Handball World Cup - Group B (USA, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Mexico, Argentina)

dustyridge3 said:If we actually lose to the Gauchos tomorrow, we need to organize a welcome home party so brutal they’ll be talking about it for the rest of their lives. I’m talking about a reception that leaves a permanent mark. We should be pelted the goalies with bags of cement. Someone needs to take a baseball bat to Goluz until he finally learns his lesson—though, let’s be honest, that might take a lifetime. As for Kopljar, we should probably just throw bull testicles at him, since he clearly isn't using his own. For the rest of the roster, I’m sure we can come up with plenty of other creative ways to make them regret stepping onto the field.😁

Give me a break. If I were going to go after anyone, I’d aim my shots squarely at Gobac, followed by Goluz and Šol. Leave the kids out of this—it isn't their fault they're stuck with a mindset that prevents them from actually acting cool when it matters most.

David Martin71 said:Why the facepalm? I actually agree that he wasn't exactly world-class, just decent at best.

Maybe my memory is failing me, but if I recall correctly, his performances during that tournament in Athens and a few other major events were absolutely top-tier. At least, that's how I remember it.

dustyridge3 said:Maybe my memory is a little fuzzy, but if I recall correctly, his performances at the tournament in Athens and a few other major events were top-tier. At least, that's how I saw it.

Schola was just a keeper of the moment. He was never truly elite. A good keeper? Sure. But elite? Absolutely not.

Kimberly Smith69 said:Give me a break... if we're actually going to start throwing stones, I’d aim straight for Gobat, then Goluz, and finally Schol. Leave the kids out of this; they aren't the ones at fault when their own lack of maturity prevents them from acting cool.

I suppose I leaned into a little sarcasm there, but fine.🙂
By the way, you couldn't bring down Gobat even if you dumped every rock from the Rockies on him.🤣

dustypanther6 said:Schol was definitely our guy in goal back then, but let's be real, he was never quite at that elite level. He was solid, sure, but calling him world-class? Not really.

Still, compared to the guys we've got in the net right now, he was leagues ahead of them... ☕

dustypanther6 said:Schol was the goalkeeper of the moment, sure, but let’s be realistic—he was never truly elite. He was a solid keeper, certainly, but calling him world-class? Absolutely not.

To each their own, I suppose.

dustyridge3 said:Look, everyone’s entitled to their own take.

I'm with you on that.

I’m calling it now: we’re looking at two losses...

Against the Swedes and the Poles... it'll be a nail-biter against Argentina, but I think we walk away with the win there... ☕

We also can't forget that Goloza is basically going head-to-head with the judges right now. 🤣

Good grief, I mean, who in their right mind benches that kind of raw talent... 🙄

Good grief, why is everyone freaking out over the Gauchos? They aren't even playing with Messi or Skol—everyone just needs to relax. 😁
Now we’re supposed to be terrified of the Gauchos in handball too? 😁 😁 😁

I honestly have a feeling they might even take down the Americans. 😁
Is that guy at the pivot position actually playing well?

Gregory Ramos3 said:How could there not be ☕

http://www.ihf.info/IHFCompetitions/...5/Default.aspx

just scroll down to the bottom

Nah, I was thinking about those playoff groups... but this way is fine, just a pure knockout system... though it's still garbage—total waste of money for the host, clubs lose their players for even longer... if I could just slip into the IHF office for a few months and overhaul the whole tournament structure ☕

What a massive link 🙏 🙏

Casey White13 said:well, I was actually referring to those group stages during the preliminary rounds... but fine, let's go with this—just a straight knockout system... though honestly, it's still garbage. It's completely unnecessary, an absolute drain on the host's resources, clubs lose their players for longer periods and all that nonsense... if I could just step into the IHF for a few months and overhaul the entire tournament structure myself, ☕

What a massive link 🙏 🙏

As for the Australian players, their only real concern is that finals week is approaching and the second semester is about to kick off 🤣

Ryan Moore68 said:The only thing those Australian players have to worry about is passing their finals and starting the next semester🤣

🤣

And stuff like that—some people might even run out of sick leave and face getting fired

But seriously, this is all just unnecessary. All this playing around over things like 23rd place or 17th place? It’s totally pointless 🤷

Casey White13 said:🤣

And all that other nonsense... some people might get medical leave just to avoid being fired.

But seriously—without any joking around—this whole thing is pointless. These ridiculous little games to decide 23rd place or 17th place? It’s completely unnecessary. 🤷

Look at it from a different perspective. These exotic national teams are going to be part of our society for a few more days; they'll play friendlies against other equally exotic nations, snap photos around town, post them on Facebook, and all their buddies from school will be liking them. Who knows? Maybe someone will get lucky and end up with a blonde girl from Sweden. ☕ For them, this is basically an annual vacation. Let them enjoy themselves for a bit longer before they head back out to the desert. 😁

I’m telling you, they’re playing for pride. Just think back a few years when the US beat Greenland—that was literally their one and only win at the World Cup. For them, that felt like winning the damn championship, even if it was just some random match for 23rd place.

Got the matchup against Sweden tomorrow at 6 PM

Not holding my breath, though, because I caught the Swedes playing yesterday and they honestly looked a bit more washed than the Danes.

Watching these guys go 6-0 or 5-1... it’s just thin. Weak. It’s more like chamomile tea than that aggressive, fierce grass we used to see. And with goalies like this? A total disaster. But hey, I guess this is how we have to play now, given the roster we actually have. Still, I can't help but think this feels like some planned strategic pivot—mostly driven by the sheer frustration of watching everyone start smoking in the final minutes of tournaments.

The 3-2-1 defense was our identity. It let us use pure fanaticism to mask our flaws, pull off impossible comebacks, and occasionally just completely paralyze an opponent's offense... but looking at things now, it feels like the day we abandoned that system was the beginning of the end for America as a handball powerhouse.

Frank Turner72 said:watching our guys put up scores like 6-0 or 5-1... man, it’s just weak, totally lifeless. it feels more like chamomile tea than that gritty, aggressive squad we used to have. and when you combine that with these massive blunders in goal, it’s just a total disaster. I guess this is just how it is now since these are the players we've got to work with, but honestly, I feel like this whole thing might actually be a planned strategic shift, mostly driven by everyone just getting frustrated after smoking too much during the final stages of the tournament.

the truth is, that 3-2-1 defense was what built us. it let us use pure fanaticism to make up for all our flaws and mask our weaknesses, turning impossible situations around and sometimes completely shutting down the opponent's offense... now, I can't help but feel like the day we decided to ditch it marks the beginning of the end for America as a handball powerhouse.

Yup... Whenever we needed to dig ourselves out of a hole, we pulled it off using that 3-2-1 setup. It was basically our signature move, the thing that defined our independence on the court.. 😢

this 6-0 style.. that's for Russia, not for us ☕

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like Sunjić should’ve actually made this roster? 😛

Honestly, I can't stand this national team lately... from the front office down to the coach and even some of those players who are clearly being forced into the spotlight... The only guys I still respect are the old guard—Ivan, Lac, and Vori... maybe even Štrlek among the newer crowd 👍
I have zero clue how I'm supposed to root for them tomorrow against those underdogs who are actually likable... I mean, I’d probably pull for Argentina if I thought some people might actually step up and do their jobs, but yeah, probably not happening... We’ll likely just end up finishing 5th or 6th. 😢

Here’s my take on how this is gonna go down: we’re definitely taking losses against Argentina and Poland, but we'll absolutely crush the Swedes 😁