quarter-finals after an impressive win again Lithuania 90:81 saw them win their group also. Drawn at the start of the tournament in the same group as the European champions and runners-up, as well as the hosts Brazil, winning the group was a big achievement by the Croatians.

The victory means Croatia avoids the USA and will now face Serbia in the quarter-final early Thursday morning (03:15) Central European Time.

(photo credit: Pool)

CROATIA – LITHUANIA 90-81

CROATIA: Babić 9, Krušlin, Stipčević, Simon 19, Hezonja 6, Šarić 18, Ukić, Planinić 10, Bilan 8, Šakić, Arapović, Bogdanović 22

LITHUANIA: Kalnietis 26, Juskevicius, Maciulis 6, Seibutis 7, Sabonis 2, Kavaliauskas, Jankunas 18, Javtokas, Valanciunas 13, Kuzminskas 3, Grigonis 6, Kariniauskas