Our handball players will face Hungary in the return match away from home and to win the ticket you need to beat the opponents with a difference of more than 7 goals.
“I am satisfied with the combativeness of the men and the way they behaved on the field,” Gintaras Savukynas, the strategist of the national team, testified after the lost match. – With such a composition and knowing the capabilities of our opponents, we fought today, unlike the previous qualifying round, when we lost both matches by a large margin and had no chances. Yes, we let them go in the second half, but that’s the reality of our team today.”
The team coached by Gintaras Savukyns gave the initiative to the Hungarians at the end of the first half and went to rest trailing 11:13. Although the Lithuanians had reduced the deficit to 14:15 in the second half, the guests ran away in five minutes and ran away 20:14.
In the middle of the half, the Hungarians, who started to dominate in the Vilnius Arena, took a 27:18 lead, and with 10 minutes left in the match. the difference was 30:21. In the end, the Lithuanians narrowed the gap a little, but they did not avoid a clear defeat.
“I think we are not satisfied with this result. But the game and the fight are satisfying, – said the best handball player in the country, Aiden Malašinskas, who scored 5 goals. – It is nice that certain conclusions have been drawn after the defeats of the previous qualifying round. Then there was a much more terrible picture. But even this time it was difficult to hold on against a stronger opponent.
We can leave with our heads held high, but we are hardly satisfied with the result. What will happen in Hungary? Our only mission there will be to fight and show character.
We understand that the mission to defeat there is almost impossible. Now we will prepare for future fights – luck with the European selection draw, we will think about that.”
The Hungarian national team is a solid European handball player, very rarely stumbling in the selection of the world or European championships.
The Hungarians have not missed a single European championship since 2004, and have missed the world championships only three times this century (2001, 2005 and 2015), and won a ticket to the Paris Olympics this year.
Lithuanian and Hungarian handball players played in one selection group of the last European Championships. In the fall of 2022 and the spring of 2023, the Hungarians defeated the Lithuanians both times, 36:23 (in Ėerd) and 46:31 (in Klaipėda).
In total, these teams played ten official matches. The Lithuanian national team won two victories, but they won both times in the last century. The victories were achieved in Kaunas in October 1993 (23:20) and in October 1996 (28:25).
– What was the most pleasant surprise of this match? – the national team coach G. Savukynas was asked.
– It is gratifying that the men “digested” what we want from them on the field in a short time. It is nice that those faces who were supposed to lead the national team forward, led it. The result is not in our favor, but it is nice that there was a fight.
– In the second half, did differences in skill or lack of physical strength become apparent?
– Both parts. Look at the composition list of the rival team and where they play, you will understand that the preparation there is much better and at a high level. Let’s not forget that Hungary is ranked fifth in Europe.
– What needs to be improved before Sunday’s match in Hungary?
– You just need to analyze the mistakes and “make” many more good moments on the field than today. We were “shot” in the middle today, so that work needs to be fixed.
– Are you an optimist? Do you believe that Hungary will be able to get revenge with more than 7 goals?
– I am a realist. Although I am an optimist… But in this case – a realist. Seven goals is quite a difference. And knowing the information about the opponent and his forces – we have what we have…
But I’m glad we fought today and weren’t beaten. Knowing the result of the match between Iceland and Estonia, where the former won 50-25, we played very respectably.
Tags: mission defeat impossible
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