World Handball Player 2013 Domagoj DUVNJAK by František Táborský
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World Handball Player 2013 Domagoj DUVNJAK By František Táborský The 23rd IHF World Player of the Year Award was given to Domagoj DUVNJAK, the center back of Croatian national team and German Bundesliga team HSV Hamburg. He won the votes (33 %) ahead of four former holders of this title: second left back Mikkel Hansen (DEN) with 27 % (winner 2011), third goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik (SRB-ESP) with 20 % (winner 2005), fourth left back Filip Jícha (CZE) with 13 % (winner 2010) and fifth center back Daniel Narcisse (FRA) with 7 % (winner 2012). Domagoj Duvnjak (born 1st June 1988) was a big talent and team leader of the Croatian junior selection. At the age of 20 (in 2008), he was selected to play in the senior national team. His contribution in the success of the Croatian men’s team was increasing year by year. Duvnjak started his club career in RK Zagreb. In 2009, he signed the contract with the HSV Hamburg. As of the season 2014/15 he will play for another top club: THW Kiel. In 2013, Duvnjak presented his extraordinary skills on both national and club level. During the 2013 IHF World Championship in Spain (January), he played in nine matches for more than 6 hours in total, and scored 40 goals in 71 attempts (efficiency 56.3 %), 18 of which from back position, 12 after breakthroughs and 8 in fast breaks. According to statistics, Duvnjak carried out 27 assists, gained the ball in defence 12 times and received overall only 2 yellow cards and one 2 min suspension punishment. Rightfully, Duvnjak was selected in the All-star Team. His position was confirmed one year later during the European Championship 2014 (12-26 January) in Denmark. In HSV Hamburg, Duvnjak contributed considerably to the clubs’ successes in the German Bundesliga and in the European Champions League. During the Velux EHF Final4, he scored ten goals in the semi-final against THW Kiel and was also a key figure in the final victory against FC Barcelona. What made Duvnjak (197cm and around 99kg) so strong? Which skills characterized his playing performance and leader competence? First of all, he is an all-round player. He is important for the middle defence, for conducting fast breaks and for organizing the build-up of the attack. His shots are dangerous from all back positions and from the goal-area line. Secondly, he has a wide repertoire of fakes and shots. Thirdly, he has incredibly versatile skills in solving one against one situations. Fourthly, his sense of the game, the quick assessment of the situation, the change of game rhythm, his vigor and fast acceleration in the right moment are excellent. Moreover, he is able to motivate not only himself but also the whole team. To present Duvnjak’s substantial playing behaviour in attack, scenes from four top matches have been selected: the 2013 Velux EHF Final4 semi-final, HSV Hamburg vs. THW Kiel (10 goals of Duvnjak), the 2013 Velux EHF Final4 final game, HSV Hamburg vs. FC Barcelona (5 goals), the 2014 European Championship semi-final in Denmark, Croatia vs. Denmark (5 goals) and the match for the bronze medal during the same event, Croatia vs. Spain (8 goals). For better reasons of clarity, the videos sequences were divided in eight thematic groups. Of course applied criteria may overlap in some cases. Fast Break Example 1: Prolonged fast break. In the final moment, LW player passes the ball to Duvnjak, takes a pivot’s position and immediately receives a quick pass back, having enough place to shoot. Example 2: Fast break in a situation 4 against 4. Duvnjak receives the ball from Lindberg and, despite being lightly pushed by the defender, successfully shoots on the goal. Example 3: Prolonged fast break. Duvnjak estimates the situation excellently and carries out a long pass from CB position to LW. Example 4: Duvnjak conducts the second phase of fast break, exchanges the ball with LB and finalizes the attack breaking through the defence using (typical for him) fast and short rebound jump to the left side. Example 5: Duvnjak delivers precise, about 20 m long pass from his own field half to the attacking pivot player. Example 6: Second phase of fast break. Duvnjak dribbles between two defenders to get a better scoring position. Example 7: During the second phase of fast break, Duvnjak evaluates the figuration of players (pivot screens the outside defender), moves with the ball to the middle of the court to attract the defender, passes the ball to LB and helps with the screen. After Throw Off Example 8: Duvnjak dribbles while moving to the opponent’s direction, assesses the situation and decides to solve it individually. Compare his final action with similar behaviour in the example 4. Example 9: Duvnjak takes advantage of a mistake by the center defender and dribbling comes to free jump shot. Example 10: “Prolonged” throw off. Duvnjak gives the final pass from CB position to LW. The Croatian attackers use only six passes in total. Duvnjak as Back in Build-up Attack Example 11: Duvnjak (CB position) crosses with LB and receives the ball from him. After one dribble and fake pass, Duvnjak changes his moving direction fast and shoots at the goal. Example 12: Typical preparation passes among all three back players. After a cross between RB and RW, Duvnjak receives the ball in movement and immediately carries out the stand shot. Example 13: Relatively slow preparation with seven passes. The eighth pass from Duvnjak to LB enables LW to run to the right pivot position. LB attracts right defenders with his behaviour and passes the ball to Duvnjak, who uses the situation to carry out a jump shot. Example 14: After preparation passing, Duvnjak gives the ball to RB and changes position without the ball with LB. LB and RB exchange the ball and LB runs in left pivot position. Duvnjak gets the ball from RB, fakes in movement against the right center defender, makes a movement to the left, changes quickly the direction and shoots at the goal jumping. Example 15: RW runs in left pivot position and on the way receives a pass from Duvnjak. Then the ball receives LB, who dribbling moves in the center. He passes the ball to Duvnjak while crossing. Duvnjak fakes the stand shot in a direct movement and finally carries out a jump shot. Example 16: Very similar process as in the previous example but with a different closing solution. After the final pass, Duvnjak assesses the situation during one feint, changes the movement direction in the middle and again carries out a jump shot. After Free Throw Example 17: The referees show forewarning signal for passive play. Despite only one screen by the executor of the free throw, Igor Vori, and despite the untimely activities of defenders, Duvnjak is able to score. Example 18: Very similar situation as in the previous example, at the beginning of extra time a precise shot from Duvnjak, despite the contact with the defender. Example 19: A third nearly same setup as the two previous ones. In this case however, goal was achieved with one dribble after assessing the situation, before moving to the jump shot. Example 20: Again, a shot immediately after the pass from Igor Vori. But in this case Duvnjak fakes the move to the right and jumps to the left, as is characteristic of him. Example 21: Free throw on the right side of the attacking space. Executor (Vori) gives the pass to RB and runs in the left pivot position. Duvnjak receives the second pass and after a ball exchange with LB and carries out a jump shot. Example 22: Another combination variant after a free throw on the right court side. Executor Vori passes to RB and moves in the right pivot position. At the same time RW runs to the left pivot position. In the meantime, the ball is passed from RB via CB to Duvnjak (as LB), who uses the screen and scores after a quick rebound movement to the left. Break Through Example 23: RW runs in the left pivot position. Duvnjak gives him a pass and exchanges position with LB without the ball. After a cross between LB and RB, Duvnjak receives the final pass and penetrates directly the defence of the THW Kiel. Example 24: Similar situation as in the example 11. However, the cross with LB is without the ball. Duvnjak receives a pass from RW, who runs in the left pivot position and makes a screen on the right defender. Duvnjak fakes a pass and with a movement’s acceleration breaks through the defence. Example 25: Duvnjak shows an organization sign to the left attacking side. After a return pass from RB, he fakes the pass to the left, then after a feint quickly rebounds to the left and enters the gape in defence. Example 26: Duvnjak (LB position) supervised by right defender is able to make a feint and finish the action successfully. Duvnjak in Pivot Position Example 27: Duvnjak runs in left pivot position after a pass to RB. LB jumps, Duvnjak moves in the opposite direction, receives the ball and falling down opens angle of the shot. Example 28: Duvnjak runs in left pivot position (again after a pass to RB), keeps the position for a while and after a bouncing pass from RB, shoots falling down. Duvnjak as Assistant Example 29: Duvnjak (CB position) passes the ball to RB and then changes positions with LB (Hens). LB receives the ball from RB, attracts two defenders and gives pass to Duvnjak who passes the ball to LW.