"Magnificent!" shouted Bozo Susec, a sports commentator of thenational TV's third channel, which aired the match live. "Each of them is ahandball maestro!"
Croatia beat Germany 34-31 in the championship match, which was played inPortugal.
When the Croatian team, the Olympic titlist in 1996 and a silver medal winnerat the 1995 worlds, moved to the finals, most Croats, otherwise largelyuninterested in handball, began watching the games.
On Sunday, people hurried home and stayed glued to TV sets. In a shoppingmall, crowded on Sundays, people forgot about shopping and stood in front of TVsets, commenting and screaming with joy.
"They're just fantastic!" beamed Ivica Darkic, a 31-year-oldcomputer expert. "No one was paying attention to them, really, and now theygave us this great victory.
"All my respect and love, boys!" he screamed at the TV.
"I'm so proud! Proud, and arrogant, to be Croat at this moment, becausetheir victory was pure and without mistake," said Boris Snajder, 36, amusic teacher.
Many braved the cold to go out and celebrate with friends on the streets ofZagreb, the capital.
The top seven teams at the worlds qualify for the 2004 Olympics.
Despite earlier victories, the Croatian handball team never got muchattention at home. Croatians worshipped Goran Ivanisevic, last year's Wimbledonchampion, ski sensations Janica and Ivica Kostelic and the national soccer teamthat finished third at the 1998 World Cup in France.
In the past few days, however, nearly everyone became familiar with VladoSola, the goalie who dyes his hair red; coach Lino Cervar and the names of theother players. The largest daily, Vecernji list, published their poster for theMonday edition.
