Summer blog: Spain are M20 EHF EURO 2022 champions
The Summer Blog on eurohandball.com guides you through all the action at the various Younger Age Category (YAC) and beach handball events taking place this summer.
19:31
If statistics are needed to help you make sense of Spain's triumph, here is the EHFTV graphic.
19:28
FULL-TIME: Portugal 35:37 Spain
Jan Gurri's goal from the back court with approximately 15 seconds remaining gives Spain a remarkable win in the M20 EHF EURO 2022 final. To say that it didn't look likely when Portugal led by four goals in the second half would be an understatement!
19:21
Francisco Mota da Costa is the M20 EHF EURO 2022 top scorer. With three minutes remaining, his team need to find more something extra if they are to claim the title.
19:19
The Spanish fans are beginning to believe as they take the lead after a 5:0 run.
19:16
With just under eight minutes remaining, Spain have equalised at 32:32. Could the tension be any greater?
19:07
Every save is valuable for Portugal – and Tiago Ferreira catching the ball cleanly is the perfect outcome for the hosts.
18:56
The roars from the crowd are increasing as Portugal extend their lead to three goals. Spain have called a timeout after almost seven minutes played in the second half.
18:53
"Francisco Costa has scored his eighth of the game and is now the top scorer of the M20 EHF EURO, says Paul Bray in commentary.
18:43
HALF-TIME UPDATE: Portugal 16:15 Spain
Well, there is barely anything to separate Portugal and Spain after an extremely close first half in the M20 EHF EURO 2022 final. Adrian Costeiu has more on the first half below.
He said: "This might be one of the highest-scoring finals in the history of the M20 EHF EURO. The current record was set in 2000, when Yugoslavia won 34:29 against Belarus. We have had everything in the first half – fine goals, tactical adjustments, some misses, four lead changes.
After 30 minutes, Portugal are in the lead, 16:15, after finishing the first half with a 5:1 run. The fact that Portugal's goalkeepers, Diogo Rema and Tiago Ferreira, saved only one shot between them, with the first coming after 26 minutes, did not help the hosts, but they still looked sharper in clutch moments. Interestingly, back Martim Mota da Costa had an off evening in the first half and was on the bench for more than 20 minutes after a cold start."
18:29
Officially, Portugal's Diogo Marques and Tiago Ferreira haven't been credited with any saves after 24 minutes. However, Spain's Roberto Domenech has made five saves from 17 shots.
18:25
It might seem of lesser importance if you support Portugal, but Francisco Mota da Costa is now just three goals behind Denmark's Thomas Arnoldsen in the race to finish as top scorer.
18:20
This is the in-flight goal that Portugal scored in the second minute. An amazing start – but there is a long way to go for both teams.
18:17
Spain have settled down and lead 7:6 in the final as we approach the 15-minute mark. Meanwhile, we have reaction from the bronze medal match.
"We lost the two final games. It was close against Portugal, and I think that hit us a bit hard. But Serbia is a good team - it is the second time they beat us, so all credit to them. We have a great group that fights together and even though we might not have the best individual players, we are very good as a team,” said Dennis Sandberg, Sweden's M20 coach.
“It's amazing. We believed in our team and this is for Serbia. It's an amazing feeling and we are so happy. We prepared for this match because they are very good in defence and run a lot, but we played with our hearts and our heads. We won and this is for Serbia,” said Serbia player Stefan Dodic.
18:04
Francisco Mota da Costa tees up Andre Sousa for an in-flight goal in the second minute, and Portugal are already ahead 2:0.
18:01
The line-ups have been shown on EHFTV and we are ready for the throw-off.
17:45
The M20 EHF EURO 2022 final is almost upon us! But in the 15 minutes until the biggest match of the championship begins, you can read Adrian Costeiu's review of Serbia's bronze medal win.
17:40
Here are Serbia's celebrations from the bronze medal match! As you would expect, the players and are extremely pleased to have secured a M20 EHF EURO medal.
17:00
FULL-TIME: Sweden 26:30 Serbia
"For the second time in this EURO, Serbia are going to beat Sweden - but this time with a medal at stake," says Paul Bray as Serbia claim the bronze medal at M20 EHF EURO 2022.
Milos Kos finished as Serbia's top scorer with eight goals, while Johan Ericsson netted six times for Sweden.
16:53
Serbia are close to clinching the bronze medal. Mateja Dodic's fifth goal has given Serbia a six-goal lead, 19:13.
16:35
When Serbia and Sweden clashed in the main round, Serbia established a 10-goal lead (11:1) in the 16th minute. Sweden reduced the deficit to two goals shortly after half-time, and we have seen something similar unfold this afternoon.
Kasper Palmar's goal in the 36th minute put Sweden two goals behind for the first time since the 10th minute, but Serbia have since extended their cushion to four goals on two occasions through Milos Kos.
16:26
Is Stefan Dodic a star of the future? In the first half, he showed that his playmaking skills can make the difference for Serbia.
16:19
One consolation for Sweden from the half-time statistics is that their goalkeepers have made twice as many saves as Serbia's. Of course, the negative part of that fact is that Linden and Sävinger have had to face 23 shots.
16:14
HALF-TIME UPDATE: Sweden 12:17 Serbia
Sweden have reduced Serbia's lead from a high of eight goals to five goals at the break. EHF journalist Adrian Costeiu has provided his assessment of the first half below.
"Two timeouts from Sweden’s coach, Dennis Sandberg, could not weather the storm. This was marked as the battle between two top defences in the competition, but Serbia were the only side who really stood up to the billing. They conceded only five goals in the first 20 minutes, stopping Sweden in their tracks.
Serbia impressed by opening the game to their wings, but also with some special assists from Stefan Dodic, one of the names we will surely hear more from in the future. If the first half was anything to go by, then it will be very, very difficult for Serbia to lose this bronze medal, despite the Scandinavian side cutting the gap to 17:12 at the break."
16:03
Serbia utilising a save to set up a fast break goal was how they seized control in the first five minutes.
15:59
It is hard to imagine that Serbia's coach will be anything other than satisfied with what he has seen so far.
Well, he might not be happy that Milos Kos received a suspension for hitting the goalkeeper in the face with a shot. Serbia's advantage is a commanding seven goals, 15:8.
15:52
Trailing 11:5 in the 17th minute, Sweden call their second timeout.
In case you missed it, Gautier Loredon scored a spin goal for France that was so good that it would be wrong not to feature it.
15:49
"Their shooting is just way off," says Paul Bray in commentary on EHFTV about Sweden's performance in front of goal in the opening 15 minutes. Aside from Stefan Dodic missing a penalty, pretty much everything else has gone Serbia's way. Serbia lead 10:5.
15:29
EHF President Michael Wiederer is among those in attendance on the final day of the M20 EHF EURO 2022 in Portugal.
15:25
The bronze medal match will begin in five minutes. For more on Hungary and Germany's wins in the placement matches, you can read Adrian Costeiu's review – which is now online.
15:01
FULL-TIME: France 29:35 Hungary
Hungary end their M20 EHF EURO 2022 experience with a clear six-goal victory over France in the 5-6 placement match. Although Leo Villain and Hugo Bonnat officially made a combined total of 15 saves for France, Hungary's attack – led by Péter Lukács – was too strong.
14:38
Hungary have extended their advantage to six goals, 27:21, as France call a timeout. A highlights clip during the timeout showed how Dániel Sztraka's one-on-one moves in attack have split France's defence open on a couple of occasions.
14:30
It wasn't necessarily spectacular but Hugo Bonnat has made a double save for France. However, Hungary's scoring pace is not slowing down. Indeed, with eight goals in the opening 11 minutes of the second half, their scoring pace has increased. Hungary lead 24:20.
14:18
Hugo Bonnat is starting the second half in goal for France.
14:10
The live ticker and match statistics page for this game between France and Hungary are currently available. We are working to resolve the problem.
14:09
HALF-TIME UPDATE: France 14:16 Hungary
A swift counter attack in the final 10 seconds pays off for France as Imanol Carrere reduces Hungary's half-time advantage to two goals.
Hungary twice had a four-goal lead in the first half – at 15:11 and 16:12.
14:03
For most of the first half, France have been in front by one or two goals. But as half-time approaches, Hungary now have a three-goal lead.
13:32
The 5-6 placement match between France and Hungary has just begun on EHFTV.
13:04
Here is Germany's Elias Scholtes finding the back of the net in the second half from approximately nine metres. Germany did not trail again in the match after this strike.
13:00
Tim Freihöfer and Thomas Arnoldsen have offered their thoughts after the 7-8 placement match.
"It was a little bit unlucky that we lost some games in the last minutes. Although we played a good tournament, we wanted more. We played a very good second half, had a great defence, and this was the key for the win," said Germany's Tim Freihöfer.
"They played better than us today. They have a very strong defence, and we couldn’t find solutions. We want to be number one in every competition, but we learned a lot, so we need to keep moving and wait for the World Championship next year,” said Denmark's Thomas Arnoldsen.
12:41
For their goalscoring exploits, Tim Freihöfer (eight goals) and Thomas Arnoldsen (10 goals) received the player of the match awards after the 7-8 placement match.
12:38
FULL-TIME: Denmark 27:32 Germany
Denmark's Thomas Arnoldsen finishes the 7-8 placement match with 10 goals, taking his tournament total to 54 goals, but Germany seal seventh place at the M20 EHF EURO 2022 with a five-goal win.
Arnoldsen will have to wait until after the final to find out if his 54 goals are enough for him to finish as the top scorer of the championship.
12:24
Despite being off balance, Matthes Langhoff scores a partial breakthrough attempt and extends Germany's lead to three goals (26:23) with eight minutes left.
12:15
Tim Freihöfer shooting from the seven-metre line was a regular feature of the first half. With 17 minutes played in the second half, Freihöfer hasn't had any more opportunities to increase his total of goals from penalties.
12:10
Just in case you need a guide on where to watch Sunday's matches in your country, here it is.
12:05
Julius Morch-Rasmussen converts a fast break opportunity to draw Denmark level at 19:19. Denmark are currently on a 3:0 run.
11:46
HALF-TIME UPDATE: Denmark 14:16 Germany
Denmark looked as though they were in the ascendancy when they led 10:8 after 19 minutes, but Germany have hit back to lead by two goals at the break.
After scoring six goals from six shots in the first half, Thomas Arnoldsen is now the competition's top scorer. However, Germany left wing Tim Freihöfer leads the scorers in this match. Freihöfer has eight goals from nine attempts – including four goals from five shots from the seven-metre line.
11:16
The EHFTV stream is now up and running for the Denmark vs Germany match!
11:11
We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with the EHFTV stream and are endeavouring to solve the problem. You can follow the EHF live ticker to stay up to speed with the Denmark vs Germany match.
10:45
A lot of eyes will on Denmark's Thomas Sommer Arnoldsen in this opening match. Arnoldsen has scored 44 goals and is currently the joint-third top scorer in the competition. If he scores four goals against Germany, he will overtake Mitja Janc and Francisco Mota da Costa at the top of the scoring chart – for now.
Of course, Slovenia's Mitja Janc has played his last match in this championship, but Francisco Mota da Costa will feature for Portugal in this evening's final, so Arnoldsen will almost certainly need to score more than four goals if is to finish the competition as the top scorer.
10:30
After Slovenia, Iceland, Poland and Norway finished their M20 EHF EURO 2022 campaigns with victories in Saturday's placement matches, Sunday's games will decide the final ranking for the top eight teams.
Intriguingly, the final and bronze medal match repeat clashes from earlier in the championship. Portugal beat Spain 36:35 in the preliminary round a week ago, and Serbia defeated Sweden 32:27 in the main round on Tuesday.
At 11:00 CEST, the action begins with the placement match for seventh place between Denmark and Germany.
Sunday's M20 EHF EURO 2022 schedule (all times CEST)
Placement match 7-8
Denmark vs Germany (11:00)
Placement match 5-6
France vs Hungary (13:30)
Bronze medal match
Sweden vs Serbia (15:30)
Final
Portugal vs Spain (18:00)
For a full preview of what lies ahead on Sunday in Portugal, click the link below.
