The Czech handball players lost in the rematch of the playoff qualification of the World Cup in North Macedonia after the fight at 25:27 and did not advance to the January championship. The opening match on Wednesday in Zlín ended in a draw 24:24. The representatives made up the whole match in Skopje, and in the end they were not helped by several excellent interventions by goalkeeper Tomáš Mrkva.
The Czech team failed to repay North Macedonia for elimination in the playoffs six years ago. The national team will once again drag on waiting for participation in the world championship, where it last presented itself in 2015 in Qatar. The Spanish coach Xavier Sabaté did not win the first matches on the bench of the Czech national team, where he replaced Rastislav Trtík after the January Euro.
The Czech team lost up to seven goals in Wednesday’s home match, but in the end it won a draw, which really kept it in the game for promotion. Sabbat’s charges had almost seven thousand spectators in Skopje in retaliation against the stormy backdrop at the beginning. In the seventh minute, Čip adjusted the score to 4: 2 for the guests, but the Macedonians reacted with a five-goal goal and did not let go of the lead.
The Czech team had to constantly tighten in the further course and went to the cabins with a loss of 12:14. After 10 minutes of the second act, the Macedonians, who took 22nd place in the January Euro, bounced back to 20:16 and the Sabbaths took a break. His charges then reduced to a difference of two goals and thanks to the interventions of the goalkeeper Mrkva, they still “nurtured” the hope of equalizing.
The guests did not change a few clear chances, but in the end they attacked a draw, which would be enough for them to advance with a higher number of goals scored than at home. In the 57th minute, the Czechs defended themselves in the weakness at 25:24 for the home team, but they did not end the subsequent attack. Taleski increased the gap to two goals after the time-out, and even though Babák lowered it, Kuzmanovski had the last word on the seven-meter throw. The top scorer of the match scored nine goals.
The World Cup in Poland and Sweden will take place on July 2 in Katowice. The Czech team will not play in the second big event in a row. It does not follow on from the January performance at the European Championships, where Sweden and Spain tormented the later finalists in the basic group.
Skopje World Handball Championship Qualifiers playoff match:
Northern Macedonia – Czech Republic 27:25 (14:12)
Squad and goals of the Czech Republic: Mrkva, Mizera – Hrstka 5, Piroch 5, Choleva, Kašpárek 2, Babák 4, Číp 1, Petrovský 1, Vančo, Havran, Klíma 1, V. Patzel 4, Užek 1, Zeman 1, Franc.
Macedonia’s most goals: Kuzmanovski 9, Taleski 6. Referee: Santos, Fonseca (both Portug.). 7-meter throws: 6/5 – 3/3. Penalty: 5: 3. Attendance: 6963 (sold out). First match: 24:24, Macedonia advanced.
–
