Defending champions Spain missed out on reaching the semi-finals of the European Handball Championships in Hungary and Slovakia.
The reigning champion lost to Norway 23:27 (11:14) on Sunday evening in Bratislava and suffered the first European Championship defeat after 17 victories in a row across tournaments.
The main round group 2, in which Germany after 21:25 against Sweden no longer has a chance of progressing, is now heading for an exciting final in the fight for participation in the medal games in Budapest. Both the Spaniards and Vice World Champions Sweden and Norway have 6:2 points before the last matchday.
While Sweden and Norway meet in a direct duel on Tuesday (8:30 p.m.), the Spaniards will face Poland a few hours earlier (3:30 p.m.).
In the first game of the day in the Slovak capital on Sunday, the Poles missed the chance of winning the first round of the main round by beating Russia 29:29 (13:12). Poland and Russia, the last group opponents of the DHB team on Tuesday (6 p.m. / ZDF), no longer have a chance of making it into the semifinals.
The spectators in Bratislava experienced a strange final phase in the game between Poland and Russia. After a red card against Petkovic 12 seconds before the end, the Poles played outnumbered and two seconds before the end they took the lead through Michal Daszek’s sixth goal. Russia then called the time-out and actually equalized with a long-range throw from Sergei Kosorotow.
For Norway, Sebastian Barthold was the most successful thrower with six goals. The last time the Scandinavians, who were coached by ex-Bundesliga coach Christian Berge, was able to win a European Championship game against Spain was in 1998.