The competition in Division 2 at the 36th Men’s European Championships in Croatia kicked off today.
Like yesterday, the games in the pool in Dubrovnik were more interesting and more exciting than the games in Zagreb.
The derby of the day was an encounter between the Netherlands and Romania, both vying for the top position in Group D in Dubrovnik. Romania earned very valuable three points with a 12:8 victory. Slovakia beat Slovenia 11:7 in an interesting match that preceded the derby
Olympic champion Serbia showed no mercy to Israel (22:1) in Group C in Zagreb, where Germany defeated Malta 18:13
2024 European Men’s Championships (January 4 – 16), Day 2
Group C (Zagreb)
Serbia – Israel 22:1 (6:0, 5:0, 5:1, 6:0)
Serbia: Radulovic 4, S.Rasovic 3, Randjelovic 3, Drasovic 3, N.Jaksic 3, Mandic 2, Milojevic 2, Lukic 1, V.Rasovic 1.
Israel: Gros 1.
Israel couldn’t offer strong resistance to the Olympic champions, who dominated from the beginning. Serbia played very disciplined in defense and didn’t let Israel create many opportunities to score. Therefore, Serbia’s goalkeepers Branislav Mitrovic (1st half) and debutant Radoslav Filipovic (2nd half) didn’t have much of a job to do. They combined only five saves. Israel managed to find the net only once. Gros converted a penalty in the 23rd minute. Before that goal, Serbia had already scored 15. The Serbs didn’t slow in the fourth quarter.
Germany – Malta 18:13 (6:5, 3:4, 6:2, 3:2)
Germany: Chiru 5, Bozic 4, Schuetze 3, Schipper 2, Strelezkij 2, Sekulic 1, Korbel 1.
Malta: Galea 4, Muscat 4, N.Zammit 2, Castillo 1, Gialanze 1, Cutajar 1.
Germany earned three points, as expected, but it was a closely contested game for over two quarters. On the other side, few expected an easy win. Seven months ago, Germany beat Malta 15:10 in the qualifications for the Europeans. Five goals separated the rivals again today, but Germany needed more time to secure the points.
Still, The first quarter belonged to the Germans. In the 11th minute, Zoran Bozic doubled their advantage from a counterattack (7:5). But Malta didn’t let the rival make a big difference. The islanders leveled at 8:8, 9:9, and 10:10. Muscat scored the 10th goal for Malta in the 18th minute. Then, the Germans produced a 5:0 run in four minutes, which determined the rest of the match. They jumped to 15:10. Malta didn’t endanger Germany’s lead. However, the Germans’ defensive play isn’t promising before the duel with Serbia on Sunday.
European Championships schedule and scores
Group D (Dubrovnik)
Slovakia – Slovenia 11:7 (5:2, 0:1, 2:2, 4:2)
Slovakia: Marek Tkac 4, Maros Tkac 2, Furman 2, Caraj 2, Mihal 1.
Slovenia: Kadivec 3, Popovic 1, Lah 1,Justin 1, Cerar 1.
Slovakia earned an early 2:0 lead with two goals from Marek Tkac and stretched the margin to three by the end of the first period (4:1, 5:2). Both teams missed too many chances in the second quarter. Slovenia’s Jan Justin was the only one who found the net. He did it from a penalty shot in the 14th minute. The Slovenians kept the momentum after the middle break. They leveled with two goals after personal fouls (from a 6 on 5 and a penalty) – 5:5. Still, the sides weren’t tied for long. Immediately after an equalizer, Marek Tkac netted for 6:5. Slovakia held Slovenia goalless in the following eight minutes, built an 8:5 advantage early in the fourth, and practically secured a win.
Marek Tkac (Slovakia) Photo: European Aquatics / Bozo Radic / CROPIX
The power-play conversion was one of the factors that were decisive. Slovakia scored eight goals from 10 shots with an extra player. Slovenia converted only two chances (2/14).
Netherlands – Romania 8:12 (1:3, 3:3, 3:4,1:2)
Netherlands: De Weerd 2, Ten Broek 2, Gbadamassi 1, Van Ijperen 1, Te Riele 1, Koopman 1
Romania: Fulea 4, Colodrovschi 3, Belenyesi 1, Lutescu 1, Tepelus 1, Vancsik 1, Georgescu 1.
After a win over the Netherlands, Romania is one big step closer to 1st place in the group and possible encounter with Georgia in the eighth-finals.
The Dutch Lars ten Broek scored an opener. Still, the Romanians answered with three goals to enter the second quarter leading 3:1. The Netherlands equalized at 3:3 and 4:4, but the Romanians rebuilt a 2-goal lead before the middle break (6:4). In the 20th minute, the Balkans earned a 3-goal advantage for the first time. Centre-forward Silvian Colodrovschi converted a 6 on 5 for 8:5. But, shortly after, Tudor Fulea, who scored four goals for Romania in the first two quarters and a half, finished the match. He was excluded with substitution. However, that red card didn’t stop the Romanians. The Dutch cut the deficit to one after Fulea was sent off (7:8), but Romania closed the third period with two goals and was 10:7 up before the final eight minutes.
Vlad Georgescu widened the gap to four in Romania’s first possession in the fourth quarter – 11:7. Romania controlled the match and the result until the end, playing much better than the rival. The Dutch couldn’t come close and now they have slim chances of reaching 1st place in Group D.
European Championships schedule and scores
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