Israeli Youth Handball Team Falls to Croatia in European Championship Opener
The Israeli youth handball team lost 33-29 to Croatia in their opening match of the European Championship on July 29, despite a strong performance led by coaches Dor Russo and Asaf Siton. Israel maintained a lead for 45 minutes and showed resilience until the final moments, but Croatia's physical advantage proved decisive in the closing stages.
Jonathan Pelech was the standout player for Israel, scoring 14 goals, including a buzzer-beater at halftime to bring the score to 17-15. The Israeli team started with solid defense and held the lead throughout the first half. In the second half, Croatia adjusted their defense to focus on Pelech, and the teams exchanged leads until Croatia took their first advantage at the 45th minute.
Despite Israel's efforts to equalize, missed opportunities and strong Croatian defense allowed Croatia to pull ahead to 30-27 by the 57th minute. Israel narrowed the gap to 30-29 but could not complete the comeback. The Israeli squad will next face the strong Czech team, aiming for their first win in the tournament.
Other Israeli scorers included Rom Tobis and Geva Dagani with four goals each, Roy Ganel with two, Tomer Michalis and Ido Malul with two each, and Noam Levi with one. The match highlighted Israel's competitive spirit but also the physical challenge posed by Croatia.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.