Croatia-Japan thriller makes handball the early winner of 2024 Paris Olympics

Croatia won following a wild final sequence. 

Japan held the ball with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Jin Watanabe (No. 20) and Shuichi Yoshida (No. 13) had shots on goal, with the latter bouncing off the top of the net.

Croatia regained possession, and Ivan Martinovic scored the winning goal with two seconds left.

In an earlier preliminary round match between Spain and Slovenia, Spanish goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez De Vargas had a remarkable 43 percent save rate in a 25-22 win. 

The fast-paced sport, almost a cross between basketball and European football, has already found a cult following.

There's still plenty about the sport we don't particularly understand, such as why Croatia, with a one-goal lead in the second half, pulled its goalie, only for Japan to get an easy shot to tie the game.

But that's an us problem, not handball's.

With Saturday's result, Croatia moved into the win column in Group A along with Spain, which defeated Slovenia. Germany and Sweden round out the six-team group and play later on Saturday.

The top eight teams in the two Olympic groups advance to the men's quarterfinals on Aug. 7. The bronze and gold medal matches are four days later (Aug. 11).

We'll be along for the ride.