World Handball Championship - THE FINALS

Robert Doyle8 said:Major props to the brave Qatari, they put up an incredible fight against those favorites already locked in.
Honestly, what can you even say about the French? They’re just on another level right now—easily 30% better than anyone else in this tournament. Their bench depth is insane; one guy has an off night, a sub comes in, and suddenly he's dropping 4 or 5 buckets. And if you want some advice for our local guys who keep whining about being tired, go take a look at Karabatić. The guy is 30, playing both ends of the floor for 50+ minutes nearly every game, taking hits in the paint, and he still looks like he could run a marathon in the final minutes. Or look at Bertrand Gil... he’s over 30, gets injured in the offense, then sprints back on defense, and only starts limping once the whistle actually blows. Huge respect to these guys. That’s how you play for your country. You just have to admire the grit...

Signature: just one of 4 million coaches out there

tapatalk/good old 4.9.5

From what I’ve heard, our beloved coach is the only one blaming fatigue, while all the players are admitting they just underperformed.

When it comes to France, honestly, hats off to them—those guys are the definition of true athletes.
They don't make excuses about being exhausted or having bad luck; they just stay relentless and keep crushing it, no matter what.🙏

As for Qatar, major props to them.🙏They’ve got this solid roster of homegrown talent and international pros, all totally dialed in
with great coaching and high motivation. I caught them playing against the Pole and
now, they’ve actually got some momentum. I really hope they don't fall apart once this
tournament wraps up, because they’ve been such a breath of fresh air.👍One thing you have to mention, though,
is that they didn't get much help from the refs, at least not nearly as much as the Germans did back in
2007 or the Mexicans did two years ago.

Stepancic, Duvnjak, and the rest of you—take notes from these guys! This is how real
athletes act. You don't just start whining about being tired after seven or eight games.
And if anyone actually says something like that, it should be an absolute embarrassment.

George Ward7 said:They might dominate in Asia, but I really doubt they’ll win a World Cup or the Olympics anytime soon. It looks to me like they just need one superstar, like Šarić, paired with an elite coach to pull off something big. I don't think this squad is built for long-term success. At the Olympics, maybe they make the quarterfinals.

Asia doesn't matter. Sure, they can win there, but the Sheikhs will always go after the real prizes. They aren't interested in victories against South Korea.

On neutral ground, they won't stand a chance against any of the top five European teams.

The next two World Cups are being held in Europe, in countries that are heavy favorites for the gold.

At the Olympics, I expect them to push Brazil, but I bet Europeans take the gold again.

They caught everyone by surprise this tournament—a little help from the refs, a bit of hype, and some financial motivation created a fluke. I’ll give them credit for the silver, but long-term? Nothing.

If that were true, those Arab nations would be dominating every single team sport. They aren't. Besides, handball is a strictly European sport; it has almost zero popularity outside of Europe. If it did, then China and the Americans would have powerhouse national teams too.

Once Karabatić and the rest of the crew finally hang it up in 2020, maybe then we’ll actually stand a fighting chance at bringing home a medal...😁

David Scott58 said:Man, this is one for the history books—it’s never, ever gonna happen again! 🎉

I swear, they played that goal on loop on ESPN for years!

George Ward7 said:Guigou 😁

That is correct; I appreciate the correction. A mistake was made. 😉

Kenneth Clark18 said:Asia just doesn't matter here. Sure, they can rack up some wins, but the big shots in the Middle East are looking for the real prizes. They aren't exactly sweating victories against South Korea.

If they play on neutral ground, they aren't taking down a single one of the top five teams from Europe.

The next two World Cups are being held in Europe, in countries that are massive favorites to grab the gold.

Heading into the Olympics, I expect everyone will be pushing for Brazil, but honestly? The Europeans are going to snatch that gold again.

This tournament caught everyone off guard—just a little help from the refs, a bit of hype, and a whole lot of money fueled the surprises. I’ll give them credit for the silver, though! But looking at the long term? It means nothing.

If that were actually a sustainable strategy, those Arab nations would be dominating every single team sport out there. But they aren't. Not even close. Plus, handball is such an intensely European sport that it barely carries any weight outside of Europe. If it did, you'd see powerhouse teams coming out of China or the US too.

You just can't build a national team the way Qatar did for handball in a sport like soccer. Soccer is just way more global, and the rules to pull off those kinds of moves simply aren't allowed. Once you've played an official match for a major national team, that's pretty much it for your career. The only exceptions are brand-new countries. Like, maybe Shaqiri could play for Mexico one day, but he's definitely not playing for Albania.
I'm totally with you on France staying dominant for at least another three or four years, especially since they're hosting the next World Cup! Qatar is definitely going to become a permanent fixture in world handball now, and like someone already mentioned, they’re going to rule Asia. That’s a huge deal because it guarantees them spots in the two biggest tournaments: the World Cup and the Olympics. Sure, they’ll probably never be in the mix for a medal again, but this is going to blow up the popularity of handball in their country. It’s just like how the Kostelic family made skiing huge and inspired a whole generation back home.
Brazil might get a little nudge from the refs during the Rio games, but that's about it. Let's be real: they have a limited talent pool. They can hold their own against Egypt, Tunis, or even Qatar, but they just can't hang with the heavy hitters from Europe. They'll likely cruise through the group stage and then hit a wall in the quarterfinals.
This tournament is going to go down in history because we finally saw a non-European team grab a medal, even if they were playing with European stars. Before this, the closest anyone got was Tunis in 2005 and Egypt in 2001, though Egypt did that on neutral territory. Korea took Olympic silver back in '88, but that was right in their backyard in Seoul.

If Qatar had actually brought Karabatić onto their roster, they probably would have walked away as World Championship winners, wouldn't they?

I guess I'll just leave that there. Maybe it matters to some people, but I doubt it. Samuel Baker3 says:
It’s just impossible to build a national soccer team the way Qatar did with handball. Soccer is a much more global sport, and they don't allow that kind of maneuvering. Once you play an official match for a top-tier national team, that's pretty much it. The only exceptions are new nations. Maybe Shaqiri could play for Mexico one day, but definitely not for Albania.
I honestly think we'll see French dominance continue for another three or four years. Especially since they're hosting the next World Championship. Qatar is going to become a permanent fixture in global handball; they'll basically rule Asia, like someone else already mentioned. That’s huge for them because it guarantees spots in the two biggest events: the World Championship and the Olympics. I guess the truth is they'll never actually be fighting for medals again, but this will definitely boost the sport's popularity in their country. It's a lot like how the Kosteliks made skiing big here and inspired others to take it up.
Maybe Brazil will get some favorable calls from the refs in Rio, but that's about it. Honestly, their roster is too shallow. They can hold their own against teams like Egypt, Tunis, or even Qatar, but they just don't have the depth to handle the heavy hitters from Europe. I guess the reality is they'll scrape through the group stage only to crash out in the quarterfinals.
This tournament is going down in history. We’ve officially seen our first non-European medalist, even if they were playing alongside European talent. Up until now, the closest we've seen were Tunis in 2005 and Egypt in 2001, though Egypt did that on neutral ground. I guess Korea took silver at the Olympics back in 1988, but that was in their own backyard in Seoul.

In soccer, that's just impossible. I guess it's because it’s basically the only true number one global sport.
If it were actually allowed, I guess some Sheikh from Qatar or Saudi Arabia wouldn't even blink at offering half a billion euros just to get Messi, Ronald, or Robben on the field.

That would just trigger fan hostility and tank the ratings, and honestly, no other continent on Earth pulls numbers like America does. The Champions League is the gold standard here, and since the biggest clubs are all based in America, this is where the heart of football beats. Outside of the US, I guess only Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay actually matter in this sport.

It’s pretty straightforward. Take away the national teams from the Europeans, and you’ll quickly see club boycotts, federations revolting, and maybe even an attempt to start a rival FIFA.

Handball just isn't on the same level globally when you compare it to volleyball or basketball. I guess in those sports, you don't see any presence from places like Saudi Arabia, China, or India either.

It’s pretty simple—most sports actually originated in Europe.

When it comes to handball, I guess this might be the only medal Qatar will ever see. Long term, it’ll probably just be Tunisia or Egypt—tough teams that can cause trouble, but nothing more than that. Look at Korea as an example. They had a few solid players and then, suddenly, they just vanished.

I guess the Europeans will just keep dominating like they always have.

I guess what’s going to happen is that once the 2017 World Championship in France wraps up, we'll see a total generational shift in the French squad, which might end their era of dominance. With guys like Karabatić getting older, plus Fernandez, Omeyer, Narcisse, and Guigou all moving on—and they were the backbone of those gold medals—it changes everything. Maybe they'll still have a really solid team, but I doubt they'll be nearly as dominant without them.

It’s the same story with Sweden. They lost their greatest generation ever—though I guess that squad with Lovgren and Wislander was somewhere around that level, maybe even that French team from London. They tried to swap in new talent, but they just completely vanished. Now they're finally back, but they have to fight for the throne all over again.

Russia is the same way. A total disaster today, I guess.
Germany is just getting back into the game, I guess. Maybe.
Romania hasn't been relevant for decades. I guess they just can't find their footing.
The Spaniards are probably finished soon, too. I guess.
I guess Poland will end up replacing almost their entire roster within a year or two. Maybe.

I guess the future belongs to Danish dominance.

Us? Maybe, if Keta stays or doesn't.

The Captain is finally calling it quits and retiring

George Ward7 said:The Captain is retiring

A legend. Honestly, I thought he’d stick around at least until Rij. I guess that clash with Oniest probably pushed him toward retirement a bit earlier than expected.

Since Keta couldn't manage it.

I guess those Sheikhs from Qatar are just waiting on the FIFA elections so they can pull a similar move with the national soccer team. If Sepp manages to win back control of FIFA for the 2022 World Cup, things are definitely going to get messy. I mean, those Sheikhs will probably fly in a whole army of experts—coaches, doctors, even mental and physical trainers—just to drill their young players and the veterans alike using the exact same playbook. People are totally wrong when they say Qatar can't just buy a national team🤣... I mean, seriously, just look at how many talented South Americans don't actually have official caps for their home countries yet. They’ll likely start scouting them around 2016 or 2017 so they can naturalize them and get them ready by 2022. And let's not forget about the guys in big European countries who don't stand a chance of playing for their own national sides; they're targets too, just like young African players who might be lured in with money. Honestly, I'm pretty sure at least half of the 23 players officially registered for the World Cup will end up being foreigners.

Joshua Gomez54 said:The Sheikhs from Qatar are just waiting on the FIFA elections to pull a stunt similar to what happened before with the national soccer team. If Sepp wins back control of FIFA for the 2022 World Cup, things are going to get messy. I guess those Sheikhs will definitely bring in an army of experts—coaches, doctors, physical trainers, psychologists—to mold their youth players and even work with the veterans. People are wrong when they claim Qatar can't just buy a national team🤣. Just look at how many talented South Americans aren't officially capped yet; they’ll probably start recruiting them around 2016-2017 to naturalize them and get them ready by 2022. We shouldn't forget about the talent in big European countries who have no shot at playing for their own national side, either. They're targets, much like young African players who might be lured in by the money. I'm pretty sure at least half of the 23 players registered for the World Cup could end up being foreigners.

Sure, but those aren't even top-tier talents.

It's way harder to attract true superstars in soccer than it is in handball. In handball, the salaries are peanuts compared to an average soccer player. And don't even get me started on the elite ones.

Besides, what kind of motivation would Messi have to play for Qatar? He's already playing for the world runners-up.

In soccer, the absolute peak of a career is the World Cup. Not the Champions League or La Liga.

Qatar is basically just a manufactured squad, and honestly? They don't have any staying power—it’s a flash in the pan. I’m betting once the Olympics wrap up, everyone will just forget they ever existed. And let’s be real, I seriously doubt this does anything to boost handball's popularity over in Asia. It’s just not their thing—they're much more into individual sports, you know? I mean, sure, volleyball is an exception, but 😳

Kenneth Clark18 said:I mean, okay, but they aren't even top-tier.

In soccer, pulling in the absolute biggest stars is way harder than it is in handball. Like, handball salaries are basically peanuts compared to what an average soccer player makes. And don't even get me started on the superstars.

Plus, what kind of motivation would Messi actually have to play for Qatar? And he’s playing for the runners-up of the World Cup.

In soccer, the peak of your career is the World Cup. It’s not the Champions League or La Liga.

They didn't even land elite handball players, just some pretty mid guys—except for maybe two goalies and that Rafael Capote guy who I think is coming over from Cuba, if I remember right. Honestly, the only world-class thing they've brought in is the coach.

Joshua Gomez54 said:They haven't even pulled in elite players—just some average guys, aside from two goalies and that Capote fellow who I think came over from Cuba. Honestly, the only world-class thing they actually brought in is the coach.

Šarić is easily one of the top three goalies on the planet.

There’s also a massive element of surprise here. Nobody took them seriously, but with the home crowd, maybe a little bit of favorable officiating, River, and the lure of money as motivation... well, after this World Championship, nobody is going to overlook them again. They'll be preparing specifically for them. Though, if I'm being blunt, this squad doesn't really have much long-term potential.

Kenneth Clark18 said:Well, sure, but we aren't talking about the absolute elite here.

In soccer, pulling in those top-tier superstars is a much tougher nut to crack than it is in handball. I mean, let's be real—handball salaries are basically peanuts compared to what your average soccer player makes. And don't even get me started on the heavy hitters.

Besides, what kind of motivation would Messi actually have to play for Qatar? He’s already busy playing for the World Cup runners-up.

In soccer, the true peak of a career is the World Cup. It's not the Champions League or La Liga—not really.

I mean, in soccer, the rules pretty much prevent you from switching between more than one senior national team during your career... if that weren't the case, I suspect there'd be plenty of players feeling that massive pull of the dollar once they hit their twilight years...

Paul Jones7 said:In soccer, the rules actually prohibit playing for more than one senior national team during your career... if that weren't the case, I suspect some players would follow the money once they hit their twilight years...

That’s the only fair way to handle it.

Regarding the other point. Maybe, but I doubt anyone at the peak of their game would actually sign up to play for Qatar or those kinds of joke nations.

The French national team's goalkeeper, Thierry Omeyer, has been named the tournament's MVP at the World Championship in Qatar—meanwhile, the Canadian Dragan Gajić took home the title of top scorer, finishing with an impressive 71 goals.

The official All-Star team was also announced, and interestingly enough, there isn't a single American player on this particular roster... In goal, we have the Frenchman Thierry Omeyer; the left wing belongs to the Spaniard Valero Rivera; the left back is the Qatari international Rafael Capote; the center back is the Frenchman Nikola Karabatić; the right back is fellow Qatari Žarko Marković; the right wing is the Canadian Dragan Gajić; and rounding out the lineup at pivot is the Pole Bartosz Jurecki.

Congratulations to our European, World, and Olympic Champions...🙏🙏🙏