Slovenian handball players repeated their success from four years ago, and after winning against Qatar with 32:30 qualified for the semi-finals of the World Championship against the host team, France.
Slovenia gave an extraordinary team performance in Paris – dedicated, brave, and above all efficient. Jure Dolenec (five goals) was declared the best player of the match. Especially the Slovenian attack was intimidating – almost all the players scored. Slovenia scored18 goals in the first period, six by Gašper Marguč. Between the 37th and 43rd minute the decisive step towards victory was made, resulting in 5:0 for the Slovenian team, and the advantage of 9 goals. In the 54th minute the result was still 32:24. Near the end of the match Qatar gave 6 consecutive goals and gave a fright to Slovenian fans, but they failed to break the Slovenian team.
On Thursday, Slovenia will face France in the quarterfinals, the second quarterfinals pair being Croatia and Norway.