Serbia-Montenegro - Czech Republic 37:30

(PHOTO: handball-world.com)

Ljubljana, SLOVENIA, January 29, 2004 (euro2004.si) - In the first match on the third day in Group 2 ended with the first victory in the second rounds for the Serbia-Montenegro's team. After they have previously failed to fulfill their expectations and their ambitions to enter the 2004 Olympics, they regained their self-confidence with today's success.

The Czech defence did not serve its purpose at the beginning of the match, for the Serbia-Montenegro's team scored one goal after another without any difficulties, and took the lead with 3:0. It took the Czechs five minutes to score their first goal. But the Serbia-Montenegro's players lost their touch and the Czech were already only one goal behind in the 9th minute - 4:5. The Czechs kept on playing with the same defence, which ensured Serbia-Montenegro, playing quick passes, to shoot at the goal of Martin Galia. The otherwise excellent goalkeeper was quite helpless. The fact that the Serbia-Montenegro's players scored in 84% of all shots, proves how dysfunctional the Czech line-up was.

The second half started according to the wishes of the Czech players, for they scored two goals. But their enthusiasm was of short duration. The Serbia-Montenegro's players quickly found their way through the Czech defence, and gained a seven-goal advantage in the 44th minute (27:20). In the following minutes, the Czech somehow managed to shoot at the goal and scored three times in a role. Serbia-Montenegro saved the endangered advantage with a tougher defence and several counter-attacks. The Czech did not manage to pull through another offence, and the match was decided.

6th Men's European Handball Championship, Main Round, Group 2

SERBIA-MONTENEGRO - CZECH REPUBLIC 37-30 (21-16)

Tivoli Hall. Attendance: 1,000. Referees: Vakula and Ljudovik (both from Ukraine). 2-minute suspensions: Serbia-Montenegro 6, Czech Republic 10 minutes. 7-metre shots: Serbia-Montenegro 1 (0), Czech Republic 4 (1).

SERBIA-MONTENEGRO: Sijan, Djurkovic 2, Curuvija, Kokir 2, Ma. Krivokapic 5, Mi. Krivokapic 1, Eklemovic 3, Djukanovic, Maksic 4, Lapcevic 2, Peric, Petric, Matic 3, Milosavljevic 2, Andjelkovic 5, Nikolic 8.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Bruna, Hruby, Kraus 3, Krubes 3, Jicha 4, Filip 3, Farar, Musil, Berka 6, Heinz 3, Radcenko 3, Galia, Juricek 5.

                  W   D   L    F-A      GD  Pts
1. Croatia        4   1   0  138-131    +7   9
2. Denmark        4   0   1  153-125   +28   8
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3. Russia         3   1   1  149-137   +12   7
4. Sweden         2   0   3  145-144    +1   4
5. Spain          1   0   4  133-143   -10   2
6. Switzerland    0   0   5  115-153   -38   0

                  W   D   L    F-A      GD  Pts
1. Germany        3   1   1  151-131   +20   7
2. Slovenia       3   1   1  144-135    +9   7
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3. France         2   1   2  134-129    +5   5
4. Serb&Mont      2   1   2  134-135    -1   5
5. Hungary        1   2   2  132-140    -8   4
6. Czech Republic 1   0   4  147-172   -25   2