Croatia national handball team


The Croatia national handball team represents Croatia in international men's team handball competitions and friendly matches. The handball team is controlled by the Croatian Handball Federation.
Croatia has often been portrayed as an international force in handball, having won two Olympic gold medals and one World Championship, but never winning the Euros, having lost three finals, one to rivals France, one to Scandinavian handball team Denmark, and one to Spain. The Croatian handball team that won the 1996 Olympic Gold medal was often credited as the biggest upset in history of handball, with handball making its debut appearance. The Croatian national team won a so-called "international double" after winning both the gold medal at the Olympics and the World Championships, beating Germany in both finals.
Croatia's handball team has often been labelled as a model for sport, often being the replacement for Romania in Europe's "Big Three" in handball, alongside France and Denmark. Some of their biggest rivals are neighbors Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia. Germany are also called rivals of the handball team, although matches between Germany and Croatia have been met with Croatian dominance, Germany only winning once in their nine meetings, and Croatia winning seven times. Mediterranean side Spain have also been called as close rivals, having played 23 games with them, the most out of any sides the Croatians have played with in handball. However, the French are often remarked as Croatia's biggest-ever rival in handball, due to both countries' success. In recent history though, Croatia often suffered eliminations at the hands of the French.

History

Handball in Austria-Hungary monarchy (1904–1918)

The word handball in the Croatian region was first used by Franjo Bučar, describing the German game Schleuderball in the journal Sokol 1904. The earliest documented forms of playing handball in these areas appear in 1911 in the gymnasium of Pazin, which is among other things due to the fact that programs for education in Istria, as part of the then Austrian coast, coming from the education center in Graz. In Croatia, at the time handball was in high school programs closing ceremony. It was a kind of Czech handball extended from the Czech Republic, where it was adopted by the Osijek and Vukovar students from Prague.

Between the two world wars (1918–1941)

In the early beginnings of the Croatian handball, venues played field handball and handball. Students were still more attracted to field handball, because the little handball were played on makeshift courts without the right door, as opposed to the field handball, which is played on the existing football fields. During the Kingdom of Yugoslavia first public handball match in the Croatian region was played and in the wider neighborhood. It was played in a high school in Varaždin 29 May 1930 under the guidance of physical education teachers Zvonimir Šuligoj. Since that game, until 1950, in Croatia and Yugoslavia publicly played exclusively field handball, on the football field with eleven players on each side. In high school in Zagreb on 1 June 1935, opened the first handball courts in Yugoslavia.

The establishment of Croatian Handball Federation and the first Croatian national team (1941–1945)

At the beginning of World War II Kingdom of Yugoslavia disintegrated. Most of the territory inhabited by Croats on 10 April 1941, it became part of the newly formed Independent State of Croatia. As part of the new state on 2 October 1941 in Zagreb for the first time in history the Croatian Handball Federation was established.
The place of foundation is recorded to be at the Croatian Sports home in Jurišićeva, Zagreb. HRS is the umbrella organization of handball in the ISC coordinated the work of a dozen clubs and until 1944 organized national championships. In the state of NDH was established the first Croatian handball team. The first training for practice-match team NDH was held on 12 October 1941 between the two teams selected from the head coach Dragutin Pehe. His first and only international match this team played on 14 June 1942 with Hungary in Budapest where they lost 0:9. This field handball match was played in front of 30,000 spectators at the then NEP Stadium was a prelude meeting of the football teams of the same name. The best handball player in the field was the goalkeeper Branko Kralj. Under the direction of the coach Ante Škrtić, the players for Croatia were Vlado Abramović, Irislav Dolenec, Žarko Galetović, Zvonko Leskovar, Todor Marinov, Viktor Medved, Krešo Pavlin, Vlado Šimanović Stjepan Širić, Josip Žitnik and reserve goalkeeper Zdenko Šurina. HRS stopped functioning in 1944 because of the war in World War II.

Handball in SFR Yugoslavia (1945–1991)

When the 1945 World War II ended, the territory of the Independent State of Croatia was included in the newly established SFR Yugoslavia.
Immediately after that began the reconstruction of the war abandoned handball in Yugoslavia, and that same year founded the Committee for handball Gymnastics Association Croatian, and in May 1948 the Committee for handball Gymnastics Association of Yugoslavia. Operation HRS is restored on 19 December 1948, in which he, in accordance with the national policy of the new Yugoslav state, name changed in the Croatian Handball Association. Handball Federation of Yugoslavia was established on 17 December 1949 in Belgrade by pooling national and provincial associations, and it became a member of the International Handball Federation in 1950.
After the end of World War II, most field handball players of NDH completed courses and became instructors or referees in handball. Some of them have become members of the field handball national team of Yugoslavia and played in its first international match, played on 19 June 1950 at the stadium in Stadion Kranjčevićeva in Zagreb, against Belgium. Yugoslavia won 18:3 playing with nine players from Zagreb, one from Split and one from Sarajevo.
Since the end of World War II until the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the best Croatian handball players in field and team handball played for the national team of Yugoslavia. With this national team Croatians have performed at 17 major competitions and won seven medals. These are two Olympic gold medals, the Olympic bronze, world gold, world silver and two bronze world. Among the other famous trophy, in this period they won 5 gold medals in five appearances at the Mediterranean Games, two gold and one bronze medal at the World Cups held in 1971, 1974 and 1984 in Sweden, 2 bronze medals at handball Super League held in 1981 and 1983 in Germany and silver at the 1990 goodwill Games in Seattle.
At the World Junior Championship in 1987 in Rijeka there was created a nucleus generation that will define the nineties and bring some of the most beautiful handball stories for the Croatian national team. Alvaro Načinović, Iztok Puc, Vladimir Jelčić and other predominantly have won this championship playing for Yugoslavia, and their talent and knowledge are later incorporated as seniors in the first Croatian success after independence of the country.
PlaceCroatians in the team of YugoslaviaCroatian head coaches
10th place at :hr:Svjetska prvenstva u velikom rukometu|WC 1952Irislav Dolenec Ivan Snoj / Irislav Dolenec
5th place at :hr:Svjetska prvenstva u velikom rukometu|WC 1955.Irislav Dolenec, Stjepan KorbarIvan Snoj / Irislav Dolenec
8th place at WC 1958Jerolim Karadža, Lovro Manestar, Božidar Peter, Zlatko Šimenc?, Ivan ŠpoljarićIvan Snoj
9th place at SP 1961.Anton Bašić, Ivan Đuranec, Zvonko Jandroković, Jerolim Karadža, Božidar Peter, Zlatko Šimenc?Ivan Snoj
6th place at WC 1964Vojislav Bjegović, Vinko Dekaris, Ivan Đuranec, Lujo Györy, Jerolim Karadža, Zvonko Kocijan, Josip Milković, Vladimir Vićan, Albin Vidović, Zlatko ŽagmešterIvan Snoj
7th place at WC 1967Vinko Dekaris, Ivan Đuranec, Hrvoje Horvat, Jerolim Karadža, Branko Klišanin, Josip Milković, Miroslav Pribanić, Dobrivoje Selec, Ninoslav Tomašić, Ivan Uremović, Vladimir VićanIvan Snoj / Irislav Dolenec
Gold medal at MG 1967Hrvoje Horvat, Miroslav Klišanin, Josip Milković, Ivan Uremović, Albin VidovićIvan Snoj / Vlado Štencl
Bronze medal at WC 1970Abas Arslanagić, Hrvoje Horvat, Marijan Jakšeković, Dragutin Mervar, Josip Milković, Miroslav Pribanić, Zlatko ŽagmešterIvan Snoj / Vlado Štencl
Gold medal at :hr:Svjetski rukometni kup|WC 1971Ivan Snoj
Gold medal at OG 1972Abas Arslanagić, Hrvoje Horvat, Zdravko Miljak, Miroslav Pribanić, Dobrivoje Selec, Albin Vidović, Zdenko ZorkoIvan Snoj / Vlado Štencl
Bronze medal at WC 1974Abas Arslanagić, Hrvoje Horvat, Zdravko Miljak, Željko Nimš, Zvonimir Serdarušić, Zdenko ZorkoIvan Snoj / Josip Milković
Gold medal at :hr:Svjetski rukometni kup|WC 1974Ivan Snoj
Gold medal at MG 1975Abas Arslanagić, Zdravko Miljak, Željko Nimš, Miroslav Pribanić, Zvonimir Serdarušić, Zdenko ZorkoIvan Snoj
5th place at OG 1976Abas Arslanagić, Hrvoje Horvat, Zdravko Miljak, Željko Nimš, Zvonimir Serdarušić, Zdenko ZorkoIvan Snoj / Pero Janjić
5th place at WC 1978Hrvoje Horvat, Zdravko Miljak, Željko Nimš, Zvonimir Serdarušić, Željko Vidaković, Zdenko ZorkoIvan Snoj / Zdravko Malić
Gold medal at MG 1979Pavle Jurina, Željko Vidaković, Zdravko Zovko, Željko Zovko
6th place OG 1980Pavle Jurina, Stjepan Obran
Bronze medal :hr:Rukometna superliga|SC 1981
Silver medal at WC 1982Mirko Bašić, Pavle Jurina, Stjepan Obran, Zdravko Zovko
Bronze medal :hr:Rukometna superliga|SC 1983
Gold medal at MG 1983Mirko Bašić, Pavle Jurina, Stjepan Obran, Željko Vidaković, Zdravko Zovko
Bronze medal at :hr:Svjetski rukometni kup|SC 1984
Gold medal at OG 1984Mirko Bašić, Pavle Jurina, Zdravko Zovko / Abas Arslanagić
Gold medal at WC 1986Mirko Bašić, Zlatko Saračević / Abas Arslanagić
Bronze medal at OG 1988Mirko Bašić, Boris Jarak, Alvaro Načinović, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Irfan SmajlagićAbas Arslanagić
4th place at WC 1990Mirko Bašić, Nenad Kljaić, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević, Irfan Smajlagić, Ratko Tomljanović
Silver medal at GG 1990Patrik Ćavar, Bruno Gudelj, Nenad Kljaić
Gold medal at MG 1991Tomislav Farkaš, Valter Matošević

Modern Croatia national handball team (1991–present)

Official formation and first competitions (1991–1996)

Croatia on 30 May 1990 began the process of creating the independent state, and soon established and modern Croatian handball team. The first international match of the Croatian handball team was played on 14 January 1991 in Zagreb, in Kutija Šibica. It was a friendly match with Japan which ended in a draw 23:23. The team was coached by Josip Milković with assistant coach Lino Červar and the players were Patrik Čavar, Tonči Peribonio, Vlado Šola, Ivica Obrvan, Nenad Kljaić, Iztok Puc, Ratko Tomljanović, Bruno Gudelj, Željko Zovko, Stjepan Obran, Tomislav Farkaš, Robert Ipša, Ivo Glavinić and Goran Stojanović.
The dissolution of Yugoslavia that followed, Croatia gained full independence on 8 October 1991 the Croatian Handball Association in 1992 restored the original name of the Croatian Handball Federation, and on 10 April 1992 became a member of the International Handball Federation, and 23 July 1992 members of the European Handball Federation.
Taking fourth place at the 1990 World Championship in Czechoslovakia the Yugoslav national team was placed among the nine best teams of the tournament, which acquired them the right to participate in the upcoming 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Because of the war and the disintegration of Yugoslavia, this team was disqualified, and should it was supposed to be specified who will replaced them in the games. Since the Croatian Olympic Committee was provisionally recognized on 17 January 1992 by the International Olympic Committee, and since Croatia had already on 22 May 1992 become a member of the United Nations, Croatian handball players had conditions to perform at the Olympic Games in 1992. This unfortunately did not happen. Although Croatia in terms of game was handball superpower, it was decided that Yugoslavia would be replaced by Iceland at the games as they finished tenth at the 1990 World Championship. Adverse effects of certain officials in the IOC prevented even the option of maintaining an additional qualifying tournament like the one held for the Croatian basketball players. Croatia also missed the 1993 World Championship in Sweden, because the World Championship in 1990 was an elimination tournament for this championship.
The following years, in spite of the short history of the country brought the Croatian team very significant results in important competitions. Croatia won its first official competition at the Mediterranean Games in 1993 in Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Croatia won gold. At the first ever European Championship in 1994 held in Portugal the team was led by Zdravko Zovko they won their first medal at this first major international competition. The group stage ended with Croatia finishing behind then powerful Russians, but in front of the French, led by the famous Jackson Richardson. In the semi-finals, the Swedes were better and Croatia played the third place match and won in a dramatic match against Denmark. Sweden won the tournament demolishing the Russians in the final with 13 points. A year later at the 1995 World Championships in Iceland Croatia relatively went easily from group stage to the quarter final where there was brought a rarely seen drama. Tunisia was defeated after penalty shootout. Then the team beat Egypt in the quarter finals and Sweden national handball team in the semi-finals. In the final they the French were too big an obstacle for Zovko guys won their first Croatian World Championship silver medal. Sweden won the bronze defeating Germany. The next year at the European Championship in 1996 in Spain, Croatia, was led by Abas Arslanagić. Croatia lost took fifth place with victory over the Czech Republic where the match was led by Vladimir Nekić because Arslanagić quit after Croatia failed to enter the semi-finals. The championship was won by Russia.
, the Chairman of the Croatian Handball Federation 1995–2008.

Gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics

On the second Olympics in which Croatian athletes performed under the banner of the Croatian flag and won their first gold medal. This was won by the athletes who were least expected to win it, handball players. They were sent off to Atlanta without hope, because at the European Championship in 1996 they had finished in a weak fifth place, and relations in the national team were bad. Coach Abas Arslanagić quit during the end of the European championship and the national handball selection was filled with confrontation and fights. 38 days before the Olympic Games, the team was taken over by coach Velimir Kljaić, whose statement: "Will go back swimming if we don't win a medal" no one took seriously.
Before the Olympics there were still problems. Preliminary matches didn't offer much optimism. A few days before the start of the handball tournament a friendly encounter with Algeria was not played to the end. The Croatian players left the court because the Algerians went too far with their abusive playing and hurt three players, Goran Perkovac, Slavko Goluža and Nenad Kljaić.
The opening match of the Olympic games against Switzerland was tough. A victory was achieved in an already lost match. The Swiss led by as much as 6 goals, but then the goal was kept safe with a superb save from Venio Losert who just during the Olympic Games celebrated his 20th birthday. Making it a minimal victory, scoring in the 55th second before the end of the match, Patrik Ćavar brought a stellar victory.
The next two matches against Kuwait and hosts United States were easy victories. This was followed by the decisive encounter to enter the semi-finals, where there were only the two first-placed teams from each group.
The match with the then current Olympic and European champions Russia had a shocking finale. The Russians were leading by four points, but the Croats were arriving. The last minute was not for the faint of heart, but from the Russian roulette though the Croats came out as winners. One her of this triumph for the semi-finals was Valter Matošević. 40 seconds before the end of the match, when the result was 24:24, he defended a penalty shot from Torgovanov. Another hero was Božidar Jović, who just 3 seconds before the siren rang scored the winning goal.
The last match in the group was with the Swedes. This was the one in which yoneou could choose an opponent in the semi-finals, but Kljun omitted Patrik Ćavar, Iztok Puc, Zlatko Saračević and Irfan Smajlagić from the match. Croatia was defeated with nine goals difference, but without their poker aces there wasn't much to expect. The defeat did not have larger significance, except that it took to save face. In the semi-finals they waited for the French who were World Champions. Croatian handball showed the best possible way to respond to defeat in the final of the 1995 World Championship in Iceland. Engaged and disciplined, Croatian players did a great job and ensured the silver medal the same brightness as did the water polo team.
In the grand finale again Croatia faced the Swedes. In the semi-finals they defeated Spain, who later won the bronze medal. It was a great generation that only needed an Olympic gold medal to complete their collection. They probably hoped that Croatia was not with those who were missing against Sweden would not much raise the quality that they could be threatened. In the end their plans were foiled, and the Vikings failed to win. After starting 0: 1 followed by a brilliant game from the players Kljaić chose and the series of 6:1. The defense was solid and impenetrable and the attack varied and deadly. Perkovac great led his boys and Božidar Jović was the revelation of the tournament. Worried only in the final Zlatko Saračević was not playing properly, but Kljaić brought the perfect replacement, Zoran Mikulić. Although the Croatians twice led with seven goals difference, the second half offered drama. Swedes switched to defense 4–2 which created big problems. Decreased the difference and 6:30 minutes before the end came at just hit behind. Croatian handball players still in those crucial minutes they had never trembled hands.
Thirty seconds before the end of the line player Nenad Kljaić scored a crucial goal for the final 27:26 and brought a glorious victory. With the sound of sirens was created indescribable celebration and parquet Georgia Dome in front of 25,000 visitors in the hall and millions of TV viewers, which is today known caterpillar gold handball. It was the biggest win in the history of Croatian sport. The handball players were not yet aware of this gold they had placed around his neck President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Antun Vrdoljak, who previously predicted 6 Atlanta medal and otherwise announced "As running from the day he was born" at Zagreb's main square. Still not running, but the handball players after returning from Atlanta to thousands of fans being greeted at the airport and on Jelačić Square. And they did the famous caterpillar crawl.
PositionPlayers
GoalkeepersValter Matošević, Venio Losert
Back playersZlatko Saračević, Goran Perkovac, Iztok Puc, Zoran Mikulić, Slavko Goluža, Bruno Gudelj, Valner Franković
Line playersNenad Kljaić, Alvaro Načinović, Božidar Jović
Wing playersIrfan Smajlagić, Patrik Ćavar, Vladimir Šujster, Vladimir Jelčić
Coaching staffVelimir Kljaić, Milan Rončević, Zdenko Zorko, Stanislav Peharec, Damir Suman, Vladimir Nekić, Josip Guberina

A series of poor results (1996–2002)

After winning the Olympic gold medal on 4 August 1996 it was followed by a slow decline in the Croatian national team and the change of generations in which the handball players were far from winning a medal. It started when Croatia was knocked-out in the round of 16 of the World Championships. In Japan in 1997, Croatia was knocked out by Spain 31:25 and was ranked in 13th place. In Egypt 1999 they were knocked-out by Yugoslavia 30:23 leaving Croatia in 10th place. In France 2001 the national team would lose in the next round after two extra time stopped Ukraine 37:34 finishing in 9th place. At the European Championships in 1998, 2000 and 2002 finished in 8th, 6th and 16th place. Croatia in 2000 hosted the European Championship, they had high expectations from this tournament but they weren't fulfilled. After the defeat from Slovenia in the match for fifth place Croatia took only 6th place and failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. The national team is also lost its ability to defend the gold from Atlanta in Sydney.

First Červar era (2002–2010)

Once the team reached bottom with their results, being ranked last or in 16th place at the 2002 European Championship, in March 2002 the Federation entrusted Lino Červar and with him the team that suffered a seven-year drought medal in two years was created into the world champions and Olympic winners. In the period between these two gold medals Croatia is still ranked 4th place at the European Championships in 2004 in Slovenia. With Červar in charge Croatia would be at the top of the handball world.
PositionPlayers
GoalkeepersVlado Šola, Valter Matošević, Mario Kelentrić
Back playersPetar Metličić, Ivano Balić, Blaženko Lacković, Slavko Goluža, Tonči Valčić
Line playersBožidar Jović, Renato Sulić, Igor Vori
Wing playersMirza Džomba, Nikša Kaleb, Vedran Zrnić, Goran Šprem
Defensive playersDenis Špoljarić, Davor Dominiković
Coaching staffLino Červar, Irfan Smajlagić, Mirko Bašić, Josip Feldbauer, Milorad Sakradžija, Antun Arić, Ivica Udovičić, Ratko Balenović

With the arrival of Lino Červar and a maturing exceptionally talented new generation of with a young Ivano Balić the revival of the national team culminated at the 2003 World Championship. The start of the competition was disastrous. Croatia lost in their first match to Argentina who was at the time a punching for serious national teams in official competitions. Although the first half led with 5 goals, but 14 minutes before the end of the match conceded 6 goals. At the end of the match, Croatian handball players fired five successive attacks, and Mirza Džomba 20 seconds before the end missed the equalizer. How Croatian players badly played that match was proven by the fact they missed 6 penalty shots. During halftime of the second match against another underdog Saudi Arabia Croatia was losing with 2 differences and was playing desperately. Yet the team found strength to win this match. The turning point was marvelous – the group's dramatic victories in the end against giants Russia, France and Hungary securing first place to the second part where the Croats were convincing against Egypt and Denmark. In semi-finals the match went into overtime defeating the Spaniards 39:37 and in the grand final they outscored Germany 34:31 and won their first title of world champions and wrote surely one of the most beautiful story's in the history of Croatian sport.
In January 2004 Croatia played at the 2004 European Championship in Slovenia. They got to the semi-finals where they were knocked out by the hosts 25:27. They finished in fourth place losing the third place match to Denmark 27:31.
In Summer 2004 the Olympics were held in Athens. The national team continued its dominating play and were undefeated in all eight matches played. They defeated Iceland, Slovenia, South Korea, Russia, Spain, Greece and Hungary before getting to the final. In a dramatic final Croatia defeated Germany 26–24 and with the title of world champions they won the Olympic gold. In the last 5 minutes of the match went a goal ahead for Croatia, and then Nikša Kaleb who had not scored no goal with 3 consecutive goals sealed a great victory. The gold was an even greater success considering the fact that Croatia traveled to Athens without their best line player Renato Sulić who was recovering from a car accident, without important defense player Tonči Valčić and without Patrik Ćavar who was ill.
PositionPlayers
GoalkeepersVlado Šola, Venio Losert, Valter Matošević
Back playersPetar Metličić, Ivano Balić, Blaženko Lacković, Slavko Goluža, Drago Vuković
Line playersIgor Vori
Wing playersMirza Džomba, Nikša Kaleb, Vedran Zrnić, Goran Šprem
Defensive playersDenis Špoljarić, Davor Dominiković
Coaching staffLino Červar, Irfan Smajlagić, Zdenko Zorko, Miljenko Rak, Milorad Sakradžija, Josip Feldbauer, Stanislav Peharec, Davor Urek, Ivica Udovičić

Rivalries

Croatia has developed several handball rivalries. Their most played rivalry is against France, which is often considered to be the one of the biggest modern handball rivalry since the end of the Cold War, since Croatia,Denmark,Spain and France are the most successful nations in handball both in Europe and worldwide. Their second biggest rivalry is with neighbors Slovenia, whom they played 14 times, winning 9 games and losing 5. In recent years, a rivalry with Spain has also developed, sometimes called the Mediterranean derby. Other rivalries include Denmark, Poland, Germany, Serbia and Hungary.
The 2009 World Men's Handball Championship, hosted in Croatia, was remembered for constant refereeing mistakes, through which France ultimately won the final against Croatia. The final was memorable for starting the "curse of Arena Zagreb", in which many Croatian sports teams had lost finals in the Arena. Many had questioned the appointment of Danish referee Olesen Pedersen, who was remarked for his constant mistakes against several Croatian handball players, through which France won the final. After the final, the rivalry sparked more in Croatia, but later became a famous French phenomenon.

Results at international competitions

Prior to 1991, Croatia men's national handball team played as a part of Yugoslavia men's national handball team.
Croatia played its first match on 14 January 1991 in Zagreb. Team's first opponent was Japan and the match ended tied 23–23.

Overview of achievements at major international competitions

Medal count (major competitions)

Updated after 2020 European Handball Championship
CompetitionTotal
Olympic Games2013
World Championship1315
European Championship0336
Total36514

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place

Competitive record (major competitions)

Summer Olympics

Competitive record at the Summer Olympics

Competitive record in qualifying rounds

World Championship

Competitive record at the World Championship

Competitive record in qualifying rounds

European Championship

Competitive record at the European Championship

Competitive record in qualifying rounds

Mediterranean Games

Team

Current squad

Squad for the 2020 European Men's Handball Championship.
Head coach: Lino Červar

Coaching staff

StaffJob title
Lino ČervarHead coach
Hrvoje HorvatAssistant coach
Igor VoriAssistant coach
Mario KelentrićGoalkeeping coach
Mirko KroloConditioning coach
Damir KajbaPhysiotherapist

Head coaches

Major tournaments

Minor tournaments

Medal-winning squads

current national team captain

Most appearances


NameMatchesYears
Igor Vori223LP2001–2018
Venio Losert211GK1995–2015
Slavko Goluža204CB, LP1991–2006
Ivano Balić198CB2001–2012
Blaženko Lacković195OB2001–2013
Valter Matošević191GK1992–2004
Goran Perkovac190LB1992–2000
Vedran Zrnić189W2001–2010
Domagoj Duvnjak186CB2006–present
Mirza Džomba185W1997–2008
Petar Metličić175OB1997–2009
Davor Dominiković174D, OB1997–2008
Jakov Gojun168D2008–2018
Mirko Alilović164GK2006–2018
Drago Vuković157CB/OB, D2004–2014
Mirko Alilović152GK2006–2018
Božidar Jović151LP1995–2003
Zvonimir Bilić147OB1995–2002
Nenad Kljaić145LP1991–2001
Zlatko Horvat145W2005–present
Tonči Valčić144OB1999–2010
Ivan Čupić138W2005–2018
Marko Kopljar137OB2008–2018
Manuel Štrlek133W2010–present
Vlado Šola132GK1991–2006
Denis Špoljarić131D2003–2009
Denis Buntić131OB2005–2018
Patrik Ćavar120W1991–2003
Goran Šprem109W1999–2009
Alvaro Načinović105LP1992–2000
Renato Sulić100LP2001–2008

Players that played for Croatian National Handball Team after the breakup of Yugoslavia and
collected 100+ caps combined for Yugoslavian and Croatian National Handball Teams.
NameMatchesYears
Nenad Kljaić214OB1987–2001
Valter Matošević213GK1989–2004
Goran Perkovac202OB1988–2000
Zlatko Saračević181OB1981–2000
Mirko Bašić180GK1979–2000
Iztok Puc147OB1988–1998
Alvaro Načinović144P1988-2000
Tonči Peribonio139GK1986–1994
Patrik Ćavar135W1989–2004
Irfan Smajlagić123W1987–2001
Zoran Mikulić62OB1989–2001
Boris Jarak401988–1996

Top scorers


NameGoalsAverageYears
Mirza Džomba7193.89W1997–2008
Patrik Ćavar6395.33W1991–2003
Domagoj Duvnjak6083.35CB2006–present
Igor Vori590P2001-2018
Blaženko Lacković5712.93OB2001–2013
Vedran Zrnić5712.03W2001–2010
Slavko Goluža545CB, LB1991–2006
Ivano Balić5352.70CB2001–2012
Ivan Čupić5093.90W2005–2018
Zvonimir Bilić500OB1995–2002
Manuel Štrlek4963.16W2010–present
Petar Metličić4712.83OB1997–2009
Zlatko Horvat4682.51W2008–present
Iztok Puc3252.23OB1991–1998
Marko Kopljar322RB2005–2018
Denis Buntić293RB2005–2018
Irfan Smajlagić290W1991–2000

Record against other teams

As of 26 January 2020

Biggest wins

Double digit goal difference
Olympic GamesWorld ChampionshipEuropean ChampionshipMediterranean GamesQualifications

  • +19 vs. Brasil 2008
  • +11 vs. China 2008
  • +11 vs. Denmark 2012
  • +29 vs. USA 2001
  • +27 vs. Australia 2011
  • +23 vs. Australia 2013
  • +21 vs. Cuba 2009
  • +20 vs. Argentina 2011
  • +20 vs. Australia 2005
  • +19 vs. Iran 2015
  • +19 vs. Kuwait 2009
  • +15 vs. Chile 2017
  • +14 vs. Egypt 1995
  • +13 vs. Argentina 2005
  • +13 vs. China 1997
  • +13 vs. Marocco 2007
  • +12 vs. Marocco 1995
  • +11 vs. Algeria 2013
  • +10 vs. Spain 2009
  • +14 vs. Poland 2016
  • +11 vs. Belarus 2014
  • +10 vs. Serbia 2018
  • +20 vs. Chile 2012
  • +20 vs. Finland 2010
  • +19 vs. Finland 2010
  • +15 vs. Japan 2008
  • +14 vs. Japan 2012
  • +14 vs. Turkey 2016
  • +13 vs. Slovakia 2010
  • +12 vs. Greece 2010
  • +12 vs. Romania 2012
  • +11 vs. Algeria 2008
  • +11 vs. Slovakia 2014
  • +10 vs. Bahrain 2016
  • +10 vs. Turkey 2016

    • Biggest losses

    Youth teams

    Croatia has various youth selection which compete at the highest European and World level in handball. Various Croatia players have also played for the youth selection of Yugoslavia. At the 1981 1981 World U-21 Championship Yugoslavia U-21 won the gold medal in Portugal.

    Youth World Championship

    U-19
    YearRoundPositionWDLGFGAGD
    2005Semi-final402184175+9
    2007Final511215174+41
    2009Final700244168+76
    2011Quarterfinal8th214186189−3
    2013Final702276234+42

    European Youth Championship

    U-18

    Junior World Championship

    U-21

    Junior European Championship

    U-20

    Awards

    The Croatia national handball team has received numerous award throughout the years.

    Senior squad