IHF EGYPT 21 Main Round fixtures live thoughts between 20 and 23 January 2021

 

20 January 2021

France vs Algeria

Again the same Argentinian refs?

Speaker was emotional

Whilst the Biden declaration

He did not mutter everything, hence 12 mins ahead of schedule

Not stopping the clock that’s crazy before and during the penalty!!!

And passive play never raised against French opponents

Then 2 mins when does not touch him for Nedim

France too tense

Yes you cannot create 2 mins then cheap 2 min as Tournat struggled

Looking grim 1-5 after 7.40. No defence. No goalkeeping

Absolutely no defence

3-6 after 9 mins

How long before passive play! Bribery

Bloody joke goal number 7 conceded just before 11 mins

Whilst Christof storm annoys us.

A time-out and change in keeper please

How can it be Algeria’s ball? on 13’30

Why the 2m appear so short these days?

Sweet Valou goal to make it 8-9 on 16’

Cannot be cheerful as Swiss win means no other choice than a win

Alain Portes should have a yellow card and he did not even receive a verbal warning!!!

Abalo too casual but Melvin rectifies so that 10-9 after 18 mins

Ludo secures number 11 to our relief. It’s a long way!

Stopping the rhythm!

Declining a clear penalty!

What’s next! Guess what. Scandalous. Declining a perfectly valid French goal on 20’42.

Melvin the saviour like HIS DAD

Take these disgraceful refs. Even Guillaume Gille is in shock towards earlier decision.

Annoyingly too much casual business 12-11 on 22 mins

I feared number 14 was to be disallowed

The defender looked to have his feet in the area so it should be ball for France

And the wing player looks to have his feet on the line

No keeper thus 16-14 on the buzzer

Hesitant start with a lot of turnovers 18-16 34’40

Ah finally they stopped the clock. Now that France are leading. Cheeky refs.

Or finally and simply being proper refs?

In the meantime the US presidential inauguration protocol is disrupted by the COVID pandemic

Stupendous strike by Algeria it’s 20-18 with 37 mins played

What a miss by France after an interesting move

Berkous reduces the arrears and then on the counter it’s 20-20 on 40 mins

And now Algeria leading 20-21 as if to punish Bruno and his mates

The ball is out and the clock is not stopped as France is chasing the game

Two consecutive goals from Ludo 22-21 (44’)

It’s never a penalty in my book. Where did you learn to be a ref????? Irrelevant. France needs to pick themselves up.

Then, the defender can be in the area for Algeria though and they get the ball back!!!

Then now Algeria ahead again 22-23 (46’30)

Stupid ref making France lose precious seconds saying where the foul was made

That ref remonstrating to Mahe in a disrespectful manner. It is the sort of attitude that players and refs alike would remember in the back of their minds.

24-23 (49’)

This time you are stopping the clock ahead of the fake injury to the Algerian player thereby stopping the French attack rhythm

Bloody biased refereeing. This is a clear anti-French display. For the respect of handball, we have to respect officials. They also need to earn respect. It’s not a personal vendetta. Just frustration that our beautiful sport gets tarnished in that manner. In their defense any fair play fan of a particular team can a bit biased on the spur of the moment. Nobody’s perfect either.

Important Dika’s goal after combination with JJA 26-24 (51’20)

It’s a joke. A cheap 2 min on JJA just as he was playing well

Then instead of a clear attacking foul seconds earlier, another two min on the cards. This time it’s for Hugo and a penalty!

2-man power play to Algeria

26-25 (53’)

Double save by Algerian keeper

Ah finally this time attacking foul on Ludo in defense. And the time stopped. How on earth can you be so inconsistent? 

Well Ludo should not get the penalty. Mahe must score and he did not. WE cannot even take advantage from this. Perhaps a realization by the refs that they tried too hard to help Algeria and they fooled the fans with this dodgy penalty.    

Instead, it’s back to 26-26 all square on 56’

JJA lucky and it’s number 27.

Ludo acrobatically gets a bad pass from Kentin 28-26 (57’58’)

Empty goal strategy by Algeria

Gerard could not get the ball. Tense moments.

Bizarre. This time the ball back to France.  We must be careful.

Wonderful JJA top corner after the Abalo show to waste time 29-26

 

21 January 2021

Germany vs Spain and the others with no real energy and stamina to write any match report given the other commitments.

 

22 January 2021

France vs Iceland

Portugal got the better of Switzerland earlier in a pulsating encounter.

I want Remi Desbonnet PLEASE.

Gudjonsson gets the counter right 0-1 and the usual difficulties vs Iceland continue

Is Dika on a good day?

Two in a row and right defense attitude

Horrible sans son

Magnificent Icelandic equaliser 2-2 just before 4 mins

Again our Spanish usual refs

What an acrobatic goal by Romain 5-3 past 8 mins

Victim of over-confidence and equaliser on the counter by the Hicelansenic less than a min later

Get Remi on. PLEASE.

First save after 11 mins. Gosh Vincent must have heard me.

Two mins against Luka. That’s mental when you think about what the Portuguese player did earlier in the day

Consequence it’s all square at 7 after 13 mins

The player had lost the ball and he let him continue. Thank God he gave passive play warnings

A temporary breathing space 9-7 on 15 odd mins

A penalty converted by Elisson reduces the arrears! And he gets in a porous defence to make it 10-9 on 17 mins

Jonsson also perforates the light defense with a quick shot `1-`0. Please Remi

Was Lucho really inside the area, strange decision? It should be 13-10

Young Icelandic keeper read the high jump shot.

And annoyingly the young keeper saves it from over-confident MIKA when JJA was victim of a foul worthy of 2min

Then he gets a stupid 2min himself!

A bit of a let-off really. All very confusing.

Ludo with a classy line play goal on 24 mins 13-10 (24’)

Nedim had seized the ball. Lucky Iceland.

Too casual and Elisson punishes within seconds as scoreline reads 13-12 past 26 mins

JJA goal was absolutely valid. Has the strike happened after it had made up his mind?

It should have been 15. His shirt damaged by the way.

Instead it’s 14-13 with just under 2 mins to go

Gudmunsson is let strike freely to the opposite side meantime

Melvin does have numbers 15 and 16, the latter just before the buzzer 16-14

I cannot believe it’s raining as it was sunny seconds ago

Kristiansson strikes superbly then Elisson equalises past 32 mins 17-17

Valou missed his opportunity

Dika responds to powerful Kristiansson

It looks like the break was detrimental to France

Thank God Gerard saved Elisson’s penalty

Stupid Dika’s 2 min but it’s a bit harsh in the spur of the moment.

Lagarde shot saved by young keeper and it’s still 18-18

Another Kristiansson goal 18-19 who is having a blinder in the second half

Elisson on the counter gets Iceland’s number 20

France’s penalty reduces the arrears 19-20 past 38 mins

Second 2 mins for Luka, this time maybe more logical. And a penalty so France down by 2 now and one player down

Now the two disallowed goals are important and regretful

Again Kristiansson scores 20-22 (41’)

A powerful Icelandic defence prevents France from coming back

I want Remi instead of YG. But Yann read Kristiansson’s strike. So may this continue.

We need to get back and in front as soon as possible.

Dika big jump equalised after YG saved from the counter (45’)

Again the goal could have stood….But Ludo does score. Just one ahead 23-22 (46’46)

The defence is a tad dangerous but there is nothing in the face and I am glad the Spanish ref did not get coined and there is a video assistant anyway.

Wrong decision by Kentin as he was too wide to make that type of shot go in.

Costly decision as Gudmunsson equalised

JJA should have scored! But the young boy stood firm

Kentin redeemed with a powerful long range shot in the middle 24-23

With a long ten-minute spell left

Stupid 2min by Hugo

YG had saved the penalty and on the rebound the Icelandic player equalised 24-24

That player threw the ball as he landed. Just about.

Theatrical Kentin means nothing given.

Great defence helps YG

Quick fire Icelandic with great save by YH. We must take advantage from that Elisson miss.

Valou just about scores 25-24 (54’30) as Vidarsson gets his marching orders

Very important Fab goal as the power play ends. 26-24 after 55 mins

Sad that he’s injured but you have to give him 2mins as he prevented a counter-attack. Not fair.

Ball as a throw-in thanks to YG reaction as we get to the money time (3 mins left)

So unfair and a beauty: after a good defense immense shot by no. 13 from Iceland 26-25

Dika’s key number 27. Good thing from Kentin on Kristiansson

What a save by YG and it finishes in a confusing 28-26

Elisson gets the MVP of course.

Humilité puis confiance de YG. Fair play to him!

Switcher pour être performant car on a besoin de toi. So true.

Pas toujours beau. Il faut gagner. On a le sourire.

Juste milieu sur la précipitation et le jeu rapide dixit DIKA.

 

23 January 2021

No me interesa hacer el resumen del España Uruguay con solamente 38 – 23 con un parcial de 9-2 para Uruguay al final.

Poland vs Hungary plus Argentina vs Croatia [Paul Bray]

My Polish little star starts his show against the incredible Mikler

Argentina leads 3-0 after 3 mins but Hungary already on a LEKAI ROSTA ride 3-1 also after three mins

The Dream’s Road for LEKAI who wears shirt number 66

Incredibly Croatia still 5 -0 down after 7 mins

Much tighter of course all square Poland vs Hungary affair after 9 mins

A bizarre blank for Croatia. Cupic off the mark in the end after 11’30 mins

Our prodigy makes virtually 3 consecutive saves so it’s still 7-9 to Hungary after 18’30 mins

And it’s 7-3 to Argentina after 15’30

Argentina may suffer with so many power plays as they only scored 2 in 12 minutes (Paul said this as I was writing about it….)

On the 20 mins mark, an easy shot for Hungary leading by 3 now

Lekai picks the right post to secure number 11 with just over 7 mins left

And Poland still not scoring!

Argentina picks up again as from 7-6 it becomes 10-7. However Pesic save led to Cupic reducing the arrears to 10-8 with just over 7 mins left

Highest margin so far 8-14 to Hungary after 25’30

Pizarro finds the right spot to make it 11-9 on 25 mins

LEKAI on a photoshop and photo-shooting, with a 7 out of 7

Costly empty goal means Hungary leading 16-9

16-10, Hungary with a decent deserved lead

Croatia scores a lucky 12 after Argentine keeper howler to draw level

And the Kempa was saved into the post preventing unexpected Croatian recovery 12-12

Half time beckons

Hungary starts as it began leading by a comprehensive 21-13 after 36 mins

Carou is red-carded

Pesic avoids the Argentine onslaught and after circa 40 mins it’s 16-15 for Argentina

Like KARA, I do not like the 7 vs 6 rule

Can Poland turn things around?

As Poland changed keepers sadly

Maciel enjoyed his save destroying the goal

Sicko may get his Polish mates hope as now trailing only 18-24 (46’)

Rodriguez stems the come back on the wing

Finally a save on Cupic penalties! And still 17-15 for Argentina

11 min left and Hungary leads by 20-26 with Poland using the empty goal 7-6 rule

Gebala gets an obvious 2 mins whilst Argentina is looking likely to get a famous win: 19-16 with 8 mins left

What a fabulous Mikler save with six mins left

Maciel gets its empty goal with seven minutes or so left

Three empty goals for Argentina

Poland reducing the arrears to 4

I am glad I watched the Argentina match I know at least three very happy people indeed

Hungary too strong in the end for Poland 30-26

And well done Manolo and thoughts for his cousin!

I did not see THAT Croatia defeat coming!

Look at the Argentine joy 23-19

Oddly Cupic gets the match award!

7 goals by Croatia in the second half, when was it last time!

A message on Twitter to GERMAN, PASIONHANDBALL Y LAURA

 

Evening series being Germany vs. Brazil and Denmark vs. Japan

Staying inside. I am getting fatter!

After 4 mins Japan and Denmark, both with 3

In the meantime, Germany drawing 2-2 with Brazil

But both Germany and Denmark are now ahead 5-2 and 7-5 respectively with 8 mins played

Svan confirms with his wrist the 2-goal lead whilst Brazil players are facing a no-nonsense German team. It is now 7-3 after 10 mins for Germany for example.

Weber perforates the Brazilian defense for a 8-4 lead (11’30)

Both teams had counter-attack effectiveness which means 10-7 after 13’45 mins

Agarie does have a penalty sweetness about him to Landin’s surprise

Langaro benefits from an astute block and after 15 mins they only trail by 2

Is Emil Jacobsen, USAM next season recruit?

Svan puts Denmark in a more comfortable lead 13-10 on 19 mins with a sleek wing play

It looks Japan are getting tired.

It has stayed 10-8 for Germany for a while now!

Will the Olympics be cancelled altogether?

Nakamura makes a good save to keep Japan almost toe to toe but they seem to falter in attack now

as they trail 14-11 to Denmark on 22 mins

Sudden drought by Brazil as Germany now leads 13-9 after just over 23 mins

Bitter acrobatically saved to let the drought continue

Denmark brilliantly denied by Nakamura. And it’s now a 1-goal game 17-16 on 27 mins

A silly powerplay lets Denmark regain a 2-goal lead

Brazil team is losing it a bit as Germany are now leading by 5 16-11

Moller disrupted Agarie and Denmark still leads by 3 19-16

But in the end its 19-17 for Denmark at the break

But in the end its 16-12 for Germany at the break

FIND CAMERA and BATTERIES should it snow tomorrow

Too speedy. Haste and missed opportunity for Japan to reduce the arrears and instead 21-18 for Denmark with penalty and powerplay

Brazil did not regroup as an unit and it’s now 18-12 to Germany (33’)

Landin the magician runs to save from the empty goal embarrassment. Genius (35’)

Andersen bullet brings Denmark to a 4-goal lead.

Light touch by Landin to keep the 4-goal lead 24-20 (37’30)

On his own on the wing Hafner makes it a 5-goal lead (20-15) after 38 mins

Cheeky lob by GOLLA and it’s again the 6-goal cushion for Germany. But Brazil gets one back

Mensah punishes Japan after a harsh 2min because the line player over-reacted 25-22 (43’)

Bitter puts a firm grip on that shot and enjoyed his save as score-line stays at 23-18 on 44 mins

Disastrous powerplay as Japan now trail by 4 i.e. 26-22 (44’30)

Poisonous Andersen on the counter and its now 27-22 (46’)

Kasahara gets a ridiculous criminal 2 mins so it’s 28-22 for Denmark

It’s 26-21 for Germany with ten mins left

I am getting tired with 2 handball matches and the football and the desire in roiom tidy-up

A quick-fire counter and it’s 29-22 for Germany with six mins left

Jakobsen punishes Japan again with a penalty and with just over 5 mins left and it’s 30-25 for Denmark

A lot of suspensions on both games!

It looks like there will be no surprises as the gap increases on both matches

Silvio can replace Bitter without bitterness!

Game over really as the youngsters do the business for Denmark 33-27 with one min left.

Germany wins 31-24 whereas Denmark wins 34-27

And Marseille lost 3-1 matching our INSTA Irish hero predictions. Hilarious!