Handball journeys

Authoritarian sport will ruin my day tomorrow. The tension and the revenge will be enormous. Anniversary smuggler is around to celebrate the best sport in the world from last year's world cup in the Mecca of handball.

Monday ‘s matches Match number 2 Spain vs Belarus FIRST HALF  Sole reduces the Belarus advantage 1-2 (3’30) Spain gets a generous penalty a minute later and dispatched by Sole again 2-3 The Belarus player just gave the ball back earlier as if they were training together That black jersey looks horrible Spain are looking pedestrian by over-confidence. They will turn up later I am sure 2-5 (6’) Gonzalo saves brilliantly and Entrerríos perforates the defense 4-5 (7’15) Belarus picks up the loose ball but wastes time instead of having a go and to no effect. Karalek subsequently punishes his team with a 7-meter and a 2-minute suspension 5-6 (10’) Superb free kick but just off-target by Belarus, which means Joan draws level 6-6 (12’) Follows an excellent defense by Joan. Julén then comes on and it‘s now 7-6 (13’) VAILLU is Vaillant and plays like Valou 7-7 (13’35) Virán gets a lucky escape and there is no 2-min for him. Nice play ...

Today we are missing a Portugal Iceland who actually may  provide a lot of entertainment for the neutral fans ; hello my  dear handball friends then you have a Slovenia – Hungary, which historically and politically is an interesting fixture. Then you have a Norway vs Sweden where Sweden is in Germany’s position yesterday. 365 days later, today feels so odd and yet I had a good time spending quality time with a special friend 365 days later The crowd shouted his name. He was underwhelmed There were a lot of fans enjoying their beers who made Their voices count as they would cheer for a local boy Surprising public ploy looking for old Priam at Troy

As my handball friends are waking up in Malmo, I just engineered quickly this short ode I am travelling  in a couple of hours  today and I will be spending quality time with a special friend, instead of doing mmy match reports.  World upside down Malmo just experienced the unthinkable. Portugal Swept aside the Swedish hosts by heft margin. I missed the game: so shocked and so illogical. Struggle to comprehend. Is it down to adrenalin? The handball world has turned himself upside down The handball legends get what they have sown Lusitania growing respectability. Fans are in town; That fateful defeat was maybe the start so special Of Something for the minnow group from Portugal Malmo, the cathedral of that unforgettable famous final. Balham 8h30 19 January 2020   20201901P026

On Friday I could not see the Slovenia match. Too early and awaiting at the hotel reception. I only saw bites of the Norway match before the reception drinks. I missed Sweden vs Portugal because I was at the dinner. I watched discreetly large sequences of Belarus – Czech Republic during the second half of Sheffield U at home. The evidence of a long travel is the fact that I missed all the first half of Spain vs Austria I watched whilst in Sainsbury the second half of Austria vs Spain I am glad MAQUEDA got the man of match award deservedly Croatia vs Germany FIRST - HALF What an evening finale and what a prediction I had made But it is not the deafening atmosphere of Cologne Excitement vs nervousness. KASTENING continues where he left it. Brilliant goal opposite top corner and 1-1 (3’) D FORCE as DRUX and DJUNVAK both score within seconds of each other 2-2 (3’30) Little Women at the same time as Liverpool VS MU Mandic makes an unortho...

After Croatia easy win - I suppose - having watched the first half on the way to Barnes and losing signal during the second half on a bumpy train.  Croatia were leading 13-8 on a low scoring affair without any trouble at the interval. Croatia well ahead despite the Austrian efforts, as scoreline reads 15-10 (32'30). It was 18-14 to Croatia with 38 minutes played when the 4G faltered unexpectedly. I guess Spain won easily as well early in the afternoon, belated summary below, looking on as clear favourites ALREADY to go through to the semis, which makes me half annoyed half very happy. You cannot be everywhere all the time. BELARUS – GERMANY   Feature match 16 January 2020 FIRST HALF Belarus are improving year on year and not fearful of Germany. Germany missed an opportunity to be 3-1 on 3 minutes as the Belarus keeper extended his octopus legs. Wolff is now a KIELCE player Germany are playing seriously for this one. Pekeler is impeccable, two in ...

FRANCE – BOSNIA  FIRST HALF Bosnia leading 2-1 after two minutes. I will explain my day later. It is even 3-1 to Bosnia on 3 mins Definitely back to the 80s. But not geopolitically obviously. Mind you, maybe? Because no one fears, the game is very predictable. So frustrating. Whatever happens go to bed early! PERCEE de PRCE, he scores THREE goals to make it 4-1 within 5 (five) minutes. Are you set for a terrible ZERO POINTÉ? C’est la Bérézina. Une vraie crise. Une grosse fracture. Le bleu de chauffe du staff bosniaque, ironie costumière et non coutumière ? Croire en un rebond avec tir croisé de Romain? Mais vite un autre but-gruyère. VALO joue. ENFIN! Mais Buric n’entend point aider la France. Un MIKA d’orgueil 5-5 (11’) GRAHOVAC lui cire le banc et se désaltère. Rien ne sourit. C’est la catastrophe. Mais c’est aussi, pour les supporters, le problème des enfants trop gâtés. Trop gâtés par des performances surhumaines pendan...