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Favorites both through to quarterfinals

January 25, 2015

Spain and Croatia extended their winning runs to five matches as they advanced to the last eight of the Handball World Championships on Sunday. For Croatia, though, victory was not without a scare.

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Handball WM 2015 Spanien gegen Tunesien
Image: K.Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

World champion Spain eased through to the quarterfinals of the Handball World Championships with a comprehensive 28-20 victory over Tunisia on Sunday.

In an ominous sign for the rest of the competition, Spain opened up a 14-5 lead to blow away their opponents and effectively end the game as a contest within the first 22 minutes.

Their attack was led by Cristian Ugalde, who scored with each of his five shots in the first half. The second half was a mere formality for the tournament favorite, which will face Iceland or Denmark in the next round.

Croatia, the other side boasting a perfect record from the group phase, survived an almighty scare as it narrowly squeezed through against Brazil 26-25. The Croatians had been trailing 15-13 at half time.

Host nation also through to quarters

In Sunday’s earlier games, hosts Qatar edged unfancied Austria while Slovenia also won narrowly.

Austria, playing in the last 16 of the Handball World Championships for the first time, led Qatar 14-13 at the interval but fell away in the second half.

Qatar beat Austria in Handball World Championships
Qatar beat Austria after trailing at the breakImage: Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images

A partisan crowd of 11,500 roared Qatar on to victory with former HSV Hamburg player Zarko Markovic throwing eight goals for the home side.

Robert Weber of SC Magdeburg netted seven times in reply for Austria, which appeared aggrieved by some of the refereeing decisions. A few of its players even mockingly applauding officials at the end of the game.

This is now unchartered territory for the Asian champion Qatar, which has never before reached the last eight of handball's global showpiece.

In the remaining knockout game played on Sunday afternoon, Slovenia also won by two goals, winning through 30-28 against Macedonia.

Qatar will face the winner of Monday's match between Germany and Egypt.

After three wins from four, Germany will approach the tie in confident mood as it looks to take home the World Championships for the first time since 2007.

Pwh (dpa, AFP)