Bronze Medal Match: USA vs. Norway (31-24)

Carl Garcia22 said:So you're basically counting on Laco from ten yards out, which some people think is a sure thing or whatever. Sure, Omeyer had one game where he was in total beast mode against us, absolutely, but he also had games where he only grabbed 8 or 9 saves and they still pulled off the win—and those saves were legendary too.

That’s not what I said. 🙂

Man, Laco... he played great through maybe four or five tournaments, and then it was straight downhill, especially that game against the Frenchies.
🤦

But let's be real, that French defense had two secret weapons: Omeyer and the refs. Don't forget, the officials gave them a massive push—sometimes just a little nudge, sometimes a huge shove—that's their "defense" for you. Even without Omeyer and the refs, they were just as tough as we were...

And back in 2003 and 2004, before everyone figured our style out, we were twice as strong as any top-tier competition. That's why we won! We had to beat both the opponents and the refs who were leaning against us, and we crushed it because we were twice as good as anyone else. That lasted until teams actually started studying our system and spotting our weaknesses—those French guys were the first ones to really crack the code.

Look, Omeyer had a few rough games, but he was never on Alilović's level in a semi or a final... and even when he was having a "bad" night, he was still pulling at least 10 saves.

As for Scholl, he was an average keeper, but man, he would step up in finals during those clutch moments—a penalty here, a breakaway there... and that would fire up the whole squad. He’d make the big save right when things were falling apart. Alilović? He almost never did that.

George Chavez8 said:Alilović actually had some killer tournaments leading up to the semifinals, unfortunately. But it’s the same old story—he and Čupić just fall apart during the big games, year after year. Those tiny margins have cost us so many times. And it’s not a fluke. Look at today—the Americans were down by 2 and we had the man advantage, Steve makes the save, and immediately we score on the power play plus they get a penalty... if it hadn't been -1, who knows what would've happened..

Back when we were actually winning gold, we had guys like Šol and Losert who knew how to shut things down when it mattered... people tend to forget that pretty quickly.

This whole nightmare against the French started back in that cursed 2007 tournament. We were playing the best handball in the history of the sport—we were insanely good—but it only took one old lion, Omeyer, to absolutely wreck our entire generation and create this permanent mental block. And don't even get me started on Červar, that clown, whom Onesta treats like some kind of life guru. Honestly, all that French "dominance" wouldn't even be possible without Omeyer.

I’m convinced we would’ve walked away with a couple of golds if we just had a better goalie—even if the roster was 20-30 percent weaker than what we had. In a sport like this, the goalie is everything.

The other issue is Červar, who can't seem to figure anything out besides his go-to tactic: "give the ball to Balić whenever things go south." As for Goluža? Don't even get me started.

One elite goalie and one coach with actual authority and brains, and we could have avoided this tragedy. Since 2004, we haven't seen a single gold medal despite having players this talented.

This new coach basically told me everything I need to know: once the semifinals start with Alilović and Čupič, we're done. The guy is a total moron—a nice guy, sure, but a moron.

I’m with this guy. Ever since 2007, we’ve been losing to them in the high-stakes matchups; we only ever beat them in relatively unimportant 🕺

jadeseal7 said:Let’s be realistic about Babić for a second. He cost us that championship run, but if Goluža were coaching, he would have started today's game with Alilović and Čupić too. He wouldn't have even touched those boys, maybe giving them a couple of minutes at most. Instead, Babić put in Zlaja and Steve. Honestly, that was one of his few smart calls.

If he could actually learn from his mistakes, he might actually be worth something. But let's face it—Alilović and Čupić are heading to the next tournament as starters, nothing changes, and Stevanović is stuck at home.

jadeseal7 said:The players are absolute wonders—but honestly? Let whoever actually performs take the field, rather than just whoever sounds the best on paper!

Alilovic's face told me everything I needed to know today—he’s definitely looking for forgiveness!

I wish him nothing but the best at his new club—honestly! All this intense hatred toward him finally reached a boiling point during this tournament, where it’s just so incredibly obvious who is actually to blame for the final result—namely, Babic, who was clearly undermining him. He can just go screw off in peace.

George Chavez8 said:Look, I'll admit Omeyer had a few subpar outings here and there—we've all been there—but let's be real: he never quite hit that elite, game-changing level we saw from Alilović during those intense semi-finals or championship runs. Even on his "off" days, the guy was still putting up about ten saves just to stay in the hunt. It’s hard to argue with that kind of consistency.

That’s really where the distinction lies—what counts as a "bad" day for Omeyer involves putting up ten solid defensive stops, whereas for Alilovic, that would actually be considered an incredible performance.

George Ward7 said:Basic mentioned before the championship started that relying on goalkeeper support cost us two or three gold medals. Turns out he knows a bit more about this than you do, Carl Garcia22.

It’s just like what Zrnic said about our defense being a total disaster. They couldn't provide any real support to the keepers. So, where do we go from here?

As much as people complain about Cement, you sure do love to harp on Stevanovic. Is he only considered elite when he’s playing perfect defense? 🤣The defense was elite. He shut down Rutenki by stopping two penalties, did the same to Poljak, and just finished off the Norwegians with two more stops today.

I’m not trying to drag Stevanovic through the mud here. I just want to use a few examples to show that a handball goalkeeper isn't nearly as decisive as you all seem to think. Take the game against the Americans, for instance. Even if you can't make a single save in the final fifteen minutes, you still end up crushing them. You three are overanalyzing those two breakaway opportunities and two penalties that Stevanovic saved against the Norwegians, yet the guy ended up with fourteen saves by the whistle. Isn't it funny how you focus on such petty details?

Samuel Walker7 said:Look, Pierce, just find me one game. Just one single match where Alilovic actually held his own against the Germans today. Don't even bother looking at semifinals or finals, because we both know Alilovic has never been our savior.

Against Kiel last year. 🙂

George Robinson43 said:In the universe where today's game unfolded, just when a 5-1 deficit was looking dangerously real, Steve stepped up to grab that +1 and saved the penalty. Right after that, we were handed two clear scoring opportunities in a row. Was it luck, or just momentum?
We shut them down, scored, and finally put the game away once we hit that four-point lead.
That’s what you call a goalkeeper actually making an impact. It's something we haven't seen at Cement for years.

He had 14 saves, yet you're fixating on two penalties and two seven-meter throws? Seriously? 🤣🤣

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF COACH BABIC ČERVAVRIM: 'Everything here feels like a true blessing from above... I can't claim even one percent of the credit for this'

Spot on. ☕

Jeremy Brooks87 said:I swear, you came into this NFL season with some weird chip on your shoulder about why people are coming for Guardiola. 🤔

I did. I’m just laughing because I don't see how anyone could lose track of what Guardiola is doing.
He plays some of the best football in the world alongside FC Barcelona. Honestly, after Bayern Munich, everyone would sell their souls just to have him on their bench. But we’re already way past that point. 🙂

Carl Garcia22 is questioning the national team, not the clubs 🙂

Fine—you think a handball goalie plays a minor role, but my take? Everything starts with the keeper.

To you, Alilovic isn't the reason for today’s loss or the struggles we've seen lately, but to me—in most games—he is the culprit. Thank God and our Lady of Medugorje that people are finally starting to call him out; he’s flown under the radar for years because, apparently, "goalies don't matter" in this sport. Meanwhile, we haven't touched gold since '04, while the Frenchmen, Spaniards, Danes, and Germans—with their elite keepers and solid rosters—are constantly rotating on the podium.

Look, we didn't need to win every single gold medal since '04, but failing to win any with this level of talent? There's a disconnect there. And that "something" is the gap between having someone like Mirkec on one side and actual, top-tier goalies on the other. 🙂

the goalie doesn't matter 🤣

Carl Garcia22 said:Against Kiel last year. 🙂

Wait, what are you even talking about?

When did the US-Kiel game actually happen?

And as for Stevanović today—look, when the game reaches that absolute tipping point, that split second where it decides if they end up at -1 or we walk away with a +3—that’s when Stevie pulls him. That is his goalkeeper right there.

Carl Garcia22 said:Just as Zrnić pointed out that our defense was an absolute disaster and failed to provide any real protection for the goalkeepers—so, what's our next move?

We should put our faith in Bašić, as he certainly possesses a much deeper understanding of handball goalkeepers than Zrnić does.

I am not trying to target Stevanović; rather, I simply want to provide a few practical examples to illustrate that a goalkeeper in handball isn't quite as pivotal as many people tend to believe.

Honestly, it’s ridiculous. The French and Danes could have just placed a heavy bag of cement on the goal line instead of Omeyer, Hvidt, and Landin, and they still would have walked away with the gold!

Even if your defense completely falls apart during those final fifteen minutes against the Americans, you still manage to blow them out of the water!

Are you being serious right now? It’s a beautiful 75 degrees here, yet you’re choosing to strip those final 15 minutes completely out of context!

You three are really obsessing over those two saves and two penalties Stevanović made against the Norwegians, even though the guy ended up with 14 saves by the end! It’s honestly wild how you all jump on such petty, malicious details.

+

He racked up 14 saves, yet you're obsessing over two lucky stops and two penalty kicks. It’s like focusing on a single raindrop during a massive thunderstorm!

Hey everyone! Steve pulled off an incredible series of saves, including a massive seven-pointer and two huge stops from just six meters when we were down by only one. Those clutch plays completely shifted the momentum, allowing us to score and seal the win. He truly turned the tide and decided the game!
You’re still dwelling on that!
Your posts are truly quite amusing!

It’s honestly wild how much you're lowballing goalkeepers here. 😁

You really think those French teams didn't have Omeyer to stack up all those gold medals?

And what about the Danes without Hvidt and Landin?

I mean, Onesta once spent an entire hour at some seminar lecturing on defensive tactics, only to wrap it up by saying none of it matters if you don't have someone like Titj behind you making at least 15 saves.

Ever since 2010, Mirko has been absolutely useless in big games. Every single time he was supposed to step up and rally the troops, he just choked. Like, always.

Look, nobody's asking him to save ten certain goals a game, but for crying out loud, just make two or three saves! Just do something to actually matter.

I'm pretty sure nobody in this thread is going to shed a single tear when he's gone. We've got Ivica, Stevanovica, Šega, Pešice...

Honestly, it would be best if he just left and picked up Canadian citizenship on his way out so he can go entertain them instead. ☕

Samuel Walker7 said:P
So, you think the goalkeeper in handball barely matters? I disagree. In my book, everything starts with the keeper.

Don't blame Alilovic for today’s loss or the struggles we've had over the last few years. In most of these games, he's the one at fault. Thank God people are finally starting to call him out; he's been flying under the radar for far too long. Let's be real—goalkeepers shouldn't be the only thing that matters in handball. Yet, we haven't touched gold since 2004, while the French, Spaniards, Danes, and Germans—all with elite keepers and equally deep rosters—keep trading podium spots between them.

We didn't need to sweep every trophy since 2004, but going this long without winning anything with players and talent like this? There’s something wrong here. And that "something" is Mirkec's performance over the last few years. 🙂

I never said he wasn't to blame. He’s definitely an accomplice, but he didn't act alone—the defense is just as much at fault here. You're all trying to pin this on one single person, but that's clearly not the whole story. Is it really that hard to see?

jadeseal7 said:What are you even talking about?

When did they play the matchup between the US and Germany?

Samuel Walker7 said:Carl Garcia22 is dreaming about the national team, not his club. 🙂

I mentioned Veszprem because that’s what stuck in my mind. Why does it have to be someone from the national team? I don't get it. We see players here burning out too—shooters, wingers, the absolute core of the game. What's the actual issue?
Are you suggesting that Mirko is intentionally sabotaging the national team? 🙂

Look, it’s not that Mirko is out there actively sabotaging the team—it’s just that you have to earn your spot on the national roster, and frankly, he hasn't earned his lately. This is sports, after all—there’s no room for bitterness or making excuses when someone else steps up. There are simply better players available right now, and it's time to move on...

Carl Garcia22 said:Are you suggesting that Mirko is intentionally sabotaging the national team? 🙂

He isn't sabotaging the team. It is simply a matter of skill; he lacks the necessary caliber to prevent us from sitting at the bottom of the defensive statistics during major tournaments, even though our squad consistently qualifies for them. Based on your logic, we are some kind of miracle—a team with the worst defense in history that somehow stays at the top of the standings!
When things fall apart, they fall apart. He isn't the culprit; the blame lies with those who point the finger at him.

Let's be real—Alilovic just doesn't have that instinct to step up when things get hairy, and we've been watching this same pattern play out for years. And no, his club stats don't automatically dictate how he performs for the national team. Some guys thrive on the big stage, others are strictly club players—and Alilovic is clearly the latter.

That said, it's pretty mindless to pin everything on him right now—it's not like he's the one picking himself for the roster or standing in the net. It honestly baffles me how the national team staff can miss what any casual fan can see; a huge chunk of the blame belongs to them for keeping him in the lineup. Blaming him feels misplaced—I doubt it's a lack of will, it's more likely just a lack of ability—and at some point, the coach needs to step up and pull him from the starting spot. Why they aren't doing it? Beats me.

He isn't sabotaging him, per se—but it’s just not working... Sam even admitted he’s struggling, yet here he is, putting him in the semifinals for a game that could define this entire generation and our winning mentality. He's starting a guy who isn't in form—seriously, where is the logic there? What's the plan? That he'll just have one lucky day? Suddenly he's found his rhythm?

On one hand, you've got Steva, who was our MVP against the Americans, and on the other, you've got Mirko, who hasn't been in top national team shape for ages. It’s like Jesus Christ is pointing directly at who should be in the net, and yet he starts the match with Mirko... The guy is a joke—look, he's likable and I prefer him over Goluza, but this move is a massive blunder. I was watching the game at a local diner, saw Mirko starting, and literally half the place stood up—people were just staring at each other like, "Wait, is Mirko actually guarding the goal??"

I just don't get it—I see zero logic in that decision; even a total amateur wouldn't make a call like that.

I'm just sitting here waiting for someone to finally make the smart observation that people get death threats just because they happen to be from the rural South 🙏

Carl Garcia22 said:Yeah, I’m just trolling because I honestly don't see how Guardiola managed to mess this up.

He messed up because he’s been doing the bare minimum at Bayern Munich lately, which is pretty much what Mirko has been doing with the national team over the last few years. If Stevie ends up losing his spot in upcoming competitions because of him, someone’s going to have to answer for it.