Euro Handball Championship: Groups D & C merge into Group II (America, Spain, Canada, Canada, Fra

I have a feeling the US national team is going to let everyone down big time again, though I bet our coach will be perfectly happy with how things turned out.
The guy is basically the handball version of Mike Krzyzewski.

Anthony Wilson4 said:Well, I suppose that’s just my personal take on things, but I think I can explain why. Coach Miller spent about half an hour fixating on the budget and how most of the guys on the court are just kids between 18 and 23 years old, nothing more... The only veterans in the mix are Lackovic, Vori, and Balic. Since Lackovic and Vori are playing over in Germany quite successfully, while Balic is right here in Chicago, I guess Balic is a bit more expendable compared to those two. I seem to recall a moment when we gave up a goal, and I think Miller looked at Balic and asked, "What are you even watching?" Maybe he was just checking the replay monitor, but then the head official asks the coach how serious Balic's injury actually is, and the coach just responds that they have a medical staff to handle the players, but all he cares about are the healthy ones who will be traveling with the team to the States... It reminds me of how people used to talk about him when he was injured before—they’d always say he’d play through anything, even if he was half-broken. I suspect they might have written him off this time, though I suppose we’ll find out in the next few days.!!!

🙏
signing off on everything

To be honest, I feel like it might have been time to bench Balic; he’s been dragging himself across the court lately like a tired fish, and in my opinion, he’s been living off his past glory for a long, long time now. It’s probably good to have him on the bench as a veteran presence, but I really hope they don't put him in the game too much.
Given how well Horvat, Laca, Cupic, Strlek, and Vori are performing, I guess there isn't really room for him on the Euro tournament roster. We actually seemed a bit more energetic and fast during these last two games without him.
Strlek, Horvat, Laca, and Cupic are all playing great... 👍 Vori is also looking strong alongside Duvnjak, though I suppose Duvnjak could probably focus a little more as well.

The main thing is to play less Buntic and Kopljar; they've been terrible.
Especially Kopljar. Everything has been said there; it’s such a shame given his height. 😬
Gojun seems a bit overrated and perhaps a little too distracted as well.

Alilovic is defending very well; he has made huge strides in his form compared to last year. He isn't the liability he used to be.

If Kopljar stays on the bench, I guess we might have a chance at at least a bronze medal. 😁
This year, Cupic and Zlatkec are healthy and playing incredibly well; they are small, quick, and agile, which I think gives us an extra advantage.

It’s hard to admit I’d actually prefer seeing Balic riding the bench more than playing, but just like how Duvnjak used to step up whenever he needed a sub, Balic could be that lethal wildcard for Coach D.
Lackovic is shooting lights out lately, which is great to see. Bicanić feels like someone who could come off the bench as a real joker when we need a spark. I won't even get into the wings—we all know where we stand with Vori.
Honestly, I think we’ve come a long way since last year's tournament. If our defense stays at least "decent," we definitely have a shot at fighting for a medal...
My only real fear is that one group we always seem to struggle against. But if we can pull off an upset there, we head into the semifinals on merit, and from there, anything is possible in the finals...

At the end of the day, most betting shops in the States probably have us listed as long shots compared to the heavy hitters, but I have a feeling—like you always do in these big tournaments—that we're going to make it all the way to the championship game.

So?
Will Mike replicate today's performance at the National Championship, or are we going to have to dig out that animated gif of the guy dropping a bag of cement again?

rowdyowl said:I have a feeling America is going to disappoint us big time again, though I suspect our head coach will be perfectly happy with the results.
The guy is basically the handball version of a perennial underdog coach...

Well said.
It would be better if Coach K took over the national team

So, did you guys catch that bit about how much "coaching experience" we supposedly have under our belt with Coach Miller?
From some local high school bench straight to the national team... what kind of absolute nonsense is that? It’s like watching someone trip over their own feet and call it a dance move.
And don't even get me started on the effort they put in to make sure Mike averages about 12 rebounds a game. Honestly, I can't wrap my head around it... it feels like a room full of geniuses in there, if you know what I mean...
Anyway, can one of you actually explain the tournament format to me? Is it really just the top three teams moving on to the next round before hitting the semifinals?

Also, is anyone by any chance heading out to Chicago for the championships?

George Robinson43 said:So what happens next?
Is Mike going to actually step up his game during the playoffs, or am I gonna have to dig out that old animated gif of him carrying a bag of cement again?

Honestly, it’s already been pulled, no matter how much he tries to defend himself. It’s basically a universal rule at this point ☕

We don't stand a chance. Between the UK, France, Iceland, and even our neighbors, we're just outclassed right now.

Noah Ross7 said:We don't stand a chance. Denmark, France, Iceland, even our neighbors across the border—everyone is currently leagues ahead of us.

Damn. It’s wild how much everything shifted in just a few years.👎

Is there any kind of schedule available for the different cities?

So, we're kicking things off in Austin, but when does the tour hit Chicago??

The second round is happening in New Orleans, then we’re heading over to Chicago for the semifinals and the match for fifth place...

Anthony Wilson4 said:Look, regardless of how you slice it, I think we’re being treated as total underdogs by the betting houses compared to the heavy hitters, but if there's one thing I know about major tournaments, it's that we have everything it takes to fight our way to the finals.

The United States is sitting right at the top of the odds, ranked just behind the semifinalists from the last World Cup.

2012 European Championship, Men's - Winner

France 2.75
Denmark 4.50
Spain 5.50
USA 7.50
Mexico 12.00
Poland 17.00
Germany 17.00
Iceland 21.00
Sweden 34.00

http://www.easyodds.com/sports-betting/outright.html
According to most major sportsbooks, we are firmly positioned among the top four favorites.

electricstag9 said:The betting odds have the US national team sitting right up there with the heavy hitters this year. They’re basically calling us one of the top favorites to take it all. Look, we’re staring down the barrel here—it’s nothing but the heavy hitters from the last World Cup left on the field.

So, I was just thinking back to that 2012 Men's Euro Basketball Championship... wait, scratch that, let's call it what it actually was for us—that massive tournament over in Spain. Man, looking back at who walked away with the trophy that year? It was Spain, obviously. They were absolutely crushing it back then. It’s kind of wild how much sports change, isn't it? One minute you're watching a powerhouse dominate the court, and the next, everything feels different. Just one of those things. Total madness.

France is sitting at 2.75. Just saying.
Denmark 4.50
Spain at 5.50? Yeah, right. Like that’s ever gonna happen. You've gotta be kidding me.
The US is sitting at 7.50. Just saying.
It’s 12:00 PM here in the States. Time flies when you're staring at a screen, I guess.
It’s 5:00 PM in Poland.
It’s 11:00 AM here in New York.
Twenty-one bucks for an island? Yeah, right. In this economy? You couldn't even rent a decent parking spot in downtown Chicago for that kind of change. It’s a joke. Total scam.
Sweden's sitting at 34.00. Just saying.

I can't even deal with this. I was just scrolling through these betting lines for the upcoming season, and honestly? It’s a total circus. You look at these odds and you realize half these analysts aren't even watching the games—they’re just throwing darts at a board in a basement somewhere. It’s like looking at the preseason predictions for the NFL or some random mid-major college football conference; everyone thinks they’ve got the "inside scoop," but most of it is just pure noise. You see these massive favorites that look like a sure thing on paper, but then one injury hits, or some rookie quarterback decides he’d rather play catch in the parking lot than actually execute a playbook, and suddenly your parlay is toast. It's all a gamble, man. A big, messy, frustrating gamble. You want to find that one underdog that’s actually undervalued, but the math is rigged and the "experts" are usually just shouting into the void. Save your money for something better, like a decent steak or a round of drinks. At least those aren't a complete rip-off.
Look, if you check with most of the big-name sportsbooks out there, they’ve got us sitting pretty right up there in the top four favorites. We're basically the heavy hitters now.

I mean, honestly? Even the Vegas bookies don't seem to realize our head coach is a total clown.

Yeah, me too, you outsiders!!!
When was the last time Spain was actually a bigger favorite than us??? Or Denmark????

rowdyowl said:I’ve got this nagging feeling that Team USA is going to let us down big time again, even if our coach thinks we absolutely crushed it.
The guy is basically the basketball version of a perennial underdog coach who can't stop smiling while losing.

Signed, sealed, and delivered. Just another cog in the machine following the party line.

I'm calling it now: massive disappointment incoming (though God, I hope I'm wrong...).

Anthony Wilson4 said:Exactly! We aren't some damn outsiders!!!
When was the last time Spain was actually ranked higher than us??? Or Denmark????

The US isn't some "modest underdog according to the bookies"—they still view us as one of the heavy hitters, just like they have in years past.
If I recall correctly, over the last five years, we were the number one favorites twice: once back in 2007 during the World Cup in Germany and again in 2009 when we hosted. In all other instances, we’ve been right there at the top of the pack, just like we are now.
Spain has had their share of massive collapses over the last few years (until recently), so they haven't even been able to claim serious favorite status. On the other hand, you look at Denmark—they're the European champions, a powerhouse that has sat at the summit for years. They're hovering right there with us in the betting odds because they were the world runners-up last year, so it’s hardly shocking that the bookmakers have them positioned slightly ahead of us.

Looking at the current lines on Gamebookers.com, France is in a league of their own, while Spain, Denmark, and the US are all neck-and-neck. Everyone else is trailing significantly behind.

World Men's Handball Championship 2012
France - 2.30
Spain - 5.50
Denmark - 6.00
USA - 6.50
Iceland - 15.00
Mexico - 15.00
Poland - 17.00
Germany - 21.00
Sweden - 23.00
Russia - 41.00
Canada - 81.00
.
.
https://www.gamebookers.com/bets.ap?...4&presType=180

I get what you're saying, and honestly, you’ve got a point. If you take any of these teams and make them play two straight games against Team USA, they aren't going to fare pretty... well, maybe the French have a fighting chance, but everyone else? Not so much.
To my mind, the US is currently playing at a level a tier above Spain. We always had those gritty, hard-fought battles against Denmark, but I think we could actually pull those wins now. What really stings, though, is looking back at that Euro final where we absolutely crushed France, only to turn around and let the Danes walk all over us... just kills me.
Man, those were the days... remembering when Coach Steve Kerr would call a timeout, just pure magic...

NEVER will I regret that we didn't face France at home in the Madison Square Garden finals...

Honestly, I hope those referees have nothing but trouble for the rest of their lives! 😠

ps: We're facing them in the finals again this year. It's a total coin toss. Our squad is pretty mediocre... 😉

God forbid Gopcev's performance carries them into the second round.