The Israeli team opened tonight (Wednesday) the pair of meetings against the Hungarian team, in the direct battle for a ticket to the world championships to be held next year in Sweden and Poland with a 33:32 loss.
After qualifying from the first stage of the tournament in Romania and the pair of victories against Lithuania - the challenge facing the team in the playoffs for promotion to the final tournament is in the form of a team that has been on the world top for many years, winning no less than 21 times .
The Israeli handball team against Hungary, Photo: Oren Aharoni
The Israeli handball team against Hungary, Photo: Oren Aharoni
Despite the level differences, Israel went up without feelings of inferiority to the game and pressed the gas from the opening it already led with three goals, when later managed to maintain the advantage, much thanks to Adir Cohen playing in the French league, who scored 6 goals in the first 30 minutes, and the half ended with 17: 18 to the trainees of Oleg Botenko.
The close game continued in the second half as well, when this time too Israel ran with three goals, but some loss of the ball brought Hungary back into the game, when in the end Israel lost by one goal, 33:32 and left a chance to advance to the championship.
The Israeli handball team against Hungary, Photo: Oren Aharoni
The Israeli handball team against Hungary, Photo: Oren Aharoni
Tomorrow (Thursday) the blue-and-whites will take off for Hungary, where they will hold Seder night and a connection has already been established with the Chabad House and the Jewish community in Budapest to assist in its editing.
The hope is of course to create a splash and make history, when Israel never managed to qualify for the prestigious final tournament, and participated in the European Championships only once in 2002, then finished in 14th place.
Conquered for Israel:
Adir Cohen 9, Yossi Apo 7, Yirmi Sidi 4, Snir Natzia 4, Amit Stellman 3, Yonatan Dayan 2, Yoav Lombroso 2 and Daniel Musindi 1.
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