From geography lessons and secret fears to fans’ cheers and team dinners
We know what your favourite EHF Champions League stars did last week. Do you? Regardless of your answer, watch and read below; even the biggest handball connoisseurs might be surprised.
First of all, let us see how Macedonian VELUX EHF Champions League stars Stojance Stoilov (Vardar), Borko Ristovski (Barcelona) and Filip Taleski (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) faired at a geography test.
And enjoy this eye-candy move from Denmark. Spectacular handball.
The EURO watch
The biggest sensation currently at the EHF EURO is the Czech team, who bravely fought their way to the main round. The Czechs are difficult opponents for any side, the defending champions included.
After the unforgettable Patrick Groetzki from Germany tried his hand at goalkeeping, Kiel star Rune Dahmke followed suit in an even more spectacular (and painful) in-flight save to prevent goal in key moments
The hosts keep the high spirit, determined to write history in front of the home crowd in Zagreb. Just seeing them celebrate will bring tears to your eyes, and warm up even the coldest of hearts.
Even the bravest have fears. French star Luka Karabatic is among the toughest guys around, but even the hard-core line player has one fear nobody knew about. It will be a pun if we say his fears are tough to find, just as a needle in a haystack.
His compatriot in goal, Vincent Gerard, is no fun to play against, having kept closed blinds in the opening minutes of their match against Sweden, paving way for key win.
Injured but not disheartened
The EHF EURO unfortunately can’t go without some heart-breaking injuries to star players. This championship has been particularly hard on THW Kiel, as Alfred Gislason must be in disbelief after losing two key players in two days.
The biggest Croatian star, Domagoj Duvnjak, keeps hope of a return, however, to help his team on the way to the elusive EHF EURO gold. Despite succumbing to his recurrent right knee injury in the dying moments of his first match, Duvnjak is with his team, cheering them on, hopeful he will be fit to help them on the court soon enough.
“I will not surrender. Especially because of these guys, my biggest friends, as well as the entire public that lives for handball these days. I have done my knee surgery just to be able to play the EHF EURO, but I don’t lose hope, cheering them on as their biggest fan in front of the TV. I am sure they will slowly but surely and together, climb towards our goal, even without me in the team,” said the Croatian captain.
Women sharpen form while enjoying time-off
While the men are in the midst of their EHF EURO tournament, the women have other things on their minds. In Hungary the crowd witnessed another milestone for Györ. After Anita Görbicz celebrated her 2000th goal last week, this time Eduarda Amorim made her 200th appearance for the Hungarian side.
The Women’s EHF Champions League season resumes this weekend. The competition’s surprise package, Metz, are keeping it sharp in the domestic league. Eyeing their first Women’s EHF FINAL4, the French team seem to have not missed a beat since the season went into its winter break. No more a ‘dark horse’, soon they might be labelled as favourites. Just take a look at this wonderful move from their Slovenian sharpshooter Ana Gros.
Another favourite for the Women’s EHF FINAL4 berth, Romanian side CSM, are enjoying their time-off. The break came at exactly the right time as they are looking to build more cohesion in their group of vastly talented individuals. As Majda Mehmedovic and her teammates enjoyed a dinner, anticipate a strong bond within the Bucharest-based team when the Women’s EHF Champions League season returns this weekend.
TEXT:
Nemanja Savic / ew