Handball EURO 2020: Croatia and Spain draw  

(Photo credit: Croatian Handball Federation)

VIENNA, 22 January 2020 – Croatia has ended the Main Round of the 2020 European Men’s Handball Championship with a draw against Spain on Wednesday. 

Croatia had already qualified for the semi-finals and the match would decide who would top Group I of the Main Round. 

Spain would open the scoring and would have the advantage in the early stages of the match. Thanks to Igor Karacic, Croatia managed to take the lead for the first time in the match after 12 minutes when they went in front 6-5. 

Croatia enjoyed a two-goal lead and almost scored to stretch it to three goals at one stage before Spain staged a comeback towards the end of the first half. Spain would go into the break 12-11 up.

Errors at the start of the second half saw Croatia fall behind, 15-11 and it proved to be difficult to peg back. Spain would stretch their lead to six goals, 19-13, and after a fightback from Croatia, they would equalise 21-21 with four minutes left on the clock.

Captain Domagoj gave Croatia the lead once again, 22-21, with three minutes remaining. Spain would equalise and the match would end 22-22 which means Spain finish top of the group on goal difference.

Croatia now heads to Sweden for the semi-finals and will play Norway. The semi-finals will be played on 24 January in Stockholm, with the final taking place on 26 January also in Stockholm.