Croatia have always been a dark horse in women’s handball, with their best string of results at the IHF Women’s World Championship being the seventh place at Brazil 2011, when they reach the quarter-finals for the first time in history, and the ninth place in 2007.

Undoubtedly, their peak was reached at the EHF EURO 2020, when the “Queens of Shock”, as they were dubbed during that competition, finished third, sealing the bronze medal with a shocking win against Denmark, in Herning.

Since then, Croatia have been hit-and-miss, ending up on the 18th place at the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship and 14th at Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023, grabbing only five wins in 12 matches in these competitions. 

In the continental competition, they have only won one match from the nine they played since their bronze medal, as it became clear that a change of generations was underway and more and more inexperienced players came to the fore.

Since Ivica Obrvan was appointed the new coach in 2023, Croatia have seen more young players entering the squad and that will probably be the case also for the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, when the European side will not have team captain Katarina Ježić, as the line player is still nursing a knee injury. 

To make it to the final list of 32 qualified teams, Croatia were awarded a wild card, as they could not beat Spain in the European Qualification – Phase 2. First, they beat their opponents, 27:26, in Koprivnica, but in the second leg in Algeciras, Spain proved too strong, taking a 23:17 win, on their way to a 49:44 aggregate win.

As a recipient of a wild card, Croatia then headed into Pot 4 at the draw for the preliminary round of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship and their luck was limited, being sent to Group A, alongside Denmark, Romania and Japan, one of the most, if not the most balanced group in the competition.

"In my opinion, it is the most difficult group, but since we were placed in the fourth pot at the draw, we could not realistically expect anything easier. It will be a very interesting fight to get through to the main round, because in addition to Denmark and Romania, which we know well, Japan, which is the Asian champion from 2024, is also a very tough opponent. They have been winning against other European teams recently,” said Obrvan, after the draw.

While none of the players have reached 100 selections for Croatia, they still boast plenty of experience, with centre back Dejana Milosavljević running the attack, while the comeback of Ana Debelić will bring a much-needed addition in defence, where the experienced line player shines.

Croatia have won the only match against Romania at the World Championship, 28:27, in the Round of 16 at Brazil 2011, but Romania have won the last two matches between the two sides, in the EHF EURO 2024 Qualifiers, 26:24 and 25:23.

Denmark and Croatia have met eight times so far in major international competitions, with six wins going Denmark’s way, including the only meeting at the World Championship, at Brazil 2011, when Denmark clinched a 23:19 win.

However, Croatia’s best performance in a competition at the biggest level came at the EHF EURO 2020, when they secured the first medal in the history of the women’s team, with a 25:19 win against Denmark in the bronze medal match.

Japan, have split their wins with Croatia so far at the World Championship, losing in 2005, 30:31, while winning the last match, 28:26, in the preliminary round at Spain 2021.

Key players: Dejana Milosavljević (centre back), Ana Debelić (line player), Lucija Bešen (goalkeeper)

Coach: Ivica Obrvan

Qualification for GER/NED 2025: Wild card

History in tournament: 1995: 10th, 1997: 6th, 2003: 14th, 2005: 11th, 2007: 9th, 2011: 7th, 2021: 18th, 2023: 14th

Group at DEN/NOR/SWE 2023: Group A (Denmark, Romania, Japan, Croatia)