Croatia is a participant in the World Cup in Sydney. Serbia did not make it. In the last round in group two, the selection of coach Ivica Tucka unexpectedly easily defeated Serbia 11:6 (5:1, 3:1, 2:2, 1:2).
Serbia, without Lukić in the squad, played a disappointing match, without any segment of the game that would satisfy. The game was played for a long time without a goal from the field, a full 20 minutes, the problem of the players was no longer solved until the end. It was as if they had entered the match sleepily, so everything was played according to the scenario of the great rival. The numbers say it all, Serbian shots 32-6, Croatian 30-11, Serbian goalkeepers Glušac three, Mišović seven saves against the Croats Čubranić 10. Player more, Serbia 8 – 0, Croatia 9 – 4.
The first quarter was really bad for the Serbian side. Nothing was going well for the European champions. Four more missed players, no defense and one less player, and the Croats used it well and with a much better game they took a 5:0 lead. The only goal for Serbia was scored from the penalty spot by Martinović 1.22 before the first break. By then, everything was already decided.
They were no better in the next eight minutes. The Croats easily increased their lead despite three missed chances with a player more. The coach changed the goalkeeper Stevanović, Mišović replaced Glušac. As in the first quarter, Čubranić was again beaten from the penalty spot by Nikola Jakšić. All other shots, a total of five players, did not bring a change to the scoreboard.
Finally, after a long break, Serbia somewhat caught its breath. Martinović scored the first goal from the game from a counterattack in the 20th minute, then Nikola Jakšić scored from distance. At 4:8, Serbia had two more players at one point. It was not worth it. Fatović returned the plus five for Croatia in the next attack, only for Kharkov to score 25 seconds later for 10:4.
In the last part, Croatia controlled the game and the result. The failure was mitigated in the last minute when Trtović and Pljevančić scored. Serbia came to Alexandropol primarily for an impression and then for a result. Today there was neither one nor the other.
At the World Cup in Sydney, the following teams will play from Division 1: Hungary, Greece, Spain, Italy and Croatia.
Serbia – Croatia 6:11 (1:5, 1:3, 2:2, 2:1)
Referees: Margeta (Slovenia), Zwart (Netherlands). Player more: Serbia 8 (0), Croatia 9 (4). Peterci: Serbia 2 (2), Croatia 1 (1)
Serbia: Misovic, Pljevancic 1, Stanojevic, Urosevic, Lazic, Milojevic, Trtovic 1, N. Jaksic 2, Murisic, Gladovic, P. Jaksic, Dimitrijevic, Glusac, Martinovic 2.
Croatia: Bijac, Buric, Fatovic 3, Toncinic, Lazic, Bukic 1, Radan, Zuvela, Akrap, Brubnjak, Butic 2, Kharkov 4, Cubranic, Curkovic 1.
