EHF 2022 - Day 6 Dutch brilliance, sadly Hungary out after a superb Elisson led Icelandic victory, Germany cruising against Poland

 19h30

Portugal - Netherlands

Belarus - Austria

 

A tight affair between Portugal and surprise package Netherlands. Watching a bit late because of work.

I have a soft spot for Belarus since Qatar so perhaps I should switch to Belarus – Austria

Upstairs his mate Quintana must have been proud of the save and almost at home Martins reduces the arrears 8-9 17’

Brilliant save by Capdevile. It is a keeper’s game and it is not the same rhythm as Spain v Sweden and yet one of the teams is going out.

1961 is 2022 again with the Netherlands in fine form.

Three minutes later and the Netherlands two goals up

But Capdevile saved brilliantly

Benghamen has his own revenge and the Dutch team now leads by 3

Double suspension to the Netherlands. Will it help Portugal?

Five minutes left and the scoreline 10-14

Paul copying Bruno as he said today is goalies’ day

Slovenia lost to Montenegro. Well, it is not such a surprise. If you remember how France struggled against Montenegro before the tournament in Egypt.

An easy goal conceded and Capdevile saved. Ravensburggen mimicked him 12-15 28’30

Tomorrow there are no matches sadly!

Double suspension for Portugal. Silly one really.

Silva still manages to score on a double suspension.

But Smits blasts the ball and the goal is given 13-17 at half time

Oh the Internet is down!

Smits is not smitten but a lot of managers could be smitten and he scores 15-19 32’

KEY to Magdeburg KAY in nutter-land as they lead now by 5

Quick thinking from Benghamen 16-21 33’30

The crossbar saves Portugal and they could reduce the arrears to 3 and they do 18-21 36’30

Stop the play acting! Football players beware!

Loose ball still with the Netherlands to no avail.

The Portuguese defence was ok for a while.

Schagen puts the Netherlands back on the right bandwagon 19-22 39’

Iturriza scores another delicious one seconds later 20-22 39’30

The Netherlands players are fading especially in attack

Empty goal on the counter. All thanks to Benghamen.

But Salina reduces the deficit for Portugal 21-23 41’35

Ball in Capdevile’s face and no sanctions

What a save from Ravens as Silva helped the counter-attack!

8-2 turnaround within less than 15 minutes! And no time out!

Areia scores a schoolbook winger’s goal 23-24 45’

Portugal again with their empty goal strategy even without a suspension. Should be made illegal!

Duarte got lucky on this occasion.

Ravens brilliant right leg saves the day. Hang on to the slender lead?

Breathing space 24-26 48’

Ravens in Ravenne’s land. Although Italy are still outside the main nations!

Iturriza responds to Benghamen 25-27 50’

Luc Steins goes on his own. So easy indeed. 25-28 51’

Cavalcanti from Nantes wins a 7-meter and Portugal reducing the arrears 26-28 52’

Nice Smit like dynamite 26-29 53’

Iturriza finds a lot of spaces in the second half and 27-29 53’30

More rotations indeed

No passive play call?

But the Netherlands still in front despite Portuguese rally 28-30 55’

What an acrobatic save by Ravens!

But Duarte is stubborn and scores on the second attempt 29-30 56’

Inside the area. Ouch.

Iturriza equalised 30-30 57’

Norwegian refs and Portuguese manager mumbling

Luc Steins offensive foul. Ouch

Duarte scores and he gets the two minutes as he impeds the throw off

Portugal 31-30

But Steins equalised 31-31

Both teams are short-handed.

Sigh by Paul.

Let off on the post. Clips the bar and stays out.

How many passes? 3 it is.

Smits scores and 32-31 in the end. What a match ! Thank God I stayed on this one !

Tuesday 18 January 2022

 17h

Iceland - Hungary

Poland – Germany

 

Our friend is the ref for the Germany match

Szita equalied against Iceland

I start to warm with the commentator of the Germany and  Spain groups

Brilliant Polish save

Good spirit between Iceland and Hungary

Magnusson still on 100% on the 7-meters

Mathe drawing at 3 5’30

Only 4 goals in 7 minutes and 2-2 in Germany-Poland

Gudjonsson hangs very well after a gift from very soft Aron 4-4 7’

Steinert already on two goals and Germany 2-3 up 8’30

Magnusson scoring low on the left post as wingers are isolated but Iceland trailing 5-6 9’

Superb line play by Iceland and back to the drawing board for Hungary. Hungary needs to step up.

Twice as many goals in Budapest

Mikler is struggling in the euros

Mathe superb leap 7-7 11’

Lekai has the right image. That of the goal 8-8 12’20

Weber superb leap and Germany 3-5 up 12’45

But Poland recovered well but for another suspension 5-5 16’

Hungary and Iceland are toe to toe 11-10 16’40

Magnusson and Steinert are top scorers today I would have thought

12-10 to Iceland 5-6 Germany leading

Banhidi keeps Hungary alive 12-11 18’

Lovely goal by Steinert A FAB one really 5-7 18’

2 out of 15, Mikler is struggling. Perhaps too much pressure or something we do not know

Sicko gives a bit of hope for Poland 6-8 19’

Iceland are really fighting for the win

Szekey saved the 7-meter and first miss by Magnusson after a foul on Vidarsson

Despite short handed Hungary equalised 13-13 23’

Gustavsson superb save

Let’s get a MOJITO, not a Moryto as a goal to make it 8-9 21’50

Boka turn on himself and 14-14 24’35

Topic has a topical goal 15-15 25’32

Poland trailing 9-11 24’

Ancsin opens his body and fires in the top corner 16-16 26’30

Sicko makes it sickening for Gilason 10-11 24’40

Counter attack by Poland, 1 against 5 by Germany 11-12 26’20

Wiencek collects the 2-min medals! His second one on 27 minutes

Chema giving his instructions after Aron had scored his lovely goal

Smuggle through 17-17 at the break in Budapest

Golla brings Germany to a 3-goal lead 11-14 29’

Weber powerful shot 12-15 at the break

Magnusson enjoys an easy goal 19-18 32’

Szita lucky as he caught Gus wrong footed 19-19 33’

Moryto scores into the empty net 14-15 32’

I thought the ball was outside and a ghost goal for Poland! And I was right!

Golla gets the 2-goal lead back 14-16 33’50

Elisson does not want any mishap and gets the equalising goal 20-20 35’30

Zerbe on the wing pulls the trigger 14-18 36’ Bitter sweet!

Vidarsson scores from a long range into the empty net and Iceland back in front 22-21 37’

Elisson takes his Bundesliga form into this competition

Bitter saves Germany but the blushes are on Poland

On the wing Szita brings hope back 23-22 39’30

Magnusson strategy is telling and 2-goal lead now for Iceland 24-22 40’

A Lekai turnover is doomsaying?

A costly miss by Poland as Germany cruising now. It is a KOSTER thing 15-19 41’40

Elisson 7-meter puts an additional strain 25-23 42’30

Szekey picked up the lofted gall but the counter attack was well stopped by Iceland

Old school low shot and 25-25 44’30

Second two minutes by Szita ! With fifteen minutes left!

Short-handed Hungary recovers the ball

Poland is losing their handball at the minute. More than 8 minutes without a goal!

Sicko is sick as he gets his body well over everyone to score Poland’s number 16 16-21 46’30

Kristjansson on the post!

False substitution for Poland, not surprisingly sadly.

All clear for Germany 16-23 48’

Aron brings Iceland level 26-26 47’50

I missed two minutes because the portal screwed me up

I am pleased for Mikler as he did a Titi in Gothenburg and saved the 7-meter

Rodriguez gets a short-lived lead as Elisson continues to shine 27-27 51’

Elisson gets his number 9 and Iceland leading 28-27 52’45

Steinert gets Germany back on track 19-24 51’55

Koster finds a beautiful angle

Bodo scores underneath Gustavsson whilst short-handed as Cipos is red carded

Daszek puts Bitter in trouble 21-25 53’50

Ref saying you cannot have it both ways

Gudjonsson now makes it difficult the host nation

Iceland still leading by 1 31-30 57’

Out of mind of out of sight. Zerbe makes it a 7-goal lead 21-28 56’30

Gustavsson saves and yet Gislason gets a 2-minute

Mathe missed the 7-meter completely 58’

Gudmunsson right timing for a time out

22-29 58’

Boka stepped sadly on the line

Lekai took the shot too quickly and Gus saved brilliantly.

31-30 win by Iceland and Hungary are out. That's sad because Hungarian fans are so cool. But Iceland are a proper handball team difficult to beat and class oozes from management to fans and players. Well done to Iceland.

Germany winning 23-30 despite being a low scoring affair for a long time in the first half.