Portugal and Brazil have both made history by reaching the quarter-finals of the handball World Cup for the first time. Brazil triumphed over Sweden 27:24, with goalkeeper Rangel da Rosa earning player of the match honors. Portugal secured their spot by defeating Spain 35:29, led by Francisco Costa’s eight goals. In other matches, Egypt narrowly beat Slovenia 26:25, while Argentina celebrated their first win against Cape Verde, 30:26. Japan also claimed victory over Bahrain, 31:27.
Portugal and Brazil Make History in Handball World Cup
In a thrilling showdown within the fiercely contested main round group III, both Portugal and Brazil achieved an astonishing milestone on Friday, securing their spots in the quarter-finals of the handball World Cup for the very first time. The Portuguese team rejoiced in the exceptional performance of the Costa brothers, while Brazil celebrated their remarkable goalkeeper, Rangel da Rosa.
Da Rosa, with an impressive 20 saves and a remarkable 48 percent shot-stopping rate, was named the player of the match, playing a pivotal role in Brazil’s 27:24 (14:9) victory. The Scandinavian team faced challenges, notably a contentious red card issued to Felix Möller in the 24th minute, which hindered their ability to cope with the intense physical play of the Brazilians.
Even a subsequent red card against Brazil’s leading scorer, Bryan Monte, who netted four goals, could not rattle the Brazilian squad. After the Swedish team, led by Jim Gottfridsson, clawed back to a 17:18 score in the 45th minute, they quickly faltered, conceding five consecutive goals and appearing to lose their momentum.
Portugal’s Stellar Performance Against Spain
Portugal’s earlier match marked another historic achievement, as they secured their place in the top eight against Spain. The Spanish team, in dire need of a win, was missing their star backcourt duo, Alex and Daniel Dujshebaev, for most of the game. They only entered the fray towards the end of the first half when Portugal was narrowing an 8:12 deficit (20th minute). The Portuguese managed to rally back with a swift 5:1 run, concluding the first half trailing by just one goal at 15:16.
As the second half unfolded, Portugal struck again, capitalizing on a ten-minute scoring drought for Spain, which led to a 19:22 scoreline (43rd minute). Whenever the Spaniards found a chance to score, Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Marques was there to thwart their efforts, ultimately leading to a surprising 35:29 (15:16) win for Portugal. The standout performers included Francisco Costa with eight goals and Salvador Salvador with six. A win against Chile on Sunday would ensure Portugal’s group victory and a quarter-final match against Germany, while Brazil would face Denmark.
Egypt Eyes Quarter-Finals After Narrow Victory
In group IV of the main round, both Egypt and Slovenia were vying for a chance to advance to the quarter-finals, each having lost only once in the tournament. Egyptian center Seif El-Deraa showcased exemplary leadership throughout the first half, scoring five goals and guiding his team to a 16:14 halftime lead. The ‘Pharaohs’ maintained a two to three-goal advantage for most of the second half, but a last-minute technical error by the Slovenians cost them the chance to equalize. Egyptian victory solidified their chances of progressing further in the tournament, while Slovenia’s Blaž Janc, who scored eight goals, was named the match’s best player despite the 25:26 (14:16) loss.
Argentina Celebrates Their First Victory
In a clash of teams at the bottom of main round group IV, Argentina celebrated their first victory of the tournament, narrowly defeating Cape Verde 30:26 (14:14). Despite both teams lacking wins before this match, the South Americans managed to secure a vital win, leaving Cape Verde still searching for their first points. The standout player for Argentina was former Barcelona goalkeeper Leonel Maciel with 13 saves, while Délcio Pina shone for Cape Verde with ten goals.
Meanwhile, Japan faced Bahrain in the President’s Cup II, pulling off a surprise 31:27 (12:13) victory. Cuba came close to triumphing against the USA but fell just short, losing 26:27 (14:15).