The comments aimed at the European Handball Federation by Croatia head coach Dagur Sigurðsson have taken the handball world by storm. At Saturday’s media call in Herning, GoHandball asked players about the situation, and it was clear that many stand firmly behind the Icelander.
“I support him, and everyone in our team does too. I’ve also spoken to many players from other teams who support him as well,” Croatian star Luka Cindrić tells GoHandball.
Dagur Sigurðsson strongly criticised the EHF a few days ago in what is already being described as a classic press conference. Among other things, he said:
“We had to play games number six and seven within 22 hours. The next morning, they put us on a bus like frozen chickens and drove us here.”
Luka Cindrić, one of the most experienced players in the Croatian squad, fully backs his coach.
“I support him, and everyone in our team does too. I’ve met a lot of players from other teams who feel the same way. It’s crazy that after six games we had to play another one less than 24 hours later. I’ve never seen that in any other sport. I hope it will change in the future, because we are not robots. It’s not healthy, and I hope the EHF will find a better schedule for us players,” Cindrić says to GoHandball.
The playmaker admits it was extremely tough to face Germany after playing two matches in two days, followed by travel from Malmö to Silkeborg.
“For sure. We don’t need excuses, but these are facts. At this stage of a tournament, every hour of sleep is incredibly important.”
Icelandic legend agreeing with countryman
Icelandic goalkeeper Björgvin Páll Gústavsson has experienced his fair share of championships, and he agrees with his countryman’s criticism.
“I mean, all of this by the EHF is a disgrace, and everybody knows it. Both teams in the bronze medal game, Iceland and Croatia, went through the same things, and both teams lost by three goals. The story almost writes itself,” Páll Gústavsson tells GoHandball.
“I can’t complain personally because I haven’t played that much in this tournament. But our central defenders, who fight like hell for every loose ball, and our one-on-one attacking players who go full throttle for 60 minutes every game, then have to play two games in two days, they feel it. The EHF has to look at the schedule, because it makes no sense.”
The EHF has announced that changes to the schedule will be made in the future. What does Björgvin Páll Gústavsson think about that?
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he says.
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