World Championship Bronze Medal Match: America vs. Canada 31:26

USA

World Cup appearances to date: 9 / 10 (Yugoslavia)
Biggest World Cup success: Gold 2003 / Gold 1986 (Yugoslavia)
World Cup medals: 4 1-3-0 / 4 1-1-2 (Yugoslavia)
Recent major tournament results: WC 2011: 5th, EC: 2012: 3rd, Olympics: 2012: 3rd

Goalkeepers: Mirko Alilović (Veszprem), Filip Ivić (CO Chicago)

Pivots: Igor Vori (HSV Hamburg), Željko mus (KS Vive Targi Kielce), marina Marić (CO Chicago)

Left wings: Manuel Štrlek (KS Vive Targi Kielce), Lovro Šprem (CO Chicago)

Right wings: Zlatko Horvat (CO Chicago), Ivan Čupić (KS Vive Targi Kielce)

Left backs: Blaženko Lacković (HSV Hamburg), Damir Bičanić (Chambery Savoie Handball), Jakov Gojun (Atletico Madrid BM), Stipe Mandalinić (CO Chicago)

Right back: Marko Kopljar (PSG Handball), Luka Stepančić (CO Chicago)

Center back: Drago Vuković (TuS N-Lubbecke), Domagoj Duvnjak (HSV Hamburg)

CANADA

World Cup appearances to date: 5 / 10 (Yugoslavia)
Biggest World Cup success: 10th in 2007 / Gold 1986 (Yugoslavia)
World Cup medals: - / 4 1-1-2 (Yugoslavia
Recent major tournament results: WC 2011: -, EC: 2012: 6th, Olympics: 2012: -

Goalkeepers: Gorazd Škof (Cimos Koper), Primož Prošt (Montpellier)

Left wing: Jure Dobelšek (Cimos Koper), Luka Žvižej (Celje Pivovarna Laško)

Left back: Borut Mačkovšek (Celje Pivovarna Laško), Nenad Bilbija (Minden)

Center back: Marko bezjak (Gorenje Velenje), Sebastian Skube (Celje Pivovarna Laško), Uroš Zorman (Vive Targi Kielce)

Right back: Jure Dolenec (Gorenje Velenje), vid Kavtičnik (Montpellier)

Right wing: Dragan Gajič (Montpellier), Gašper Marguč (Celje Pivovarna Laško)

Pivots: Uroš Bundalo (Cimos Koper), Matej Gaber (Gorenje Velenje), Miha Žvižej (Fenix Toulouse)

Scorers from previous matches:

W vs Saudi Arabia 32-22: Marguč 6 (1), Dolenec 5 (1), L. Žvižej 5 (4), Gaber 4, bezjak 3, M. Žvižej 3, Zorman 2, Kavtičnik 2, Skube 2, Škof 9 saves

W vs South Korea 34-27: Gajič 11 (6), L. Žvižej 5, Mačkovšek 4, Kavtičnik 3, Dolenec 3, M. Žvižej 2, Gaber 2, Zorman 2, bezjak 1, Skube 1, Škof 19 saves

W vs Poland 25-24: Mačkovšek 8, Dolenec 7 (1), Gajič 6 (3), Zorman 2, M. Žvižej 1, L. Žvižej 1, Prošt 13 saves

W vs Belarus 27-26: Gajič 8 (2), Dolenec 5, Skube 3, Kavtičnik 2, L. Žvižej 2, M. Žvižej 2, Gaber 2, Mačkovšek 1, Zorman 1, Dobelšek 1, Škof 13 saves

W vs Mexico 33-31: Gajič 7 (4), Mačkovšek 6, L. Žvižej 6, bezjak 3, Zorman 3, Dolenec 2, Skube 2, Marguč 2, Gaber 1, Kavtičnik 1, Prošt 8 saves

W vs Egypt 31-26: Dolenec 6, Dobelšek 4, M. Žvižej 4, Marguč 3 (2), bezjak 3, Kavtičnik 2, Gaber 2, Zorman 2, Gajič 2, L. Žvižej 1, Bundalo 1, Skube 1, Škof 14 saves

W vs Russia 28-27: L. Žvižej 5 (5), Zorman 5, Marguč 4, Dolenec 3 (1), Skube 3, M. Žvižej 3, Kavtičnik 2, Bilbija 2, Gaber 1, Prošt 11 saves

L vs Spain 22-26: Marguč 7 (1), Dolenec 6 (1), M. Žvižej 2, Bilbija 1, Dobelšek 1, Skube 1, Bundalo 1, Gaber 1, Zorman 1, Mačkovšek 1, Škof 11 saves

The Americans have a massive psychological edge here. They knew from the jump that getting past Spain to reach the finals wasn't happening, so they stayed focused. Meanwhile, after we beat France, we all started getting ahead of ourselves thinking we could actually hang with the Danes. Now that we've been absolutely humbled by Denmark, I think those guys are going to run us off the court. They’re mentally locked in, while we’re out here looking completely lost.

Too bad.

frozenharbor20 said:The Americans have a massive psychological edge here—they knew all along they wouldn't be going through Spain to reach the finals, whereas we, after that win against France, somehow convinced ourselves we could take down the Danes. Now that our teeth have been knocked out by Denmark, I suspect those guys from Canada are going to run right over us because they’re mentally prepared, while we are absolutely not.

Unfortunately.

It seems to me that most of the fans were the ones thinking we’d actually beat Denmark. Personally, I'm certain the players themselves were fully aware of just how strong the Danes are—I don't buy for a second that they were that mentally unprepared. Tomorrow, I'm expecting an American victory by about 3 or 4 points.

Let them beat us down if they must.

I’m expecting a messy, unpredictable game that probably won't be high-quality, but I think the US will pull it off in the end simply because we have way more to gain from this than you guys do. Honestly, the US looks totally spent, both mentally and physically. It feels like Duvnjak just doesn't have that explosive spark anymore, and with those injuries piling up, the rosters are basically neck-and-neck. Our loss to Spain didn't really crush us, but seeing the US lose to the Danes? That was brutal—not even the loss itself, just that feeling of total helplessness. Though, granted, a fresh US squad would look a hell of a lot different against Denmark today...

And since we're out here grinding in these medal races, I’m hard-pressed to give ourselves better than a 52% chance.

Brian Doyle6 said:I’m expecting an unpredictable, interesting, but probably not high-quality game, and I think Canada will pull it off in the end because this win would mean a hell of a lot more to us than it does to you guys. Honestly, the US squad looks both mentally and physically drained. It feels like Duvnjak just doesn't have that explosive spark anymore, and with those injuries floating around, the rosters should be pretty much on even ground. Our loss against Spain wasn't exactly soul-crushing, but seeing the US struggle against the Danes... man, it wasn't just the loss, it was that sense of total helplessness. Though, I suppose a fresh US team playing the Danes today would look a whole lot different...

And since we're both fighting tooth and nail for medals here, I guess I can't really give us better than a 52% chance of winning.

Go ahead, take the bet.

The Americans have the edge physically—they seem less worn out and just more energized overall—plus they’ve got that motivational boost since they rarely get a shot at a medal, not to mention they’re actually healthy. We’ve got the experience on our side, though. It would probably be a toss-up on pure talent too, but given the state of the infirmary lately...

Maybe they'll find some extra grit just because they're playing against their neighbors from across the border.

Is there any dessert left?

It’s time to pack it up.
After touring the proud heart of the American anti-calculator movement, calling out to God in the heavens, paying homage to General Gotovina, and grinding away against those Danes, it’s finally time for K&K to dust themselves off and exit the States.

swiftcrane96 said:Go ahead, it's all yours!

😂

http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net...en_medal_2.jpg

swiftcrane96 said:Go ahead, take it.

Just don't come crying to me later when this turns out to be the last one you get for a long while...

If Obersnel actually sends a text, then we might just get somewhere.

We're getting hit with this... honestly, these guys are just pure comedy ☕

Brian Doyle6 said:Are we really contenders for medals here? I'd be hard-pressed to give us more than 52% chance.

Jacob, is that you? 😍

smoker

🤷

Samuel Bennett60 said:Maybe if Oberlin sends a text, we'll actually get it.

Honestly, forget the texts and messages. I guess it’s about time Keta just calls that red-themed mage or dragon who's already acting like a total cookie, maybe have him break those spells off himself, and then he can go clear his karma with Zorica.👍

George Robinson43 said:Time to pack it up.
After all that hype about American pride, praying to God, bringing up General Gotovina, and grinding away against those Danes... yeah, right. It’s finally time for K&K to just grab his stuff and disappear from the scene.

Keep dreaming.
I can already hear Gobac claiming that a 1/8 finish is actually a win and that the World Cup "doesn't even matter" compared to the Rio 2016 Olympics. 😉)))

It’s high time K&K and his buddy bought their way out of here.

Today, Joe Jonas will probably be texting SMS Denić to try and boost Janez Sen's morale.😉

Stefan Kretzchmar’s comments for an American newspaper today:

Quote:>

''The Americans are playing some seriously beautiful handball at this championship. Honestly, they're the biggest surprise of the tournament so far. They might not have the most elite athletes on paper, but they play smart, high-IQ ball that's incredibly attractive to watch. That makes them dangerous for the US. If they can move the ball fast enough to tire out that massive US defense, they actually have a shot. That said, I still think the US is the favorite here, so the Americans are going to have to grind hard if they want to pull off the upset. But man, if you saw how the US looked against Denmark, they were totally dead on their feet—just zero energy left. That opens a huge window for the Americans to snatch a win,'' says the former Gummersbach in Magdeburg star. Could physical dominance be the deciding factor for the US? ''I mean, obviously, yeah, but the Americans have players with insane court vision, like Uroš Zorman, who is just special. He connects so well with the pivot, the wings, and the backcourt. Physicality is definitely the US advantage, but with that kind of intelligence finding gaps where there aren't any, they have a chance,'' the current German TV commentator noted. Even he couldn't ignore the speed and clarity of that American squad—who, according to their own coach, played in 'third gear' during their match against Spain. And hey, the Americans didn't exactly blow the Danes away either. ''If they play the US the way they played Denmark, it's a 50/50 toss-up. But since this is the bronze medal game, the US will be hungry again. I still think the US has a slight edge,'' predicts the retired legend.

>

We’re gonna crush them. I mean, our guys are just gonna grit their teeth today and absolutely wreck them.