The biggest transfer in the history of handball, as well as the 'soap' that followed it with threat to make it a tragedy, to keep one of the biggest talents off the field for some time, Domagoj Duvnjak (21), gave its epilogue with good games in the beginning of his international career. HSV Hamburg with the addition also of Lackovic and Vori slowly becomes croatian club, just as Kiel was once swedish or Flensburg danish, with intention to break down, the 'Zebras' in Bundesliga but also the 'Kings' in Europe. What of his beginning at the club thinks Duvnjak, the guy from who is expected to lead Croatia to more gold medals in the international competitions to come…
Hello Domagoj, although it was expected that you beat Ciudad in front of your own crowd, in the end you lost easily with 26-32. According to you, what were the reasons for the defeat?
– I don't know, I think that they deserved to beat us. We started the game badly, we continued badly, and the whole game went badly for us, Ombrados saved lots of balls. Today wasn't our day, but I hope that in future we'll have better days.
This year for the first time we'll have 'Final Four', and your chances to qualify for the event in Koln, are still big?
– Its normal that we hope to play in the final event. Nothing else is left for us but to hope to beat Zagreb in Hamburg and keep with the victories. There's a lot left until we reach that goal, but we have one of the best teams in Europe.
You started well in the Bundesliga with 4-0 score. Where do you see the difference between these two competitions?
– To me at the moment there is no difference. The Bundesliga is really strong, and the games are almost the same level as the European. In Zagreb we'd have to wait sometimes even 10 games, so we play a game against a strong squad. We started well in the Bundesliga, and I hope that we continue so.
How do you feel in Germany, you just arrived there?
– Everything's fine, alles gut.
Even the weather… (smile)
– Well yeah, alles gut (smile).
What to expect from the Croatian national team on the European Championship in Austria? You are in a group with Russia, Norway and Ukraine?
– I still don't have my mind on the national team, I dedicate myself to the club right now. We need to prepare well, and most important is that there are no injuries. I hope that we pass from our group with maximum effect, and then try to reach the semi-finals, and there, anything can happen.
There are some people, that call you the new Ivano Balic. What do you think of that comparison?
– I'm far away from being an Ivano Balic. I don't bother myself with that, I have my own game. Ivano is my good friend, and he helps me a lot, physically and psychologically. Big thanks for that. When it comes to the comparison, of course it's good to me, because Ivano is the best in the world. On the other hand, it's some sort of pressure too.
