Spain, Croatia through to world handball last 16
January 23, 2015
Defending champion Spain extended its perfect record to five matches with a 30-26 defeat of Slovenia in the World Handball Championships on Friday.
The star performer for Spain was once again its left wing Valero Rivera Folch, who scored six goals. Elsewhere a defeat to hosts Qatar and a win for Brazil against Group A whipping boys Chile meant Belarus crashed out of the tournament.
In Group B, Tunisia booked a last 16 date with the free-scoring Spaniards after a 30-23 defeat of Iran, which finished bottom of the pool with no wins from five matches. The team of long-term Bundesliga coach Sead Hasanefendic was level 12-12 at the break but stepped up a gear to overwhelm Iran with 18 second half goals.
Macedonia secured second place with a high-scoring 36-31 win against Austria, which was also already through to knockout round - for the first time.
Bosnia and Herzegovina could have progressed with a win over Balkans neighbor Croatia and on a loss for Tunisia, but it went down 28-21 despite outscoring its opponent in the second period.
Like Spain, Croatia also progresses with a perfect record and the co-favorite will now meet Brazil in the knockout stage.
The full line-up for the last 16 will be known after Saturday’s concluding round of matches in groups C and D.
The prize for Germany if it can beat bottom side Saudi Arabia will be top position in Group D and the avoidance of both Sweden and France in the next phase. Germany has the second-leakiest defense in the group but Dagur Sigurdsson's men are up against a Saudi Arabian team that netted only 68 times in its first four matches.
Pwh/ (SID, dpa)