As a result of his knee problems, Mirza Dzomba will not be able to play for Croatia at the 2009 World Championship.

After many injury problems that team of Lino Cervar, the biggest problem is Mirza Dzomba’s decision to quit his national team career.

“The National Team is very important for me. I’m very sorry, but this is the reality. My knee can’t endure any more. It wouldn’t be fair to prepare for the WCh and maybe play a match or two and then to be forced to stop. So I stop now. Desires are one thing and reality is completely different,” Dzomba said.

Magnificent carrier

The greatest moments of Croatian handball are strongly connected with the name of Mirza Dzomba: Olmypic and World Championship gold medal, WCh and EURO silver medal.

At the EURO 2004 Dzomba was top scorer and best right wing. In Athens at the Olympics he was also chosen best right wing.

Dzomba started his carrier in the Croatian Zamet, later went to Zagreb, Veszprém, Ciudad Real and then he returned to Zagreb.

He was many times Croatian and Hungary Champion, winner of Spanish Cup and Supercup. In 2006 he was top scorer of his club Ciudad Real and best right wing of Spanish league.

Cervar hopeful

The Croatian national coach, Lino Cervar, does not give up on Dzomba:

“It is true I did not invite Mirza Dzomba, but I also didn’t invite Vedran Zrnic. I count on all our players for the World Championship. The same is true about Dzomba, despite his decision to end his national team carrier. At this point the biggest problem is his knee and we all know: health always comes first.”

Cervar nominates

Lino Cervar announced a list of 17 players for the upcoming tournament in Graz.

On 28-30 November, Croatia will take part at the Interwetten Cup along with Austria, Denmark and Egypt.

On Friday Croatia will face Egypt, on Saturday Austria and on Sunday Denmark.

Lino Cervar will meet his players on 24 November in Zagreb. The following players will travel to Graz:

Mirko Alilovic (Ademar leon), Ivan Pesic (Veszprém), Ivan Stevanovic (Porec), Ivan Cupic (Gorenje Velenje), Zlatko Horvat (Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb), Manuel Strlek (Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb), Mateo Hrvatin (Zamet), Igor Vori (Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb), Zvonimir Kapular (Metkovic), Denis Spoljaric (Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb), Tonci Valcic (Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb), Josip Valcic (Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb), Damir Bicanic (Ademar Leon), Denis Buntic (Ademar Leon), Marko Kopljar (Metkovic), Jakov Gojun (Siscia), Domagoj Duvnjak (Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb).