Slovenia record historic lowest score as Iceland win to top Group G in Zagreb
20 Jan. 2025

Iceland goalkeeper Viktor Hallgrimsson handed Slovenia an unwanted record, his one-man show in goal restricting them to just eight first-half goals, and 18 in total, to record the lowest-ever scored by the Slovenians in a match in 11 IHF Men’s World Championships. Their previous record was a 33:19 (18:10) defeat against France at Germany 2007.
The result means that Iceland top preliminary group G at its conclusion and, more importantly, hands Iceland another two points to take into the main round, starting on Wednesday (22 January).
GROUP G
Slovenia vs Iceland 18:23 (8:14)
When you register your record lowest-ever first half score in an IHF Men’s World Championship it is likely you will not come back to claim a win, and that is exactly what happened with Slovenia in their group decider in Zagreb on the final day of preliminary group action in Zagreb.
In total, Hallgrimsson made 10 saves in the opening 30 minutes from 18 shots faced (52%) – 15 in the 60 minutes – as Uros Zorman’s side ‘beat’ the previous low of nine, recorded against France in 1995 and Tunisia in 2005.
Until the introduction of Aron Palmarsson after the first quarter, the game was tight (5:4 to Iceland), but a 6:0 scoring run from the northern Europeans, including three, deadly and precise fast-breaks made it 11:4.
The inevitable time out from Zorman came after the 11th goal in the 21st minute and when Blaz Blagotinsek slotted home for Slovenia with 21:11 minutes on the clock, it was their first goal for seven minutes (14:04 on the clock).
With Slovenia feeling the pressure, the game was a cauldron of activity from both teams on and off court, but the cool heads of the Spanish refereeing duo of Andreu Marin Lorente and Ignacio Garcia kept things from boiling over.
A third two-minute from a stumbling Elvar Örn Jónsson, who fell into the attacking Blaz Janc five minutes into the second half could have derailed the Icelandic handball train, but it seemed to further push them as they went nine clear (19:10) with a quarter to spare.
There was still time for another red card moments from the end as Ellidi Snar Viđarsson picked up his third two-minute, but the Icelandic fans by this moment were chanting ‘ole, ole, ole’ as they had witnessed their team deliver the goods once again to make it three wins from three and keep their 100% record so far.
hummel Player of the Match: Viktor Hallgrimsson (Iceland)