The Croatian junior team (U19) won gold at the world handball championship in Tunis, beating Iceland 40:34 (19:15) in Tunis to take the world gold medal.

Croatia led the whole match. At the beginning the Croatia team created a six goal advantage, 8:2. Iceland managed to reduce that lead to 9:8, but this was the closest they came to the Croatian team. At half time Croatia was leading 19:15.

Take a look at the photo gallery HERE.

In the second half the Croatians continued to increase their lead, with the result being 33:25 in the 50^th minute. Iceland managed to reduce Croatia’s lead by the end of the match, but the win and gold were never in question.

The following players represented Croatia in the championship:

Goakpeepers – Josip Pivac, Alen Grd and Ante Vukas, left wings - Lovro Sprem and Damir Vucko, right wings – Kresimir Ledinski and Dario Cerneka, pivots – Marino Maric and Kresimir Kozina, outer players – Nikola Spelic, Slaven Brdar, Ivan Sliskovic, Vedran Hudj, Luka Sokolic, Ivan Belfinger, Luka Stepancic and Robert Markotic.

Referees: Samir Kirchen and Samir Makhlouf (both from Tunis)

ICELAND – CROATIA - 35 : 40 (15:19) 

ICELAND: K. Guzmundsson (3/16), Stefansson (7/34), Olafsson, Kristinsson, Palmarsson 4, Heimisson 2, Porgeirsson, Guzjonsson, Olafsson 6, Sigurmannsson 2, O. Guzmundsson 8, Gretarsson 4, Bjarkason 5, Johannsson 4. 
Coach: E. Guzmundsson 

CROATIA: Grd (8/27), Vukas (2/18), Vucko, Sokolic 5, Ledinski , Belfinger 3, Cerneka 4, Marić 9, Hudj 6, Kozina, Stepancic 1, Sprem 6, Spelic 6, Sliskovic. 
Coach: Vladimir Canjuga

7m Penalties:

Iceland – 3/4, Croatia 6/7

Suspension time:

Iceland – 10 minutes, Croatia – 8 minutes