Portugal and the Netherlands drew 33-33 on Tuesday at handball Euro 2024 in Hamburg, while confirmation of the Portuguese team for the fifth- and sixth-place game in Cologne was suspended.
The Portuguese side, third in Group I, simply do not guarantee qualification for the game, which could guarantee a best-ever classification by moving up to sixth in 2020 if Slovenia beat three-time world champions Denmark.
In a match in which goalkeeper Diogo Rema had a huge goal tally, being elected “man of the match” (MVP), Portugal were almost always at a disadvantage and, having taken the lead in the final minutes (32–30), allowed an equalizer in the final seconds (33-33).
Goalkeeper Diogo Rema saved four of the first seven shots, making up for a poor finish. Portugal saw the Dutch team recover from an initial 2-1 deficit to 4-2 with a partial score of 3-0.
A free kick from seven meters, converted by António Areya with the score at 4–3, stopped the rise of the Netherlands, who again extended their two-goal margin at 5–3, leading to selector Paulo Jorge Pereira calling for a technical time-out.
Even with difficulty stopping the speed of center Luke Stynes in the transitions of the Dutch attack, and also showing some fatigue, the Portuguese team drew 5-5 and, having leveled the difference of two goals (10-8), returned to equality at 10-10.
Portugal, with a very notable goal from Diogo Rema making 11 saves in the first 20 minutes and an efficiency of 50%, missed opportunities to take the lead twice and were partially defeated at 11-11. 0 (13-11).
With Rema holding off the Dutch with 13 saves in the first 30 minutes, which increased to 15 as the game progressed, the Portuguese side, having failed to finish, had serious difficulty closing the gap and went into the break with two matches down. goals (15-17).
The second half began with the Netherlands extending their lead to three goals at 18-15 to keep the margin at 19-16, with Portuguese ‘top scorer’ Martim Costa adding eight more to his top-scoring status. competition scorers hitting the bars for the third time.
Portugal reduced the difference to a minimum – 21-20, with goals from Martim Costa (2), Antonio Areya and Salvador Salvador, after which center Luis Frade tied the score with a series of three accurate shots – 24-24. 25-25 and 26-26.
The Portuguese side managed to take a 29-28 lead thanks to a goal from Pedro Portela and extended their lead to two at 32-30 thanks to Miguel Martins, while Gustavo Capdeville denied the Dutch any opportunity to reduce the lead.
An error in the transition and a shot from the Dutch goalkeeper allowed Jorn Smits’ goal 25 seconds before the whistle to give the game a draw at 33-33 and delay the confirmation of third place. group II.
Martim Costa and Luis Frade, who scored eight goals each, and António Areya, who scored seven, five of them from free kicks from seven meters, with a success rate of 100%, were the players who stood out in the finishing actions of the national team.
Game at the Hamburg Arena.
Netherlands – Portugal, 33-33.
During the break: 17-15.
Referred by the Danish duo Mads Hansen and Jesper Madsen, the teams lined up and scored with the following players:
– Netherlands: Bart Ravensbergen, Ivar Stavast (4), Robin Schoenacker, Luke Stynes (2), Bobby Schagen (4), Niels Versteynnen (4) and Lars Kooi (1). Rutger Ten Velde (7), Nico Blaauw (1), Iso Sluiters (2), Kai Geenen, Martijn Kleikers (3), Jorn Smith (3), Alec Smith (1), Tim Claessens (1) and Arjan Versteinen (gr ) .
Coach: Staffan Olsson.
– Portugal: Diogo Rema, Antonio Areia (7), Francisco Costa (3), Luis Frade (8), Rui Silva (1), Martim Costa (8) and Leonel Fernandes (1). Also playing were Gilberto Duarte, Alexandre Cavalcanti, Fabio Silva (1), Salvador Salvador (1), Pedro Oliveira, Joaquim Nazaré, Pedro Portela (1), Miguel Martins (2) and Gustavo Capdeville (gr).
Coach: Paulo Jorge Pereira.
Attendance: about 7,000 spectators.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.