Handball · International
Croatia overturns half-time deficit to edge Germany 21–20
Host Croatia earned its first win at the Men’s EHF EURO 2000 with a 21–20 victory over Germany in Zagreb on 22 January. Germany held a 12–11 lead at half-time, but Croatia won the second half 10–8 to reverse the result. The one-goal finish came in front of an officially recorded crowd of 9,500.
2000-01-22 · Zagreb
Event date:
The story
Host Croatia earned its first win at the Men’s EHF EURO 2000 with a 21–20 victory over Germany in Zagreb on 22 January. Germany held a 12–11 lead at half-time, but Croatia won the second half 10–8 to reverse the result. The one-goal finish came in front of an officially recorded crowd of 9,500.
How it unfolded
Zlatko Saračević supplied seven goals for Croatia, one-third of the winning total. Kretzschmar also scored seven for Germany, whose next-highest contributors each finished with three. Seven-metre conversion differed sharply: Croatia scored all four of its attempts, whereas Germany converted only three of eight. The final margin was smaller than that five-throw difference in successful penalties.
The wider picture
Croatia had opened with a 27–22 defeat against Spain, so this result restored its group record to one win and one loss. Germany had drawn 24–24 with Ukraine before facing the hosts. Croatia next beat Norway; Germany next lost to France. The hosts eventually finished third in Group A, behind France and Spain.
Period by period
| Half / final | Croatia | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| First half | 11 | 12 |
| Second half | 10 | 8 |
| Final | 21 | 20 |
Sources
Check the original record.
Open the governing body or organiser’s publication for the underlying result, decision or tournament update.