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There was one minute missing in each game and Belgium and the Netherlands would have been among
the happiest handball nations on Sunday. However, the truth in the EHF EURO 2018 Qualification is
different and cruel.
First the Netherlands let a six-goal advantage slip from their hands in their qualifier against Hungary, then
Belgium lost to Olympic finalists France despite being in the lead for 59 minutes.
On other courts, Olympic champions Denmark took their second clear win, while Slovenia levelled their game
against Portugal only with the final buzzer.
Group 7:
Belgium vs. France 37:38 (19:17)
More than 4,000 spectators (a Belgian record attendance for a handball match) did not believe their eyes–
the game they saw was much more all Belgian players and fans expected.
Until the dying minutes of the game, the hosts hoped for one of the biggest sensations in this EHF EURO
Qualification, but eventually one French goal at the very end sealed the deal for the Olympic silver medallists.
The home side dominated the match against the three-time EHF EURO champions for more than 55 minutes.
After their clear defeat against Norway mid-week (35:26), Belgium put all they had into this match – and
benefitted from a disappointing French attack performance.
Belgium were constantly in the lead in the first half – and France were lucky that the half-time result “only”
stood at 19:17 for the host, who had missed their chance to increase to the lead to 20:16 with their last
attack and then conceded a buzzer-beater goal by Luc Abalo.
Whothought that the hosts would lack power in the second half, was proven completely wrong. The match
was on the edge until the end.
First Belgium took a three goal lead at 25:22, then France constantly levelled the result – but did not create
a lead.
The Red Wolves played a great match against the huge favourites. 50 seconds before the end, the score
stood at 37:37. Then FC Barcelona Lassa left back Timothy N’Guessan shattered all Belgian hopes with the
game's final goal.
France have now four points on their account, Belgium remain on zero. Top scorers were Kentin Mahe with
eleven for the winners and Damian Kedziora with eight for Belgium.