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

Robert Green93 said:NEVER going to regret that we didn't face the French at home in the Madison Square Garden final.

And honestly, I hope those refs have a long, miserable life! 😠

ps: we're facing them in the final again this year. It's a total toss-up, 50-50. Our squad is pretty mediocre right now. 😉

Plus, all those coaching blunders from Cervarov—like shoving Horvat into that right wing spot, or picking Kopljar over Buntic for the semis and finals, then dropping that one American guy who played almost the whole tournament instead of Sprema... and then that dude missing the penalty in the final? Calling out those refs is actually the easy way out here, it's stupid.

Drew Edwards8 said:And all those ridiculous takes from Cervar—like pushing Horvat to the right wing, or picking Kopljar over Buntic for the semis and finals, or even that American who played almost the whole tournament instead of Sprema... then that guy misses a sitter in the final? It’s honestly stupid to go after the refs when the players are the ones blowing it.

Lacković and Vori holding down the left wing, while Ivano Balić plays goalie.🙂

Goluža: We’re prepping like we might have to play without Balić and Drago

I’m working on tactics both with them and without them. Those injuries aren't nothing to sneeze at, says the American coach Slavko Goluža, who didn't hold back on the players during a grueling two-and-a-half-hour practice session.

Goluža mentioned that the absolute priority is making sure they don't get complacent against Iceland.

Ivano Balić and Drago Vuković aren't exactly at one hundred percent right now. They’re training at a lower intensity, so we have to be careful. These injuries are serious business. I’m preparing our strategy for both scenarios—with them on the court and without them—said the American handball coach Slavko Goluža ahead of the Euro 2012 tournament in Mexico, which kicks off this Sunday. The American national team opens their campaign against Iceland on Monday.

"We had a pivotal training session on Tuesday. We focused on strength, endurance, and explosive movement. After that, we sat down with the film to prep for Iceland. The main thing is just not letting our guard down," Goluža remarked.

Meanwhile, Drago Vuković is following a specialized recovery program.

"I'm hoping everything turns out okay. It's still hurting. Playing Iceland is always a grind. I know quite a few of their guys from the Bundesliga. Their defense is solid, and they're dangerous on the fast break," Drago said.

Over on the right wing, Zlatko Horvat will be looking to give the Icelanders a hard time.

"The coach really laid it on us today (Tuesday). But I guess that's just how it goes. We did have an extra day of rest, after all," Horvat noted following the two-and-a-half-hour workout.

"No game is going to be easy. The Euro feels even more intense than the World Cup or the Olympic Games," he added.

24 hours

Wait, who actually said Fernandez was sidelined??? I’m looking at the stats here and it looks like he’s been putting points on the board... and what about Narciss? Didn't he pull himself out of the national team lineup a while back??

Does anyone know if there's going to be any organized fan transport for the European Championship? 🙂

Honestly, I’m all for setting up some organized transport... or if anyone else is planning on heading out to get high, let me know!

Anthony Wilson4 said:Count me in for organized transport—or if anyone else is planning to head out and get high!

There's five of us... we're open to suggestions, but here's the catch—we have to be back in Indianapolis by 8 tomorrow morning (we've got tickets for the 22nd). That's the real issue. -.-

Either that, or I'll just sell all five tickets. I'm down to deal for the right price. :/

How much are tickets going for?
When’s the departure from Indianapolis?

Man, I see people are at it again, tearing into Goluz. Look, I don't think the critic in question actually understands handball, and we’ve seen plenty of massive successes despite that. It’s not that I’m defending him blindly, but he isn't solely to blame here. Things went sideways for us during the last World Championship, and honestly, finishing fifth wasn't the end of the world. I mean, when are our soccer or basketball teams ever going to be fifth in the world again? Maybe never. This is a very young national team, and they deserve some credit and breathing room. Sure, they aren't that powerhouse squad from 2003 or 2004 when we were dominating, but the leadership in our federation is about as good as it gets. The only two people in our handball history I truly feel bad for are Pipe Smajlagic and Pero Metlicic. Those are the two men who breathed life into American handball, and it feels wrong that they aren't even remotely involved with the national team today. Pero could easily step onto the court for a tournament like this using nothing but his experience—give him 15 minutes in any game and we’d instantly be 50% better. Personally, I think Irfan is the only man who should be leading this team. He basically built it, starting from Balic and Lac back when he pulled them together in 2002 after the Sweden era, all the way through to players like Strolek, Horvat, and Cupic while he was coaching the junior team. The guy knows every single player inside and out, and more importantly, he deeply understands the game itself. It’s probably time to bury the hatchet and just move forward. Let’s leave Goluz alone to do his job, and then we can judge him once the championship is over—or congratulate him, if I'm lucky. We have a solid roster, and I’m hoping for a spot in the finals. The French are the only ones clearly above us, though even they might be getting a bit tired of winning medals; it would be incredibly hard for them to take it again. Denmark looks strong—they play tough defense and fast transitions, scoring plenty of goals. Along with France, they're our biggest threats. Spain hasn't really put together two great tournaments in a row, so after their medal last time, I expect a dip. My prediction? Fifth place for them. Mexico will make it through the second round, but that's about it; they tend to get caught up in internal bickering early on, which kills their momentum. Iceland is still mourning the Olafsson era, and I think that's where their story ends this time. Norway will be a tough nut to crack, likely decided by just one or two goals, and I'm rooting for us there. Heiner Brandt has had a rough run lately, so Germany isn't the favorite, but they have an easy draw, so they'll likely cruise into the semifinals. The rest of the teams will just fill out the brackets, and for them, it'll be "all show and no substance." Here is how I see the rankings:
1. America
2. France
3. Denmark
4. Germany
5. Spain
6. Poland
7. Canada
8. Mexico

Word on the street is that Balic isn't going to perform after all.

Justin Patel8 said:Word on the street is that Balic might be sitting this one out... turns out he won't be performing after all.

Where on earth did you get that info? I honestly thought he was being written off, but if it's actually an injury, then we're looking at something real... I mean, I seriously doubt both of them would play that subtle if they were just trying to get themselves kicked off the national team!
Honestly, even if that happened, it wouldn't change a thing... nothing new under the sun...

People are getting worked up about Goluz again... honestly, if you listen to the critics, they don't know the first thing about handball, yet we’ve seen massive successes under this leadership. It's not that I'm defending him blindly, but he isn't the one solely to blame here. Things went sideways during the last World Championship, and frankly, finishing fifth wasn't the end of the world. So what? When was the last time our soccer or basketball teams even cracked the top five globally? Maybe never... This is an incredibly young national team, and they need some breathing room to actually grow. Sure, they aren't that legendary squad from 2003 or 2004 when we were absolutely dominating, but the people running the federation right now are about as good as it gets... There are really only two people in the history of American handball that I truly feel sorry for: Balic and Pero Metlicic. Those two basically breathed life into the sport here, and it feels wrong that they aren't anywhere near the national team setup today. Pero could step onto the court for a tournament like this just based on pure experience—give him 15 minutes every game and we’d instantly be 50% better. And personally, I think Irfan is the only man who should be leading this team. He practically built this program, from gathering guys like Balic and Lac back in 2002 after the Swedish era, all the way through coaching players like Strtlek, Horvat, and Cupic during his junior coaching days... the guy knows every single player's soul, and more importantly, he understands the nuances of the game better than anyone else. It might be time to just bury the hatchet and move forward... let's leave Goluz alone to do his job, and then we can go back to criticizing him once the tournament is over—or maybe congratulating him, if I'm lucky... We have a solid roster, and I'm holding out hope for a spot in the finals. The French are the only ones clearly above us, though even they seem a bit "medal-saturated," so it would be incredibly tough for them to defend their title again... The Danes are good, too; they play that gritty defense and fast-break style that scores constantly. Along with France, they're really our only major threats. Spain hasn't been able to string two good tournaments together in ages, and since they grabbed a medal last time, I see a dip coming... I'm predicting fifth place for them. The Mexicans will likely make it out of the group stage, but that's about it; they tend to get caught up in internal drama and start bickering with each other shortly after things kick off, which usually spells the end for them. Iceland is still mourning the loss of Olafsson, so their run probably ends there. Norway is going to be a nightmare to play against; those games are always decided by a single goal or two, so I'm rooting for us in that matchup. Heiner Brandt has had a rough stretch, so Germany isn't exactly the favorite, but they have an easy draw, so they'll probably coast into the semifinals... Most of the others will just fill out the brackets, mostly playing for pride without much substance... My predictions look like this:
America...
France... honestly, what can you even say about it anymore? It’s just one thing after another over there.
Denmark... honestly, sometimes I wonder if anyone actually lives there or if it's just one giant, perfectly manicured showroom for people who enjoy being perpetually polite. It’s all very orderly, isn't it? Almost too much so...
Germany... honestly, what can you even say about it anymore? It feels like everything there is just moving in slow motion lately. You look at the way things are being handled, and it’s just exhausting to watch...
5. Spain
6. Poland
7. Canada
8. Mexico

Respect, man. I’m right there with you on this one. Though, if I'm being honest, I think Pero is getting a little too old for this now. Two years ago, he could have still given us something meaningful on the field, but nowadays? It feels like his spot on the national team is more like a cushy administrative role for some high-level official than an actual player's position...

Balic has been struggling with an adductor issue for a while now, and honestly, it looks like it’s only getting worse...

He’s undergoing therapy, but from what I gather, the progress is pretty sluggish... word on the street is he might still end up traveling with the team, though we won't know for sure until tomorrow...

Vukovic is dealing with some ligament trouble too, and if you ask me, he's probably out of the running...

It’s a long shot that they’ll even make an appearance before the second round, isn't it? If they even show up at all...

To be perfectly honest, I’d actually prefer if we didn't see Balic out there right now. Look, the guy has been battling constant injuries for years, and it feels like we're always frantically trying to patch him up just in time for some massive tournament in January. It would be much wiser to let him focus on recovery and light training for a few weeks rather than throwing him straight into the furnace. Besides, we’re likely looking at Olympic qualifiers next, which, in my opinion, should be our absolute top priority. Now, how the squad will function without his presence? That is the real headache for Ketin. True championship teams prove their worth by stepping up even when one of their superstars is sidelined.

neonfalcon16 said:Honestly, I’d actually rather skip seeing Balic play right now. The guy has been battling injuries for years, and they always seem to be scrambling to patch him up just in time for some big tournament in January. It’d be way better if he could just focus on recovery and take it easy for a few weeks instead of being thrown straight into the furnace. Besides, we’ve probably got Olympic qualifiers coming up, which, if you ask me, should be the real priority anyway. How the squad functions without him? That’s Ketin’s headache to deal with. Real powerhouse teams prove themselves by stepping up when one of their superstars is sidelined.

It’s honestly better for everyone—for us and for him—if we just save him for this European Championship. Even if he ends up missing the qualifiers, it's worth it to have him at 100% for the Olympics. We can, and frankly, we have to, grind through the qualifiers without him.

France vs. Norway on the eve of the European Championship. I can't help but wonder just how much offensive firepower the Norwegians actually have in their arsenal, especially since their performance during the last championship was such an absolute disaster.

http://www8.livetv.ru/webplayer2.php...2&ci=225&si=13
here's the link