A big warning to open, another big warning to follow. The matches that kicked off the European Under-20 Handball Championship in Vila Nova de Gaia could not be a better proof of how there is growing competitiveness in this sport and that is how, after the historic triumph of the Faroe Islands against Denmark, The current champions, Slovenia, were thrashed by Hungary. The motto was set for highest demand for Portugal’s debut in the competition, with Carlos Martingo’s team clearly demonstrating their theoretical superiority with a thrashing of Poland at the opening of the competition (41-31).
???? If someone asks how was the victory of Portugal… show him this video ????
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???????????? ???????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? ????#m20ehfeuro #superportugal #handebolportugal #Portugal #handball #homegames #maker #aguamonchique pic.twitter.com/36nIivDeFS
— Portuguese Handball Federation (@AndebolPortugal) July 8, 2022
“The first game is always atypical. The Polish team was the one we had the least information about, so I was a bit hopeful about what we might find, but we played a good game. We had some moments of lower intensity, mainly defensively, but The game was never out of our control. The balance is totally positive and we are happy to have won with a good performance”, commented Carlos Martingo, U-20 coach at the end of his debut.
????????? The stars of the opening night at the European ????
???? ????????????: @diogoremaa16
???? ???????????? ??????????????????????????????: Martin Costa???????????? ???????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? ????#m20ehfeuro #superportugal #handebolportugal #Portugal #handball #homegames #maker #aguamonchique pic.twitter.com/XDC0O0KmdA
— Portuguese Handball Federation (@AndebolPortugal) July 7, 2022
The first step to qualify for the main round It happened, followed by Norway for a decisive match considering the defeat of the Scandinavians against Spain (38-25). New game, new victory by a comfortable margin, the guarantee of presence in the second phase of the competition: Back in Gaia, Portugal won 35-26 after leaving with a three-goal lead at the break (16-13) and will now dispute first place with Spain, who also beat Poland this Friday (41-32).
????????? WE ARE IN???????????????? ????????????????????? ????
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????????? ????Drag to see the results of the day ➡️
???????????? ???????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? ????#m20ehfeuro #superportugal #handebolportugal #Portugal #handball #homegames #maker #aguamonchique pic.twitter.com/yLP41uLnaq
— Portuguese Handball Federation (@AndebolPortugal) July 8, 2022
After Martim Costa was the top scorer in the match against Poland, it was now his brother Francisco, also from Sporting, who finished the match against Norway as player with most goals (nine), followed by André Sousa (eight) and Gabriel Cavalcanti. Ebbe Stankiewicz was the best among the Norwegians (seven).
???????? Two of the main figures that marked another happy night for Portugal ????
???? ????????????: @andreesousa3
???? ???????????? ????????????????????????: Francisco Costa???????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ????????????????#m20ehfeuro #superportugal #handebolportugal #Portugal #handball #homegames #maker pic.twitter.com/QOn1Z22gbl
— Portuguese Handball Federation (@AndebolPortugal) July 8, 2022
It should be remembered that Portugal is still looking for its first win at a UEFA European Under-20 Championship, after reaching the final against Denmark in 2010 in Slovakia (24-30) and finishing fourth in the 2018 edition, falling in the semis to future champion Slovenia (25-27).
Source: Observadora
