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

darkmarlin8 said:PEACE 😁

Way to go, guys. 🙏🙏

Peace. 🤣

😁 Those haters in the stands just got handed their walking papers. While we’re over here celebrating a win, they’re left wallowing in nothing but misery—and honestly, everything turned out exactly how it was supposed to. ☕

Jeffrey Cruz said:😁 Those haters in the stands got absolutely wrecked. We walked away happy, they walked away miserable, and honestly? Everything worked out perfectly for us. ☕

We took home the trophy shaped like a number 3, while they get stuck with a number 2.🤣

boldhound8 said:It’s like we walked away with the trophy for third place while they were celebrating being second.🤣

🤣🤣

http://image.yaymicro.com/rz_1210x12...lag-9561f8.jpg

Maria Reyes35 said:I disagree...

with that logic...
what does the atmosphere even have to do with it?
Look, I totally get that it feels amazing when twenty thousand fans are chanting your name, but you’re supposed to give it your all even when the entire arena is rooting against you—for crying out loud.
We aren't talking about some local Little League game here; this is the national team, so professionalism should be at its absolute peak, right? If you really think the crowd affects performance, are you suggesting our guys just aren't professional enough?
Even Coach Miller mentioned that an atmosphere like that didn't phase him one bit because he's learned how to tune everything out.
(I honestly don't see how a hostile crowd could do anything other than fuel your fire, make you want to win even more, or just spark a sense of rebellion.)

Now, Billy the Kid might have grown up getting used to intense energy in the stands, but I think his perspective shifted once a stray object flew past his head and nearly took his eye out!

"First they're throwing bottles at me, next thing you know, they'll be coming at me with knives."

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

🤣

boldhound8 said:We walked away with the number three trophy, while they took the number two...🤣

🤣

PS. Does anyone have a link to the video of the medal ceremony?

darkmarlin8 said:PEACE 😁

So where’s Billy the Kid? Did he get left behind at the Marriott?

Look at this guy standing behind Ninčević; I’m pretty sure his arm is blocking Balić from view.☕

casualskipper8 said:"First they're throwing bottles at me, next they'll be coming for me with knives."

You're being dramatic. ☕
Look, I know Americans can lack class, solidarity, and basic decency sometimes, but I’m telling you, something else entirely tanked that game. It wasn't just the vibe in the arena...

Bradley Cook3 said:Just look at the guy's mustache on the left. 😍

Zdenko Zorko, the goalkeeper coach...

I mean, that’s all he’s got left—that weird way he holds his hand...😬

Looking at the road toward New York City, I still can't help but feel that Goluža isn't the right call for head coach. I don't doubt his grit or his drive to reach the top, but I have my doubts about his tactical ability... Since he's staying in the role for now, I just hope he proves me wrong.

casualskipper8 said:It’s a bummer we won't be facing the Mexicans in
New York City. We’d probably just dismantle them—maybe a ten or fifteen point lead, easy.

well, I mean, you should probably be a bit more realistic here... 😉

Let's be honest, their defense wasn't actually bad—it's just something they didn't have before. Vujović really got them organized this time. Looking at everything Vujović has done overall, he's done a pretty decent job.

Once a team starts playing a defensive scheme like that, you can basically forget about blowing them out by ten or more points. That just doesn't happen.

If we played at our absolute ceiling, we’d win comfortably, but I'm thinking maybe five or six points, nothing more. And that’s assuming we stick to the tactics, rather than just letting three perimeter players run wild, throwing up contested shots and trying to force things.

You can play all five guys like that, but if it isn't working, you've gotta make the sub.

That first half was kind of a blueprint for how to handle the Mexicans, though that was mostly regarding the offense. As far as defense goes, we weren't really holding our own against them throughout the whole game.

lonehawk172 said:Wait, where's Balić in this shot? Did he just stay behind at the hotel?

Actually, he’s the one right above mus, his hand is just blocking his face... It’s honestly nice to see them looking like this after that last game, a bit of a change from all those lost finals...🙂

The welcome starts at 1:30 over at the local hangout 😁

Bravo! That’s exactly how it should be done! 👍

image 🙏

Joseph Clark37 said:Looking back at our path toward New York City, I still find myself feeling that Goluža might not be the ideal choice for head coach. While I certainly have no doubt regarding his determination or his burning desire to reach the very top, I unfortunately harbor some reservations about his actual tactical ability to get us there. Since it doesn't look like a coaching change is on the horizon, I truly hope he proves me wrong.

If Balić can stay healthy and motivated, if Obrvan continues his development work with Kopljara (who is only 26 now, whereas Metličić was already 27 when he was playing in Portugal), and if the rest of the roster stays injury-free, then honestly, nothing can stop us.
There are quite a few "ifs" in that sentence, but it is certainly pleasant to remain optimistic.😁

It wouldn't hurt to dream that Marić might evolve into a player like Sulić by the time the Olympics roll around, or that Pešić could emerge as the next great Šola.😍

In that case, even Keta wouldn't be able to mess things up.

America has produced the absolute best right wing in all of European handball. ☕

redpuma49 said:If Balić stays healthy and motivated, if Obrvan keeps working with Kopljara (who is only 26, whereas Metličić was 27 when he moved to Portugal), and if everyone else stays fit, nobody can stop us.
There are a lot of "ifs" here, but it’s good to be optimistic.😁

It wouldn't hurt to hope that Marić grows into a new Sulić before the Olympics, or that Pešić becomes the next Šola.😍

Then even Keta couldn't mess it up...

True, there are plenty of variables. We have serious competition from France, who certainly won't be any worse than they were during this championship—if anything, they'll be better. Then there's Denmark, who are realistic contenders for a top-four finish, and potentially some underdog who might pull an upset at the Olympics.

The idea of Gips coaching the national team is honestly laughable...🤣

When I saw our guys celebrating that third-place finish, I honestly thought to myself, who am I to say anything? That bronze medal? Major respect to them. I mean, I know they probably wanted to face the Mexicans and make it all the way to the finals to grab the gold just as much as we did, but hey, life happens. It didn't go our way, so what? Honestly, in two weeks, nobody is even going to remember this. I don't deal with those kinds of complexes; if anyone wants to be miserable about it, they can do it on their own time. I’m tipping my hat to them—really, I am. I might have been tearing into Keta and Kopljara earlier, but now I’m giving them props too. Seriously, you guys did great, and I'm just really proud of you. 🙏 🙏 🙏

Top tier!!! 👍