Croatia U20 W beat Tunisia U20 W 32–21 in the President's Cup at the IHF Women's Junior World Championship, powered by Mirna Brusić's perfect 7/7 shooting and 74% team efficiency.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Croatia led 14–10 at half-time after a controlled first-half display. Tunisia stayed within striking distance thanks to May Yazidi and Yassmine Chaabani, who scored five goals each at 100% and 62% efficiency respectively. But Croatia's attack clicked into a higher gear after the break.
Mirna Brusić emerged as the game's most efficient scorer, converting all seven of her attempts. Josipa Zubac (6/8, 75%), Tara Đelekovčan (6/8, 75%) and Tara Čović (5/5, 100%) provided relentless support, while Leona Janković added three goals without a miss.
Croatia's fastbreak game proved decisive — they scored five goals on the break against Tunisia's one. They also dominated inside the six-metre zone (seven goals to Tunisia's zero) and on near-range shots (19 to 11).
The turning point
The first 10 minutes of the second half decided the contest. Croatia stretched their four-goal interval lead to double digits by the 40th minute, firing in five unanswered goals from a mix of wing plays and fast breaks. Tunisia, who shot just 2/8 from the wings, lacked the attacking width to respond.
Key performers
- Mirna Brusić (Croatia) — A perfect 7/7 from the field, the most efficient scoring display of the President's Cup match day. Her movement off the ball created constant angles for Croatia's back court.
- Tara Đelekovčan (Croatia) — Six goals from eight attempts and a constant threat from the left back position, pulling Tunisia's defence out of shape.
- May Yazidi (Tunisia) — A flawless 5/5 shooting kept Tunisia in touch during the first half, but she received limited service after the break as Croatia's defence tightened.
Player of the Match: Mirna Brusić (Croatia)
By the numbers — interpreted
Croatia's 74% shot efficiency (32/43) was among the best of any President's Cup match on day one. Tunisia's 51% (21/41) was dragged down by poor returns from the wings (2/8, 25%) and the six-metre line (0/0). Croatia also dominated from long range, hitting 6/9 from nine metres while Tunisia managed 5/9. The 7-metre line was one area where Tunisia held an edge (4 goals to 2), but the overall shot volume and accuracy gap told the full story.
What it means
Both sides entered the President's Cup Group IV carrying two points from the group stage — Tunisia for beating Chinese Taipei, Croatia for beating Japan. This result puts Croatia on four points at the top of the group, while Tunisia stay on two. The Faroe Islands and Chinese Taipei play later on Monday in the other Group IV fixture.
Croatia face Chinese Taipei on Tuesday 30 June, while Tunisia take on the Faroe Islands in the battle for second place in the group. The President's Cup determines final positions 17th to 32nd.
Verdict
Croatia's superior efficiency and fastbreak execution were the difference in a game they controlled from start to finish. Tunisia, buoyed by Yazidi's first-half accuracy, simply could not match the depth of Croatia's scoring options. The margin accurately reflected the gap between a side that competed in a tough group (H) and one that struggled to impose itself from range.
Rivalry since 2012
Tunisia U20 W vs Croatia U20 W Head to Head Results· 2
Tunisia U20 W and Croatia U20 W have met 2 times — Tunisia U20 W won 0, Croatia U20 W won 2, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2012. Croatia U20 W leads the head-to-head with 2 victories from 2 meetings. A combined 112 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 56.00 per match (44 for the home side, 68 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 2 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 2 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 35–24 in 2016.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 30 Jun 2026