Young Croatian Junior Women Crush Tunisia
Ivan Jerković's squad won 33:23 and secured a spot in the 17th-place playoff final.
Ivan Jerković's squad won 33:23 and secured a spot in the 17th-place playoff final.
Croatia's younger junior women's handball team convincingly defeated Tunisia 33:23 in the 17th-21st place playoff, thus opening the door to compete for the President Cup trophy. The winner will be decided in the final against the better side from the Portugal vs. Brazil clash, which was played later in the evening.
The match, played on August 6, 2026, saw complete Croatian dominance after an initial Tunisian lead. Coach Ivan Jerković's charges quickly took control and, at 4:2, gained their first two-goal advantage. Midway through the first half, after a run of four consecutive goals, Croatia pulled ahead by four and continued to increase the pressure.
Entering the final ten minutes of the first period, the Croatian players already held a five-goal lead (12:7). Despite a series of suspensions, the advantage grew, reaching seven goals five minutes before the break. By halftime, they managed to preserve a six-goal cushion and head into a well-deserved rest. Croatia boasted an impressive 67% shooting efficiency in that stretch, while Tunisia stood at 60%. The Tunisians committed four more technical errors, and goalkeepers on both sides recorded six saves each. Kristina Goričanec was solid in the Croatian goal, while Tunisia's Ritej Ben El Ghali improved her stats with four saves in the final ten minutes.
The second half featured ups and downs. Already in the 8th minute, Croatia led by eight (22:14), but complacency set in. Tunisia refused to give up and, with a run of three goals in the 52nd minute, cut the deficit to five (26:21), posing a more serious threat for the first time. It was a period in which Croatia went over eight minutes without a goal from open play.
Coach Jerković reacted quickly. A few substitutions got the team back on track, and the Croatian players not only restored the eight-goal lead but extended it to a final ten-goal margin (33:23). Antea Jerković was the top scorer with seven goals from nine attempts, while Tena Jurlina added five. Helena Furčić, with a flawless 4-of-4 shooting performance, was named Player of the Match, a well-deserved honor given her efforts during the summer preparations at Jarun. For Tunisia, Nour Ouni stood out with nine goals.
Croatia will play for 17th place and the President Cup trophy on August 7, 2026, at 5:30 PM Croatian time. Their opponents will be the winners of the Portugal, Brazil match.
