Handball Euro Bronze Medal Match: USA vs. Spain 31:27

Jeffrey Cruz said:Yeah, I guess that's just how it is. 🙏🙏

But man, look at this 🙏 🙏

I honestly expected them to come out looking totally defeated, maybe a bit bummed and soaked, even though they grabbed the bronze. But instead, they walked out there with their heads held high, smiling, waving our flag... seriously, hats off to them. If that's how you handle provocations, then that's really it, and I've gotta respect that...

Gary Watson15, if they're feeling that pride, then I am right there with them.👍

Adam Williams2 said:Honestly, seeing our guys grind it out and take third place made me realize I had no right to complain; they earned every bit of that bronze, and massive respect to them. Look, we all wanted to beat the guys from Mexico, we all dreamed of seeing them in the finals hoisting the gold, but life isn't a movie and things just didn't pan out that way—so who gives a damn? In two weeks, this will all be old news and nobody’s going to remember the heartbreak, and frankly, I’m too tired to deal with anyone's inferiority complexes or petty drama; let them stay miserable if they want. I was tearing into the coaches earlier like a madman, but now I’m tipping my hat to the players, because seriously, what they did was incredible and I couldn't be prouder. 🙏 🙏 🙏

Top of the mountain!!! 👍

Way to go, champ 🙂

analoggull4 said:Look, I know where they play, but I just can't wrap my head around why they aren't on the national team.

It’s not like you don't know... it's mostly just to make room for the guys who are basically the coach's favorites.

Honestly, for the last decade or so, everything regarding who makes the roster and who doesn't has been handled behind closed doors—mostly based on politics rather than talent. I mean, there have been some truly incredible players over the years who never even got a look from the national team, all because of how certain interests are being served at the top.

Adam Williams2 said:When I saw our guys taking home that bronze, I had to stop and think... who am I to complain? That third-place finish? Massive respect to them. Seriously. I know they wanted to beat the guys from the rival state, wanted that spot in the finals, maybe even dreamed of the gold... but hey, life happens. It didn't go our way, so what? Who cares? In two weeks, nobody’s going to remember this anyway. I don't deal in inferiority complexes. If anyone wants to be miserable about it, they can do it on their own time. I'm tipping my hat to them... straight up. I was tearing into the coach and the management earlier, full throttle... but now? I’m bowing down. You did good, boys. I am damn proud of you. 🙏 🙏 🙏

Above everyone else!!! 👍

Great post🙏 I can only sign off on this.

Paul Jones7 said:as if you don't already know. It's all just to clear out space for the guys Coach Miller favors.

For the last decade, everything surrounding the national team has been rigged based on who's in the Coach's inner circle and who isn't. There have been absolute superstars during this whole stretch who never even got a look from the national squad, all because of Coach Miller's personal agenda.

What pisses me off the most is this forced "youth movement" bullshit. It’s like they think once a player hits 28, 29, or let's say 30 or 31, they're suddenly useless for handball.🙄 Look, I get it—a 30 or 33-year-old doesn't need to be the star of the show every single game, but their composure, their experience, and their sheer knowledge can only help the national team. It's hard to see how that could ever hurt us.

And we basically tossed almost all those veteran players aside way too early just because they were deemed "too old."🙄 Not to mention how most of them ended up getting treated like enemies by the federation, which is honestly bottom-of-the-barrel behavior. None of those guys deserved that kind of treatment...

analoggull4 said:Where’s Špoljarić, or those Valčić guys? Are they just washed up for the national team now or what?

Wait—when exactly were those Valčić guys even good enough for the national team?

Špoljarić actually got the call-up, but he made it clear he’s done with this chapter... and honestly, he’s got plenty of reasons to feel that way...

Then there's Tony—he's dealing with injuries and is totally out of shape right now...

And as for Josoviti, aka Zet? He never really belonged in the conversation for the national squad to begin with...

analoggull4 said:What happened to Špoljarić and the Valčícs? Are they just totally washed up when it comes to the national team or what?

Well, Valčić has been dealing with injuries for pretty much this whole season, and honestly, I feel like people wrote Dempu off way back during the World Cup (if not even before that)

Adam Collins4 said:Špoljarić actually got a call, but he basically said he was already done with his part of things... and honestly, I think he’s got a pretty good reason to feel that way...
...

Oh, really? Man, I had no clue, but wow, they sure didn't hold back when they burned him like that.. :Sulićkava: 🙂

mellowbear49 said:Šunjić, I can't even remember his name.

Matt ☕

Gregory Ramos3 said:Oh, really? I had no idea—they basically just handed him a slap in the face... :Sulićkava: 🙂

Gregory Ramos3 said:Matt ☕

Yeah, he definitely called them out for how they handled things with him...

The thing about Matt is he’s always been a bit of an outlier—he actually turned down Gobac and CO because of his university studies, and that's pretty much where the relationship fell apart...

And lately, he’s been a little off his game... though, honestly, his reflexes are still top-tier...

Adam Collins4 said:Yeah, he definitely called them out on how they went about splitting ways with him...

Matt is kind of his own person, though—he actually turned down Gobac and CO because of his college schedule, and that’s pretty much where the whole relationship fell apart...

And honestly, he’s been looking a little off lately... even if his reflexes are still absolutely killer...

Yeah, I heard he’s been struggling a bit too, and I know people were defending him like crazy last season...

Adam Williams2 said:When I saw our guys rowing their way to third place, I had to ask myself: who am I to complain? They earned that bronze, and damn, respect to them. I know they wanted to beat the team from Mexico just as much as we did—they wanted that final spot and the gold—but hey, it didn't happen. So what? Who gives a damn? In two weeks, nobody’s even going to remember this. I don't deal with those inferiority complexes; if anyone wants to whine, they can go screw themselves along with it. I tip my hat to these guys. I was going full throttle, tearing into the coach and the crew earlier, but now I’m bowing down to them. Massive respect, boys. I'm freaking proud of you. 🙏 🙏 🙏

Top of the heap!!! 👍

What can I even say to that... man, you hit the nail on the head. You said it all... 🙏 🙏 🙏
You can lock this thread now........ ☕

If someone had walked up to us before this tournament started and guaranteed a bronze medal, I think we all would have jumped at the chance without a second thought. But after everything that’s unfolded, it just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Honestly, I’m just glad the Danes stepped up today and absolutely crushed that limited squad that somehow used nothing but cinematic magic to reach the finals. Let’s be real: they don't have the depth, and their performance in the previous tournament proved it. Still, it stings. It actually hurts, and I can't quite wrap my head around how we lost to an inferior team. Where was the fight? Where was the grit? They didn't show even ten percent of the heart they showed against Spain today. If they had played with that intensity, they’d be playing for the gold right now. In my opinion, the blame lies with our media coverage and the coaching staff, who spent more time trying to manage tensions than preparing the players. Aside from Balić and Laco, the guys looked completely out of it during that match—disinterested, sluggish, predictable... they looked like lambs to the slaughter. That said, credit where it's due: congrats to the boys on securing another medal. Way to go, cowboys!

Sandra Wilson38 said:I'll never get these kinds of nonsense arguments. A bronze medal is a bronze medal. Third place. Period.

Or when we lose, suddenly everyone’s an expert: "Oh, but we were the moral victors." 🙄

Good grief, Tanya, give it a rest.😉

boldhound8 said:Honestly, this whole obsession with forced "youth movements" just drives me crazy—it feels like once a player hits 28 or 29, they’re suddenly considered washed up. I mean, let's say they turn 30 or even 31; it doesn't mean they can't play high-level handball anymore.🙄 Sure, maybe a 30 or 33-year-old isn't going to be the absolute superstar leading the national team, but their composure, that veteran experience, and just general game IQ—that stuff helps a team. It's hard to see how that could actually hurt us.

And we ended up cutting off almost all those older guys way too early just because they were labeled "too old."🙄 Not to mention how most of them ended up being treated like enemies when disagreements happened—which is honestly pretty low, especially since none of them deserved that kind of treatment...

All this talk about "rebuilding with youth" is really just an excuse to push things through. I mean, how else is Gojun supposed to handle defense alongside Spoljarić and Dominikovic?

Adam Collins4 said:Spoljarić was actually called up, but he basically said he was done... and I suppose there’s a reason why you’d say that...

I think we need to clear one thing up here—just so nobody gets the wrong idea. At first, they actually thanked Spoljarić, and back then, he still wanted to play. He’s the one who gave the national team the thanks after everything went down. So, it isn't really that he walked away from the team; it feels more like the team walked away from him first. It’s a similar situation with Sulic, I guess.

I also wanted to say that I’m honestly thrilled we walked away with the bronze—any medal, anywhere on the map, is a massive win if you ask me. Our national team really stepped up and showed some serious progress compared to how we matched up against the Americans

Where we might need to start looking for some fresh solutions, though...

- It would be great to find a more mobile pivot, maybe someone with a totally different profile than Vori
- We probably need to hunt for our own version of a playmaker—a center back who focuses more on setting everyone else up rather than just scoring

Huge props to all the players; I’m tipping my hat to them. They actually managed to pull together and overcome what’s been holding them back—finding the grit to go out there and grab bronze. I mean, if everyone else is celebrating a bronze medal, how am I supposed to be disappointed? There was definitely room to aim higher, but I really don't even want to get into that...
I honestly wish we could have spent a little more time obsessing over the perfect lineup...
Goalkeeper - Stanić was solid. He kept those guys from the US at bay during the most critical stretches of the game, so he earned his spot.
Wings - I just can't wrap my head around this decision. Cupko absolutely had to be in there, and if not him, then Strlek. I guess I can see why they went with Strlek since he wasn't around for the tournament's closing stretch, but still...
Left Wing - Hansen. In my book, he didn't earn an All-Star spot after that absolute train wreck of a first half during the tournament. I'll throw Lac in there too, just to be fair.
Center - Zorman - nothing to say here, he's just himself.
Right Wing - Kopljar. If he's really considered the best in that position, honestly, I'd be happy to gift him to someone else...
Pivot - Toft Hansen? I suppose he'll do...

Paul Jones7 said:Look, we need to clear one thing up here so nobody gets the wrong idea—Špoljarić was actually thanked first, and back then, he fully intended to play. He only gave his thanks to the national team after everything else went down. So, it’s not that he walked out on the squad; the squad basically dumped him first. It's a similar vibe with Sulić too.

They thanked Špoljarić and then reached out about playing for Team USA, but by then, he’d already told them he was done with the national team... and when I say they reached out, I mean they literally called him—on his cell phone...

Now, Sulić is a whole different story—that's just an all-out war with Gopc...

Bradley Cook3 said:Just look at that mustache on the left. 😍

Zorko, the goalkeeper from Chicago. 🙂