Portugal Handball: Historic Euro Win vs Denmark

A historic victory for Portugal in Herning, 29-31, against hosts Denmark, in the third round of the European Handball Championship, this Tuesday guaranteed passage to the “main round” in first place in Group B.

Portugal started the game with the guarantee that they would progress to the “main round” as long as they did not lose by a margin of more than 17 goals, considering that in the last confrontation with Denmark, in the World Cup, they lost by a 13-goal difference (40-27) and that in the seven previous duels they always lost to the Danes.

Still, as Paulo Jorge Pereira stated a year ago, Portugal believes it can beat any opponent, even if it is the four-time world champion playing at home, where it has not lost since 2014.

Of course to last showing in this European Championship, against Macedonia (29-29), it raised some pertinent questions regarding the current situation of the team that secured fourth place in the last World Cup.

Nothing that the national team couldn’t respond to fully in the challenge against Denmark, which Portugal approached with absolute confidence, taking the lead on the scoreboard to everyone’s surprise.

With Francisco Costa having a 100% success in finishing, Denmark was always chasing the result, only taking control – and momentarily – very close to 15 minutes into the game.

This, after a series of wasted opportunities by the Portuguese team, allowing Denmark to recover. Even so, Portugal would return to the lead, reaching half-time leading 11-12, after having been very close to taking a three-goal lead.

“Main round” at vista

With half of the match over, even the worst possible scenario seemed completely out of the question, as it would take a disastrous second half to keep Portugal out of the main round.

Furthermore, Portugal could also think about surprising the Olympic champions and finalists of the last European Championship, at Germany2024, which would guarantee them to start the “main round” with two points.

Upon returning from the box, Portugal wasted a seven-metre free kick, which Denmark immediately took advantage of to take command (14-13). At that moment, Denmark believed that they could pack it in and go in search of a triumph that was more in line with the status and the difference between the two teams.

But Portugal, despite the referee’s complacency towards the home team, with incomprehensible decisions, continued to resist and leave room for doubt in the outcome.

The national team’s performance exceeded all expectations and after 44 minutes they regained the lead at 19-20, making it clear that it was no longer a question of fighting for mere presence in the “main round”, but rather for the result itself.

A historic result, let’s say, that would force Denmark to question itself to understand why it couldn’t solve an apparently simple game, given everything that has already been mentioned.

Meanwhile, Portugal put the difference back to two goals, beginning to believe that it would even be possible to guarantee the triumph. A margin that Tonicher saved in Portugal’s goal, which entered the final eight minutes with a three-goal lead.

With five minutes to go, Victor Iturizza’s red card added an extra layer of difficulty as Denmark reduced the deficit to 25-26.

However, resilience would be worth the historic triumph, the first, against the Danish super favorites by 29-31.