Handball World Cup: USA vs. Poland (28-24)

Joshua Gomez54 said:I guess I'd pick Nok☕

you're missing and 😬

Sadly, I missed the game, but word on the street is we played some solid handball, so congrats to the guys on the win.
I can't shake this feeling that they always seem to play completely against what everyone expects from them. 🙂
First it's the Danes, where we tell ourselves it’s gonna be a grind against the Argentinians and then we end up getting blown out by 18. Then we get all cocky because we crushed those tough Argentinians and think the Swedes won't give us any trouble, only to have them run us over, and now we're here dealing with this whole thing with Poland.

They need to strip Gobčev of his position immediately. It would serve as a necessary lesson for everyone else. We’ve had enough games and nonsense with the national handball team. This isn't Gobčev's private playground to run however he wants. And now he's actually blaming Ivano for it... seriously, give it a rest, Gobčev.
Ivano is an athlete. So what if he loses his cool once in a while?

Kimberly Smith69 said:I really think they need to bench Gobčev. It would serve as a good lesson for everyone else, too. Honestly, enough is enough with all the messing around in handball. This national team isn't Gobčev's personal playground, and he shouldn't be taking it out on Ivan like that. Come on, Gobčev, just stop.
Ivano is an athlete. So what if he loses his cool? Maybe it's just part of the game, I guess.

Alright, here we go. It feels just like when they started moving out guys like Mican and Markov—just clearing out the dead weight, I guess. Maybe it’s finally happening. 🙄

The US national team right now? Honestly, it feels like it’s just Gobčev’s personal project. ☕

Rachel Gomez81 said:We aren't going to agree on Goluža. He’s just a mediocre player.

Believe me, Ivano didn't play through those kinds of back issues by choice. Players with minor injuries would've been sitting on the bench or taking "sick leave."

And what Ivano was dealing with wasn't just aching back pain—the kind of stuff that keeps you or me from showing up to work. 😉

I get where you're coming from. You're infatuated. Plenty of girls go through this—you idealize the person. Once you grow up a bit, you'll see things differently. You might actually understand someone like the Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy, who basically paid his dues just to wrap up his career at the Royal Club. It's the exact same thing here.

Look, let's be real—Ivano definitely isn't exactly sunshine and rainbows, and he certainly has a unique personality, but nobody ever brought that up back when he was setting up those tactical plays. Remember how Vori would send those passes while staring at the 18th row of the Arena, basically flirting with Maša right under Didier Dinart's nose? Back then, he was our hero, the absolute king, the pride of the entire nation. But now that things aren't working out—and we all know exactly why they aren't—suddenly he’s just this "difficult personality" that both the EHF and IHF love to complain about. Honestly, it's unbelievable 🙄

Joshua Gomez54 said:I'd personally take Nok☕

A sunset? Please. They could pass a literature exam in their sleep.

Michael Martinez86 said:I understand where you're coming from. You're head over heels. A lot of young women go through this exact same thing—you end up putting the person on a pedestal. Once you get a little more life experience under your belt, you'll start looking at things through a different lens. You might eventually understand why someone like Ruud van Nistelrooy would make that move, choosing to join Real Madrid just to wrap up his career at a Royal Club. It’s really no different than what you're feeling right now.

And what about you? Are you just bitter because you can't manage a concrete response?

Of course I want him to be the father of my children. Is that even a question? 🙄 A little respect goes a long way. The links. With whom exactly are you speaking? If you don't know how to conduct yourself, perhaps it is better if you don't speak at all.

I wish you a pleasant day.

Grace Adams32 said:Look, let’s be honest: Ivano isn't exactly a saint, and he definitely has a difficult personality. But nobody ever brought up his temperament back when he was setting up plays, or when he was sending passes to Vori while staring at Maša in the 18th row of the Arena—all while trying to dodge Didier Dinart. Back then, he was the hero, the king, the golden boy of the nation. Now that things aren't working out—and we all know exactly why they aren't—suddenly he’s just a "difficult character" that both the EHF and IHF love to complain about. Give me a break. 🙄

Exactly right.

Michael Martinez86 said:There’s zero doubt that Ivano Balić is the greatest player America has ever produced. He also possesses that specific leadership charisma that stems directly from his sheer genius on the court. No one can deny his massive role in the national team's success over the last eight years, but it's also pretty much an undeniable fact that Ivano Balić is a deeply vain and temperamental individual who would probably be a total nightmare to manage if you were the coach. In fact, there was a lot of chatter after Červar left suggesting that his personality played a part in that transition. Of course, things are rarely just black and white...

That’s actually really easy to dispute. We don't personally know him, so you can't claim he's like that. And so what if he shoved Goluža?
Goluža is just spineless; he doesn't know how to take the blame when everything goes south. When the French team played poorly, I didn't see Onesta claiming everyone was equally at fault or pointing fingers at specific players; he simply stated it was his fault because he’s the coach responsible for them.
I won't even get into Červar. The only thing I'll give him is that he managed to assemble such a legendary generation and kept the peace within the squad for as long as he could.
After everything he did for our national team, they're pushing Ivana away in the exact same way they pushed out Mirza and Pero. Personally, I'll never regret the fact that Džomba, much like Pero, was never truly welcomed back by the team the way he deserved. He certainly didn't deserve to have Gobac and Linek shut the door in his face as if he had never contributed a thing to this program. It's sad, but they’re going to do the same thing to Balić.
It also strikes me as unbelievable that Goluža didn't react to Gopčev's outbursts or stand up for his player, because one single player can't be held solely responsible for a failure. The responsibility lies with Goluža. So, when Balić rightfully ignores him, suddenly he's labeled a temperamental person.
Someone made a good point about noticing the gesture at the end when Goluža pushes him 🤣
Honestly, the whole thing is just laughable to me.
We aren't going to make any progress until our Grey Eminence is gone.

Grace Adams32 said:Look, Ivano definitely isn't sunshine and rainbows—he’s got a hell of a temperament—but nobody ever brought up his "difficult personality" back when he was setting up tactical plays, or when Vori was throwing passes while staring at the 18th row in the Arena, flirting with Maša right under Didier Dinart's nose. Back then, he was the hero, the king, the absolute golden boy of the nation. Now? Now that things aren't working out—and we all know exactly why they aren't—suddenly he's "difficult to manage," and both the EHF and IHF are complaining about him. Give me a break. 🙄

Ivano Balić was never some legendary hero or a king. And he certainly wasn't the "golden boy of the nation." He was just one damn good handball player. Sports journalists have this habit of using flowery language and over-the-top exaggerations just to make themselves feel important and add weight to their fluff pieces. To an extent, it's a coping mechanism since most of them aren't actually covering anything of vital importance. But just because they write like that doesn't mean we have to swallow every single one of their pathetic little clichés.

Adam Williams2 said:Personally, I’d love to see nimblesurfer17 take over as the new head coach.☕

When things start getting under my skin, I tend to go to extremes—that's just how I am. Honestly, I feel like even Bolton, Van Dusen, or that Swiss guy are just playing along to keep Lino in the seat rather than Keta. And if my memory serves me right, they really don't hold Linek in very high regard...

Your response is totally off base, and you're trying way too hard to sound smart. You basically said a lot without actually saying anything at all:

What even is this?
It's not rocket science, Einstein. Most people wouldn't agree with that—it would be 99% of people who have even a basic understanding of handball. But that’s not happening, and it isn't going to happen, so I'll just say it plainly: bring Lino back.🙂

What "extremes"? What are you even talking about? Did you actually read my post?
I highly doubt it... otherwise, you wouldn't have posted such a nonsensical reply.
If you were going to jump into someone else's conversation, you could have at least taken a second to figure out what we were discussing instead of dropping in like a lost paratrooper and posting stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.☕

Susan Ward23 said:It is actually quite easy to dispute that. We don't even know him personally, so how can anyone claim to know his true character? Even if he did push Goluža, what does that really prove?

Exactly. But look, you're just a smitten girl right now, so you're idealizing him. It doesn't matter what your reasoning is; that’s just how it is.

I certainly wouldn't dream of making claims about someone's character without any actual basis for doing so.

Goluža lacks any sense of accountability; he simply refuses to take the blame when things fall apart. When the French team was struggling, I didn't see Onesta pointing fingers at specific players or claiming everyone was equally responsible. Instead, he stepped up and took full responsibility, stating that the failure rested solely on his shoulders because he is the coach. Is that not how leadership should work?

Exactly right. They are playing exactly how they have to. Is that really the coach's vision? What is his actual goal here—to drive an even deeper wedge into the national team? If that is indeed his intention, then he has certainly succeeded.

I won't even go there when it comes to Červar. The only thing I'll concede is that he managed to assemble such an incredible generation of talent and kept the peace within the locker room for as long as he possibly could.
After everything he has done for our national team, Ivana is pushing things in the exact same way they pushed out Mirza and Pero. Honestly, I will never regret the fact that Džomba, much like Pero, was never truly given the closure from the national program that he deserved. He certainly didn't deserve to have the doors slammed in his face by Gobac and Linek, acting as if he never contributed a single thing to this team. It is tragic, but it looks like the same pattern will be repeated with Ivano Balić.

Signature.

It is also quite incredible to me that Goluža failed to react to Gobčev's errors or step up to defend his player and his defensive strategy. A single player cannot be held solely responsible for a failure. The responsibility lies with Goluža; he is the one in charge. Yet, once Ivano Balić rightfully calls him out, suddenly Goluža is being labeled as capricious.
It was a good observation—you can really see that gesture at the end when Goluža pushes him. 🤣
Honestly, the whole thing is just laughable to me.
We will never make any real progress until our Grey Eminence finally steps aside.

And one more signature.

And then, after everything that’s gone down, he drops this statement yesterday: "There really isn't any division within the team; has it ever been any other way? Since 2003, things have always been 'intense,' and that's actually how we function best. Don't go looking for problems where they don't exist. That certainly isn't why the play or the results have been so poor," Ivano said.

If he weren't so sincere, he wouldn't be trying to stabilize the whole situation and focus on getting ready for the matchup against Poland... because, as someone already pointed out above, he was playing for a spot in London. It's almost as if he's already focused on the Olympics, even though he's got everything he needs... who knows if he'll even be playing by then. He was playing for the younger guys.

Michael Martinez86 said:I guess Ivano Balić was never some legendary hero or anything close to it. He certainly wasn't the savior of the nation either. He was just a damn good handball player. I suppose sports journalists feel the need to use flowery language and exaggerate everything just to make themselves and their subjects seem more important. To some extent, maybe it's just compensation since they aren't exactly covering matters of life and death. But that doesn't mean we all have to blindly swallow their little clichés.

I'm sorry, but in what way exactly do you think sports journalists are exaggerating?
Maybe because they are completely justified in calling Balić one of the best players on the planet? Or because they actually step up to defend him when people start bashing him? It seems like not a single reporter backed Gobac when he claimed Balić's individual style was the problem, yet they were silent when that exact same style was winning games. What is the actual accusation against Balić? Is it because he stands next to a six-foot-six guy who looks terrified of the ball? Honestly, I think Goluža is to blame for absolutely everything—for the tactics, for failing to boost morale, and for not breaking through the psychological blocks of the younger players.
Oh, please. Those are some great arguments right there. And let's leave his personal character out of this, because nobody really cares about what Balić is like in his private life.
And nobody is buying into those clichés. Anyone who knows even a tiny bit about the game understands the difference between Balić's style and Karabatić's style, and why even someone like Dinart would admit that Balić is a genius.

Michael Martinez86 said:Ivano Balić was never some legendary hero or a king among men. Honestly, he isn't even the "greatest son" of our people. He’s just an incredibly talented handball player. Sports journalists feel the need to use flowery language and exaggerate everything just to make themselves—and their subjects—seem more important. To some extent, it’s just compensation because they aren't exactly covering matters of life and death... But that doesn't mean we have to blindly swallow every little cliché they throw at us.

Do you really enjoy nitpicking every single word? You’ve managed to pull the least important part out of my entire point. What I was actually trying to get at is how pathetic it feels to start attacking his character right now... especially during a time when everything was running so smoothly, much like how unpredictable gas prices can feel when they jump every couple of weeks.

cosmicharbor2 said:If we actually played like this during the big games, we would've crushed everyone—even those teams everyone obsesses over.

hahaha, honestly, we didn't even play out of our minds, the Poles just played like absolute trash.
I thought we were the weakest and slowest squad in the whole tournament, but hey, that's just how bad the Poles were. 😁

Rachel Gomez81 said:So what, you're just bitter because you can't come up with a real answer?

Yeah, sure—I clearly want him to be the father of my children. 🙄 Have a little respect for the young lady you're talking to. If you don't know how to carry a conversation, then don't bother at all.

Have a nice day.

Exactly.

I have no idea why you're labeling me "bitter." Seriously, where is this coming from!? What exactly am I supposed to give you a "concrete" answer to? You basically fabricated some story about a staffer at the USA Handball Association and assigned roles based on whatever suited your narrative. Is that really how it works? Where are you even getting your info for these claims? I assume you've watched the games, checked the news reports, and—more than anything—spent your time reading and posting on online forums. At the end of the day, it's all just speculation. It’s highly unlikely you know anything firsthand. Only the people actually inside that whole national team circus know what's truly going on.
Same here. I watch, I follow, I read, and I listen. Then I draw conclusions. But I don't go around judging others or putting on rose-colored glasses just because I like the view.

Adam Collins4 said:You might be watching, but I don't think you quite get it...

Domagoj Duvnjak was penalized because he essentially acted as a sixth man on the court when there are only supposed to be five allowed...

Dakl, the referees did exactly what they were supposed to do by calling out the extra player, so I don't see much point in explaining further...

Exactly, the refs just followed the rulebook. The coaching staff—specifically Udovičić—should really be the ones managing that, but based on how he looks during games and his general level of interest, I guess we already know where things stand.

Huge congrats on the win!

And major props to Balica—he’s doing a fantastic job out there...

People can talk all they want about him, but let them show what they really think—it’s not about ego, he's simply doing what needs to be done...

The bottom line is we got the win and we're heading to the Olympics in New York City...

Once again, hats off to this guy today...

Ivano Balić 🙏🙏🙏