Greece – Kosovo 26-25: Our national team has qualified for the second qualifying phase of the World Cup

The qualification for the second qualification phase of the 2023 World Cup sealed the men’s national handball team, which beat Kosovo in Heraklion with 26:25.

This is the first qualification that the blue and white team has received in the group process after eight years. Then it was about qualifying for the 2015 World Cup, where the route ended in the draw with the then FYROM.

Today the representation won the fourth victory in the same number of games in the qualifying group, mathematically secured one of the first two places and will claim first place in the remaining two games (Thursday with Belgium inside, Sunday with Turkey outside) Group. First, what will play a role in the upcoming draws and the leaderboard.

In the stadium of the gym “Dyo Aorakia” in Heraklion Ethniki got off to an explosive start in both the first and the second part against Kosovo, but the victory was very stressful in the end.

In the first half, Ethniki led 5: 1 in the 8th minute, the guests gradually balanced (8: 8) on 22, but with a good defense and Petros Bukovinas increased his home performance, the national players entered the dressing room with five goals Difference (14-9). In the second half, the national team did what they wanted on the field for eight minutes and led with a series of 5-0, 19-9. However, the follow-up was not proportionate. The Kosovo players, who knew they had their last chance to qualify, gave all their might and reduced to 23:21 in the 51st minute.

The national team’s mistakes returned to the guests to reduce to goal (23-22) in 54 ‘, but the Cretans brought the difference to +2 (24-22) in 55’. With a penalty from Dentai, Kosovo is reduced to 24-23 at 56:00. A minute later, Arambatzis gave Ethniki (25:23) breath, but Sampani reduced to 25:24 after a rebound. The Cretan made the 26-24 at 58:30 with a great goal from ten meters and stole the ball in the next phase. At 59:30 the national players were punished with liabilities and at 59:43 Tzuka reduced to 26-25, with the national players “gnawing” the time in the last attack and celebrating the qualification with the final horn.

Greece v Kosovo 26-25 (halftime 14-9)

Greece (Saravinas): Terletski, Kostakidis 2, Tzortzinis, Liapis 2, Mallios 5, Michailidis, Passias 1, Bukovinas, Karabourniotis 3, Dombris 1, Papazoglou, Kandilas 1, Papadionysiou 1, Kritos 4, Kalo 2.

Kosovo (Kerimi): Balkinovci, Tzupa, Dentai 6, D. Thairukai 3, Terziki, Muskolai, Kouni 5, Festim, Dr. Tahirukai 3, Champagne 2, Mursel, Ramosai 1, Mukoli, Gyuka 3, Zena, Zogai 2.

Referee: Gerletsky – Lambun (Poland). Two minutes: 6-5. Punishment: 3 / 4-3 / 4