Slovenia’s men’s handball team faced a challenging defeat against Iceland in Paris, losing the match 26-32. The game served as a preparation for the upcoming European Championship. The Slovenes struggled significantly in the first half, which their coach, Uroš Zorman, described as lethargic. A swift turnaround occurred in the second half, but it wasn’t enough.
Match Overview: Slovenia vs. Iceland
The match commenced poorly for Slovenia. Iceland quickly established a lead, going ahead by four goals at the 13-minute mark, making the score 10-6. Bjarki Mar Elisson and Orri Thorkelsson were instrumental, each scoring twice between the 16th and 22nd minutes, contributing to a commanding 16-9 lead for Iceland.
Struggles and Comeback
After halftime, Iceland continued to dominate. Elisson extended their advantage to ten goals, making it 23-13. However, Slovenia regrouped defensively, tightening their performance and preventing easy breakthroughs from the Icelandic side. Jože Baznik’s outstanding goalkeeping added to Slovenia’s efforts as they aimed to close the gap.
- Andraž Makuc and Janc were Slovenia’s top scorers, each netting five goals.
- Jože Baznik recorded nine saves during the match.
Despite a red card issued to Domna Makuc, Slovenia managed to reduce its deficit to five goals, propelled by a strong showing from Andraž Makuc, who scored to bring it to 23-27 with just over ten minutes remaining. The Slovenes, however, fell short due to errors on attack, allowing Iceland to secure a comfortable victory.
Upcoming Challenges for Slovenia
Following their loss to Iceland, Slovenia’s focus now shifts to a crucial match for third place in the tournament scheduled for Sunday at 14:30. They previously secured a 36-23 victory against Kuwait in their only domestic preparation match, but at a cost. Key player Aleks Vlah suffered a hamstring injury and will miss the upcoming European Championship.
European Championship Details
The European Championship is set to take place from January 15 to February 1, co-hosted by Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Slovenia will begin the group stage in Oslo, where they are placed in Group D. Their fixtures include matches against Montenegro on January 16, Switzerland on January 18, and the Faroe Islands on January 20.
Advancing to the next round hinges on finishing in the top two spots of their group. If successful, Slovenia will proceed to Malmö, Sweden, for additional matches, with the tournament concluding in Herning, Denmark.
