Handball World Cup: USA vs. Norway - Final Score 25:28

We lost because, honestly, besides Mamica, nobody else stepped up. Look, the defense was solid, but outside of Mamica, nobody had the guts to actually take the shot, and that’s exactly what killed us in the end. I'm really hoping Stepancic, Mandalinic, and Sebetic find some backbone before the next Euro. I'm most disappointed in Stepancic; I know how he played back in Washington, D.C., and it's clear he just hasn't hit his old level since that injury.

Hats off to Zlaji. He played a great tournament, but it's a shame it ended on such a tragic note. He’s always been one of those guys whose hands freeze up when the pressure is on—someone who lacks the nerve to take full responsibility when it counts.

We're the better team against the Canadians, but we're exhausted as hell. I don't get these rules where one team gets one day of rest while the other gets two.👎

rustyridge10 said:Look, I really don't want this to sound like I'm just trashing Duvnjak, but man... I'm watching Karabatic here, he's 32, and the guy looks like he could go out and play another full game right after the whistle. Meanwhile, Duvnjak? By the 15th minute, he’s already gasping for air, sweating through his shirt, looking totally spent, sluggish, or just dealing with some injury. It's night and day between them. And honestly, I find it hard to believe Karabatic isn't logging as many minutes as Duvnjak is.
As for that old game from a while back, I don't even care if they won or lost anymore. To be honest, my heart just went out to Horvat because of those misses. He's always been my favorite player.

And Karabatic is basically just coasting on the national team at this point; he barely even saw the floor in the semifinals. Narcisse seems pretty weak too. Even the commentators were pointing out during the semis how much the new generation of the US squad is actually running the show now. Though, I mean, let's be real—Dinart could probably still shut down Duvnjak, Mamica, and whoever else today. Especially Cindrica.🤣 Plus, Omeyer isn't playing much, maybe stepping in for a penalty throw once in a while. But hey, they've got their spots secured at PSG where everyone else is doing all the heavy lifting. They just sit there being the "veteran presence" or whatever.👍

George Robinson43 said:It’s not just about the Frenchmen. For twenty years now, they’ve been feeding us this garbage—telling us we’re exhausted, burnt out, and falling apart. Just us. Like everyone else is perfectly fine and 100% ready to go.
I mean, seriously, have they no shame? Every single damn tournament, it’s the same old story about fatigue and injuries.

It’s the same thing in every sport, really. Modric is tired, he’s drained... as if Marcelo, Ronaldo, and Kroos aren't completely wiped out too.

It’s just the perfect way to build an alibi: you just make up injuries, muscle issues, injections, aches, some long season... whatever works.

Daniel Booth37 said:Honestly, if it were me, I would’ve just blasted it past him.

Man, listen... you've got guys like Messi, Ronaldo, even Roberto Baggio missing penalties in the final minute. Or in basketball, everyone seems to choke on those deciding free throws. It happens. So yeah, this time Horvat misses his penalty. It’s that massive pressure, right? You're at the end of an exhausting game, the stands are packed, everything is on the line. There are really only two ways this goes. Besides, the keeper made the save—you gotta give him some credit too, I guess.

Argentina has two titles, Italy has four, Brazil has five... and the US has zero in soccer. And don't even get me started on where the continental trophies are for those teams. Even with basketball, you see the anxiety coming from places like Senegal, Nigeria, the Philippines, or the Czech Republic.

Jack Kelly5 said:You’re posting so much nonsense in this thread that I can't even follow you anymore. Like, handball is only played by five countries, Canadian Olympic medals are all in useless sports, track and field is just sprinting disciplines... now you're even trolling Horvat.
If you just blurted out one or two stupid things, maybe someone would actually try to argue back with logic, but your bursts of pure gibberish are like a tsunami—they just keep coming, and if you try to block them, they just spill over somewhere else.
Basically, you're just talking total garbage.

What do you actually enjoy watching at the World Cup or the Olympics? I mean, obviously it's the 100m, the 110m hurdles, the 4x100 relay, or the 4x110m hurdles, assuming that's even a thing. Hammer throw, discus, javelin, shot put, high jump... none of that is really an attraction, especially not in the women's events. Out of those jumps, maybe pole vault is okay, and pretty much anything involving the men's side.

Pentathlon, decathlon? Boring.

Long jump is interesting, though. Everyone knows Jonathan Edwards.

Adam Collins4 said:The French have been obsessing over physical conditioning for the last 15 or 20 years like nobody else anywhere...

And it’s not just handball, they do it in pretty much every sport...

When it comes to handball specifically, they were the first ones to really lean into player anthropometry, and honestly, that focus has paid off big time over the years...

The thing is, they approach it like a science project, starting from the absolute youngest age groups, and they never stray from that playbook...

If you want to get technical, there are three real "schools" of handball worth mentioning... the French one, ours, and the Scandinavian style...

And I’m pretty sure the ranking goes exactly in the order I just laid out...

Just to be clear, I’m talking about the development process from childhood onwards...

I mean, what’s stopping American athletes from spending more time in the gym? Modric once bragged about how he doesn't bother with weight training because it's not his thing—well, maybe that's why he's only managed two goals in four seasons. Our guys just don't look athletic; they’re either too scrawny or carrying way too much extra weight. They lack that explosive edge, everything looks a bit sluggish... constant fouls, playing at the nine-meter line, hands always hanging in the air... they've been playing like this for ten years now.

I think I heard on TV that the refs are being biased against Norway again? But in what way? I mean, that penalty could have easily been called off; their player wasn't even in the area, and it wasn't even a particularly rough foul. That nine-meter call could have gone either way.

Basically, it feels like the big powers are preventing us from actually conducting a proper study on the physical profiles of potential athletes.🤣 Is it really such a crime to learn from others and admit we're stuck in those "old school" ways when it comes to soccer, handball, or basketball? Everyone else has evolved. South America plays world-class basketball, and they've got handball down too (like in Brazil). Meanwhile, we keep trying that one specific play they call the "Frenchman," even though it fails two or three times in a row. We stick blindly to our positions... when things get shaky, we might try some positional shifts just for variety. Rotating defenses, switching between 3-3, 5-1, or 6-0... we just desperately need more aggressive handball.

I honestly wonder where they even recruit these sports journalists. Stambuk is such an awkward, bizarre individual that it’s actually painful to witness. I happened to run into one of those RTL News reporters the other day at the Arena—you know, the tall guy with the glasses. It was truly pathetic; the man walks as if he’s got a broomstick shoved up his backside. I just stood there watching him, and I swear, you could practically hear the sheer confusion radiating off of him. He is nothing but a complete oddball.

Joseph Kern5 said:I wonder what’s stopping American athletes from hitting the gym more often? I mean, Lionel Messi once mentioned he doesn't really do the whole weightlifting thing and it just isn't his style, and maybe that's why he's only managed two goals in four seasons. Our guys just don't look athletic; they either seem too thin or a bit heavy. Their reflexes feel slow—it's all just dragging along, drawing fouls, the nine-meter mark, hands in the air... it feels like they've been playing this exact same way for ten years.

I think I heard on TV that the refs were being unfair to Norway again? In which part of the game? Honestly, that penalty might not have even needed to be called; their player wasn't really in the box, and it didn't look like an especially rough foul. That nine-meter call could have gone either way.

So, I guess you could say the big powers are preventing us from doing a deep dive into the actual anthropology of potential athletes. 🤣 Isn't the real issue just learning from others and realizing we're stuck in these "old school" ways when it comes to soccer, handball, basketball... everyone else has already evolved. South America plays incredible basketball, and their handball is great (like Brazil). We keep trying that one specific play, the one people call the "Frenchman" move, even though it fails two or three times in a row. Everyone just sticks rigidly to their positions... whereas if things get uncertain, you could switch it up as a diversion. Rotate the defense, try a 3-3, a 5-1, or a 6-0... we just lack that aggressive edge in handball.

Soccer isn't just about scoring goals, surely, and I think you know that. Lionel Messi has already been named in the top eleven in the world twice, yet you're saying he needs to hit the gym more to score more goals? haha. I mean, what does it matter if an Englishman like Henderson hits the gym if he's playing ten times better than him?
You can't even imagine today's Real Madrid without Lionel Messi; he's their most vital player, and as soon as he's injured, you notice immediately how much Real Madrid's performance drops.

Andrew Hayes6 said:>>Football isn't just about scoring goals, I guess, and you know that too. Lionel Messi has already made the world's top eleven twice, yet you're out here saying he needs to hit the gym more just to score more goals haha. Like, what does it matter if some guy like Henderson hits the gym when he plays ten times better than Lionel Messi anyway?
Without Lionel Messi, you just can't picture today's Real Madrid. He's their most vital player, and honestly, as soon as he gets injured, you can immediately see how much Real Madrid's game falls apart.

You tell us then, what does Linus say when the little ATM heads back to those mountain pastures?

Joseph Kern5 said:What exactly is stopping American athletes from hitting the gym? I heard Lionel Messi bragging about how he doesn't bother with weight training because it isn't his thing—well, look at him, scoring maybe two goals in four seasons. Our guys just don't look athletic; they’re either scrawny or carrying a few too many pounds. Their reflexes seem sluggish—everything feels slow. They're constantly fishing for fouls, nine meters out, hands in the air... it’s been the same old story for ten years.

I caught some segment on TV claiming the refs were biased against Norway again? In what sense? That penalty could easily have been ignored; their player wasn't even in the box, and it certainly wasn't a blatant foul. Nine meters is always debatable.

I guess the global superpowers are just preventing us from conducting a proper anthropological study on potential athlete traits.🤣 Is it really such a crime to learn from others and realize we’re stuck in "old school" ways when it comes to soccer, handball, basketball... everyone else has evolved. South America produces elite basketball and handball (like Brazil). Meanwhile, we keep trying that one specific play—the one they call the "Frenchman"—even though it fails two or three times in a row. Everyone clings blindly to their positions... even when things get chaotic, they won't switch things up as a tactical diversion. Rotating defenses, 3-3, 5-1, 6-0... we just lack aggressive handball.

It's funny how nobody else bothers learning from the Frenchman either, and why isn't everyone playing at least 75% as well as them...

First off, bringing up the gym is total nonsense...

Second, mentioning the 3-3 defense is equally foolish...

If it were as simple as just copying the French style, or our system, or the Scandinavian approach, everyone would be doing it...

Look at the miracle of it all—they aren't.

If they were, even the Americans would be world-class...

If we actually had some extra weight on us, maybe Myrhol wouldn't be messing things up on the perimeter.
Honestly, we should probably bulk up Kontrec by like 20 pounds before it's too late so we actually have a real center ☕

So, how is that going to mess with his motor skills and explosiveness?

The real issue here is that you guys are peddling these journalistic fairy tales—acting like commentators who are genuinely shocked when Myrhol shuts us down at the line... honestly, what surprises me more is why Sarač doesn't just cut through all that nonsense coming from Brkić, because at least Sarač actually understands where the real problem lies...

Honestly, Luka Modrić might actually be able to contribute something to the national team (just don't count those benchwarmers who would spend 99% of the game watching from the sidelines)

Adam Collins4 said:So how's that going to mess with his footwork and explosiveness?

The thing is, people just swallow whatever nonsense the commentators spout, acting all shocked when Myrhol outplays us on the line... honestly, I'm more surprised that Sarač doesn't just shut down Brkić's rambling, since Sarač actually sees where the real issue lies...

I mean, look, I might be talking trash, but Myrhol was actually solid yesterday, mostly because our defense basically folded and left him completely wide open.
But what I was getting at was the weight gain—like, specifically adding fat. A pivot needs to be fundamentally strong, you know? Muscle mass, body type, all that stuff. It’s just like basketball or water polo; you aren't gonna see skinny guys playing center.
Just bulked up muscle on the rest of the squad doesn't really make sense; it's more about athleticism.
The French guys are in great shape, but so are our guys. If you put our players in jerseys with sleeves two sizes smaller, everyone would be wondering why they suddenly look so buff.
But yeah, like I said, I think Musa looks a bit thin, though maybe his neck just makes it look better than it is.

Adam Collins4 said:But how is that going to affect his motor skills and explosiveness?

Hitting the "gym" should actually improve his motor skills and explosiveness.

Provided he has a solid coach, of course.

Jason Campbell70 said:Hitting the gym will definitely help his coordination and explosiveness.

I mean, as long as he’s got a solid coach, obviously.

What kind of gym work are you actually talking about? Like, certain lifts really drive that explosiveness—think cleans, snatches, or power jerks—but you also gotta worry about muscle balance. If things aren't balanced, you're basically asking for trouble. Your core has to be synced up with your back, and honestly, your legs and hips play a huge part in all of this too.

Joseph Kern5 said:Argentina has two titles, Italy has four, Brazil has five... and the US has zero in soccer. Where are the other continental trophies from that list? People are even looking toward Senegal, Nigeria, the Philippines, or the Czech Republic for basketball glory.

Are you actually comparing an American squad that just showed up to the World Cup for the first time back in '98 against these heavyweights who have been playing since the tournament began?

It isn’t about bad luck; it’s just negative selection playing out everywhere in society. This isn't some fluke anymore—it's a symptom of deep-rooted corruption. We have all this raw talent for ball sports, but the league executives just exploit it by forcing these charlatans on us as coaches. They just ride the wave of individual player skill and hope for the best.

You see it most clearly in handball and soccer. There was zero flow, zero chemistry. Last night we looked forced, uninspired, and completely disconnected, like there was sand in the gears.

The second I tuned in—which was about ten minutes before the end of regulation—I already knew we were going down. The Americans looked incomparably more synchronized, scoring easy points while we just struggled, constantly terrified the refs would call us for inactivity.

Incompetent people running the country support incompetence in every single layer of society, including our sports federations. Let’s be real: it’s not a curse. It’s just pure ignorance and lack of skill.

Walter Hughes53 said:What exactly do you mean by weight training?

A wide variety of movements, both weighted and unweighted. 😁
Mainly Olympic lifts and plyometrics.

But if you do them wrong... man.

Walter Hughes53 said:Because certain exercises drive explosiveness—cleans, snatches, jerks—but muscle balance matters just as much. If you lack that balance, you're asking for trouble. Your core needs to be in sync with your back, and your legs and hips play a huge role too.

Of course. That’s why I emphasized finding a good coach.