Croatia defeated Montenegro 15:12 (2:1, 3:4, 3:2, 4:4) in an away match in Budva in both teams’ final rehearsal for the 36th European Championships.
Before the game in Budva, Croatia’s head coach Ivica Tucak selected 15 players, who will participate in the Europeans in Belgrade.
There haven’t been many changes to the roster since last summer and the World Championships. The team is very experienced. Goalkeeper Ivan Marcelic and attacker Andrija Basic, who both have won medals with Croatia at the major competitions, are new names compared to the 2025 WCH roster. They replaced Toni Popadic and Tin Brubnjak.
Croatia’s 2026 European Championships roster
Goalkeepers: Marko Bijac (Jadran S), Ivan Marcelic (Mladost). Field players: Luka Loncar, Josip Vrlic (both Mladost), Rino Buric (Pro Recco), Matias Biljaka (Mladost), Marko Zuvela, Filip Krzic (both Jug Dubrovnik), Luka Bukic (Mladost), Loren Fatovic (Jadran), Ante Vukicevic (Mladost), Franko Lazic (Mladost), Konstantin Kharkov (Mladost), Zvonimir Butic (Jadran), Andrija Basic (Mladost).
The Croats’ rivals in Group Phase I at the Europeans will be Greece, Slovenia, and Georgia.
Even contest in Budva
As for the game in Budva, it was an even contest, but Croatia held the lead more often. Montenegro went ahead only twice (4:3 and 7:6). In the fourth period, the hosts leveled three times (8:8, 9:9, 10:10). The Croats then scored two back-to-back goals to earn a 12:10 lead – for the first time, two goals separated the rivals. Montenegro halved its deficit in the dying seconds.
Loren Fatovic scored four goals for Croatia, while Konstantin Kharkov and Luka Bukic netted two goals apiece. Montenegro’s best scorers were Marko Mrsic (3), Dmitrii Kholod (2), Strahinja Gojkovic (2) and Dusan Matkovic (2).
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