Bosnia and Herzegovina Handball Team Defeated by Favored Spain

The Bosnia and Herzegovina handball team was predictably defeated by favored Spain in Valladolid with a score of 30:21 (12:6) at the opening of the qualifications for the 2018 European Championship in Croatia.

Except for the first 15 minutes when we even led up to 4:3, the rest of the match went by with better play from the Spanish.

After that 4:3 in the 13th minute, a period of our catastrophic play in attack followed, so the Spanish made an 8:0 run in 14 minutes and the winner was practically decided.

We even went to halftime with an acceptable deficit (6:12). If our attack had matched the good defensive play and if the French referees had not „pushed“ at least two more goals for the home team, perhaps after 30 minutes we would have had an equal score.

In the second half, we were down by 11 on several occasions, but we fought back and the match ended with the Bosnian team trailing by nine goals.

The most efficient player in our team was Marko Panić with six goals, while for Spain, Valero Rivera scored one more.

The home-style refereeing and completely different standards for suspensions, fouls…, along with the objective lack of coordination in attack, did not work in our favor, and there is always regret for a better result.

However, the loss to Spain was expected. La Furia is a world handball powerhouse and there is no need to lament. Now we have a spectacle ahead in Sarajevo, because on Sunday Austria comes, whom we must beat. In case of victory, we would create a good foundation for the continuation of the qualifiers.

We congratulate our Dragons on their fighting spirit and effort; coach Šuman will fine-tune everything, and we will surely become stronger and stronger from match to match.

The Bosnian expedition returns from Spain on Thursday. It is planned to be at the Sarajevo Airport around 12:30 PM, from where they will head to the base at the “Hills” hotel, where they will stay together until the match against the Austrians.

Spain – Bosnia and Herzegovina 30:21 (12:6)

VALLADOLID. Polideportivo Huerta del Rey Hall. Spectators: 3,200. Referees: Charlotte Bonaventura and Julie Bonaventura (France). Delegate: Antonio Goulao (Portugal). Seven-meter throws: Spain 5 (5), Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 (2). Suspensions: Spain 6, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12 minutes. Result: Spain – Bosnia and Herzegovina 30:21 (12:6).

SPAIN: Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (Rodrigo Corrales), Entrerríos 4, Viran Morros, Carlos Molina 1, Valero Rivera 7 (4p), Ferran Solé 1, Gurbindo 1, Tomàs 4, Sarmiento 3, Aginagalde 2, Sánchez-Migallón 2, Cañellas 1, Iosu Goñi 1, Dujshebaev 2 (1p), Adrià Figueras 1. Coach: Jordi Ribera.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Benjamin Burić (Grahovac), Tarabochia 3 (2p), Vražalić 1, Panić 6, Prce 2, Vranješ, Nuić 4, Ovčina 1, Perić, Senjamin Burić 1, Jarak, Terzić, Toromanović 1, Karačić, Vegar 2. Coach: Bilal Šuman.