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Two matches changed everything for Belgium. After the men's national team had beaten Turkey (37:28,
29:22) in the EHF EURO 2018 Qualification Play-offs, a true handball hype started.
Making it to the main qualification phase is the biggest success ever for Belgian handball.
The draw result made national team coach Yerime Sylla, his players and the entire federation even happier:
The “Red Wolves” will face current world champions and Olympic silver medallists France as well as Norway
(EHF EURO 2016 semi-finalists) and Lithuania.
The first matches will be away against Norway on 2 November and then at home against France on 6
November.
“The anticipation for our first two matches is huge, in particular for the match against France on 6 November
in Liège,” says Damian Kedziora.
The left wing was the outstanding player in the matches against Turkey, scoring 18 goals. “We celebrated
extensively afterwards because we had been working for years for a success likes this,” he says.
Clear structure and grand plans
In the meantime, the main structure of Belgian handball has changed. A new board has been elected;
marketing and sponsoring activities were professionalised.