World Handball Championship: USA vs. Spain 27-25

I guess I’m just one of those people who only really tunes in to handball when the national team is playing, so all this deep-dive tactical analysis doesn't mean much to me. Honestly, I haven't seen anything that makes me think anyone was intentionally throwing the game, though maybe that's just because I'm missing the subtle cues, too. All I know is that I'm genuinely happy we pulled off the win and ended up sitting at the top of the group. It feels like it might finally be our turn to take down a powerhouse like France if we end up facing them later on. I don't quite get why everyone seems so disappointed by a victory, especially since people have already written us off for fifth or sixth place anyway. 🙂

Nothing new on this forum, honestly. Just endless complaining and more complaining.

If they win, it’s bad. If they lose, it’s bad. And if Mirko isn't making saves, he's supposedly useless, but if he actually makes a save, then people call him an idiot for even trying. Good grief, I don't know what this place has turned into.

Daniel Cooper40 said:Look, Prika, the issue isn't about whether we played them or not.

The real point is that we had a golden opportunity to rest our starters today! We could have walked into the second round feeling completely fresh since those games against Australia and Algeria were basically just practice runs, and even the matches against Egypt and Canada weren't exactly bloodbaths. Instead, what do we have to show for it? We've lost Štrlek, Lacković is sidelined indefinitely, there's similar talk regarding Kopljar, and Balić is stuck watching from the stands. So now, what happens? One single player, Lovro Šprem, is forced into the starting lineup. I mean, kudos to the kid, really, but is he enough to take us through against France? Absolutely not. If we had just sat them out, we would have preserved our strength, kept Štrlek healthy, and had a much smoother path ahead. Honestly, some people just don't get it.

Goluža van, you should be the head coach.
I honestly can't believe what I'm reading here. Are we seriously trying to act like the Spanish team just handed us this fantastic victory on a silver platter? Have you no shame? Sure, if Balić had been out there, we probably would have lost this thing outright. But let’s be real—we are only moving past the French because of pure luck, I'm certain of it.

Barbara’s a flight attendant
So she’s cruising through the clouds, high up in the sky
Oh Vera, oh Vera, oh girl, listen to me
Barbara’s a flight attendant
And man, she just flies through the heavens
Vera, I’m telling ya, Vera, listen up
And now, everyone’s hitting the dance floor
While other skydivers are chasing after her
Like Chinese tourists, French guys, and some Danes too
But us real men? We’re built different
We’re swarming around her like ants, seriously
I mean, who else could even dream of catching her up there?

Banker said:😁

Maybe try being a bit more decent before you start pointing fingers at everyone else. 😉

I actually deleted my own post the second I hit send; I have no issue stepping up and offering a public apology for what was said. Besides, all those insults from my post are being repeated constantly in dozens of other threads anyway.

Look, I wouldn't even be this worked up if the Spaniards had just played like absolute garbage from the jump. If they'd been throwing the game, then fine—we can't exactly make ourselves look like total amateurs by failing to capitalize on a blowout. Just win the damn thing and move on. But no, they kept handing us opportunities on a silver platter. I think we were up by three goals with fifteen minutes left on the clock? Then, out of nowhere, right before the whistle, he decides to pull some unprovoked nonsense and misses the one shot that would have saved his entire reputation 🙂

Patrick Bailey4 said:I have absolutely no intention of stooping to your level. I’ll just say this: you should be ashamed of yourselves, and rest assured, I've reported your comments properly.

I honestly couldn't descend to your level even if I had an industrial-grade drill with a heavy-duty bit at my disposal.

Let's settle this like adults, fair and square. It seems the Spaniards and all those countless Real Madrid or FC Barcelona fanatics on this forum—along with the rest of this crowd—think they're the only ones allowed to act smart. That really says everything you need to know about them...

Congress said:Go jump in a lake, lady.

You've been flagged. ☕

Look, I get that winning is the whole point of sports, but isn't it more important to just make things easier on ourselves if we have the chance? We already learned our lesson the hard way once before—wasn't that enough? What happens if the Americans take home the gold while we're heading back home earlier than expected?

Daniel Cooper40 said:Look, the issue isn't about playing at all.

The point is we had the chance to rest our starters today. We could have entered the second round completely fresh because matches against Australia and Algeria were basically just scrimmages, and the games against Egypt and Canada weren't even physical. Instead, we lost Štrlek, Lacković is out indefinitely, there are rumors about Kopljar, and Balić is stuck in the stands. Now we’re looking at one Lovro Šprem starting in the lineup. Credit to him, sure, but against France? He's not enough... If we had sat them out, we would've kept our strength and kept Štrlek healthy for an easier schedule. Common sense should prevail.

I'm with 👍

Patrick Bailey4 said:Look, I'm not even going to stoop to your level. All I'll say is shame on you, and don't worry—I've got your names logged.

Honestly, screw you guys. I haven't read anything this stupid in a long time.
just get lost and have some dignity.

silverpuma90 said:Get Goluža out, he should be the head coach.
I honestly can't believe what I'm reading right now; you guys are trying to act like the Spanish team just handed us this massive win on a silver platter. Shame on you. Honestly, if Balić had been on the court, we probably would've walked away with a loss. And let's be real, I'm pretty sure we’d get smoked by the French too.

So you actually watched the game? ☕

rowdygull90 said:I get that winning is the goal, but isn't it even more important to make things easier on ourselves if we have the chance? We’ve been burned before, so shouldn't that serve as a sufficient lesson? What happens if the Spaniards take home the gold while we end up heading back to the States much earlier than expected?

Repetition is indeed the mother of mastery.
The lessons from 2007 seem to have been lost to time. Everything needs to be revisited.

It would be such a tremendous joy to return home and say we played the most spectacular handball in the tournament right up until our exit. Medals are secondary to that kind of performance.

nimblewalker4 said:If Mirko isn't playing defense, he's a total bust. If he actually steps up to defend, suddenly he's an idiot for trying. Good grief, I have no idea what this place has turned into.

🤣

Patrick Bailey4 said:You're logged in. ☕

What, you some kind of cop?

Daniel Cooper40 said:Another fifth-place finish.

It’s not exactly a new surprise. ☕

For crying out loud... look at the language being used here 🤦

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion... but this kind of verbal abuse is 🙄😲

You can make your point without resorting to being a complete jerk or using those kinds of insults ☕
...

We just can't seem to learn. We constantly forget that playing fair doesn't mean much if you end up empty-handed. The world only cares about the champion—maybe they'll remember the host, but that’s about it. Honestly, we’ve made our own path much harder with this win... In the round of sixteen, we would have crushed the Mexicans, and the road to the finals would have been a breeze compared to facing the French or the Danes. Now? It's going to be an absolute grind. We're going to burn through way more nerves and sweat than necessary. But whatever. It is what it is... Let's just show the world that we can take down the giants and still grab that medal!

nimblewalker4 said:it just isn't right when Mirko isn't out there playing defense, then it's basically a layup for them

Always



😬

silverpuma90 said:Fire Goluža. He should be the head coach.
I honestly can't believe what I'm reading here. You guys are trying to act like the Spanish team just handed us this massive win on a silver platter. Shame on you. Honestly, if Balić had been on the court, we probably would’ve walked away with a loss. And let's be real—we wouldn't have stood a chance against the French either.

The Spanish team definitely choked. When they had a two-man advantage, they just froze up because they were terrified of actually losing. Those mental errors the Spanish made in the final five minutes? Even an amateur high school squad wouldn't pull a stunt like that.