Upset in Handball World Championships as Croatia Stuns France in Quarterfinals

Upset in Handball World Championships: Croatia Stuns France in QuarterfinalsUpset in Handball World Championships: Croatia Stuns France in Quarterfinals In a stunning turn of events, the Croatian handball team has dethroned the reigning world champions France in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Handball World Championships. After a nail-biting match that went into extra time, Croatia emerged victorious with a thrilling 34-33 scoreline. Despite being down by two goals with just minutes remaining, the Croatian players showcased their resilience and determination. Led by the inspirational Ivan Martinović, who scored eight goals, Croatia fought back valiantly to force overtime. In the nail-biting extra period, Luka Cindrić netted the decisive goal to secure the upset. The victory marks a remarkable achievement for Croatia, who were not among the favorites to reach the semi-finals. France, on the other hand, had won the past two World Championships and was widely expected to advance. “This is an incredible feeling,” said Croatia’s coach Lino Červar. “We never gave up and played with all our hearts. This victory is a testament to the spirit of our team.” France’s coach Guillaume Gille expressed his disappointment but praised Croatia’s performance. “We are obviously very disappointed with the result, but we give full credit to Croatia,” he said. “They played a fantastic match and deserve their victory.” Croatia will now face Spain in the semifinals, while France will have to regroup and prepare for the classification round. The tournament continues to captivate fans around the world, with more exciting matches and upsets on the horizon.