Slovenia secured their place in the 25th IHF Men’s World Championship semi-finals with a clear win against Qatar, earning their second ever top-four finish with the result after they ranked fourth at Spain 2013. The team showcased superb attack on the way to victory, with counter attack goals and well-organised positional play that led to all but two players finishing on the score board – even keeper Matevz Skok added one goal, while right wing Gasper Marguc was top scorer in the match for his team despite only playing the first half.

Quarter-final: Slovenia vs Qatar 32:30 (18:15)

Slovenia entered the court with clear motivation, and quickly took a 3:1 advantage with goals from all over the court before Qatar received two two-minute suspensions – one for Rafael Capote then another for Wajdi Sinen. The numerical advantage allowed Slovenia to open a three-goal advantage off a long-range shot into the Asian champions’ empty goal from Darko Cingesar, and by the time Qatar returned to full strength the European side were in control at 6:3 in the ninth.

But just as they did in their eighth-final against Germany, Qatar slowly came back and midway through the half the score stood at 10:8 in favour of Slovenia – but that was as close as they would come. Moments later Vujovic began to rotate his line-up, showing the depth of his squad as they pulled ahead to a 12:8 lead by the 20th minute.

While Qatar relied heavily on right back Bertrand Roine and playmaker Kamal Aldin Mallash, Slovenia’s goals rained in from all positions thanks to their creative, fast attack. When Qatar coach Valero Rivera changed his goalkeeper to bring in Yousuf Al-Abdulla in place of Danijel Saric, who saved an uncharacteristic zero shots in just under 25 minutes, eight of Slovenia’s players were on the score board.

Right wing Gasper Marguc and right back Jure Dolonec were particularly impressive, with Marguc tallying six goals off six shots and Dolonec contributing three at 100 per cent as Vujovic called the first time-out of the match in the 27th. At half-time Slovenia kept their advantage with a three-goal cushion, and the statistics were telling – the European team recorded eight fast breaks off eight attempts, demonstrating one of their biggest weapons.

10 minutes into the second period Slovenia increased their lead to seven at 25:18 off Dolonec’s fourth goal, and Qatar coach Valero Rivera called a time-out in an attempt to stop the European side’s momentum. It did not help however – when the clock struck 45 minutes Slovenia were in front 29:20 and only two of their court players were yet to find the goal.

Qatar did not stop fighting, with an 8:3 run in the following 13 minutes they were within four at 32:28, but it was not enough. The match had belonged to Slovenia from the first whistle, and though Qatar came dangerously close with only a two-goal deficit in the last minute, they held on to the last to book a place in the semi-final against France.

Best Player of the Match presented by adidas: Jure DOLONEC (SLO)