Huge cheers in Berlin: Supported by 5,000 loud fans, the Faroe Islands celebrate a draw against favorites Norway – the end of a wild final phase.
By Robin Tillenburg (Berlin)
European Championship debutant Faroe Islands made an exclamation point at the European Handball Championship on Saturday (January 13, 2024) in a dramatic game that will be remembered for a long time. The Faroese played 26:26 (12:13) against Norway and made a huge impression on their European Championship debut, not only because of their passionate fans who entered the arena in Berlin, took over and made it shake.
Faroe Islands also sport at the highest level
In fact, the team also delivered a sporting performance on the plate that attracted every neutral fan in the hall to their side. It quickly became clear: This nation, which has just over 50,000 inhabitants, an estimated tenth of whom were in Berlin this Saturday, should also be a force to be reckoned with in the coming tournaments. By the way, opponent Norway has around a hundred times the population.
Led by the outstanding 21-year-old playmaker Elias Ellefsen a Skipagotu from THW Kiel, the Faroese put up a fierce fight against the highly favored Norwegians and, with goals that were partly beautifully played and partly hard-fought, but always loudly applauded, ensured a handball evening that will be remembered for a long time .
Goalkeeper Satchwell really strong
The Norwegians were never able to pull away in the first half. From the outsider’s point of view, the 12:13 at the break was absolutely in line with the balance of power, it was a game of equals. Goalkeeper Nicholas Satchwell also made sure of this, making some important saves after coming on as a substitute.
And things continued lively after the break: the Faroese’s first goal was a spectacular Kempa trick to make it 13:14 and Satchwell also got stronger and increasingly unnerved the Norwegian shooters. In the 40th minute, when the score was 17:17, Norway coach Jonas Wille saw his team’s expected success in serious danger and called a timeout. The outsider Sander Sagosen and Co. also caused enormous problems by playing with the additional seventh field player.
Brave fight and great drama
In the narrow defeat against Slovenia, the Faroese team’s fitness dropped a bit in the middle of the second half and, despite a strong performance, they ultimately lost 29:32 (13:13). This time there was no slump – supported by the fans, Danish coach Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen’s team repeatedly canceled out the Norwegian lead – but because the Norwegians constantly found gaps in the defense, the Faroese themselves were never ahead.
In the final minutes, the Norwegians’ individual class and great experience advantage became noticeable, but Skipagotu and Co. were unlucky with one or two referee decisions. At 23:26 with three minutes left, the game seemed to be decided. But the Faroese threw everything into it and the score was 25:26 25 seconds before the final whistle.
Of all people, two Kiel teammates decide the game
Then it got wild: With only eleven seconds left on the clock and Norway in possession of the ball, the experienced Kieler Harald Reinkind, of all people, had the ball stolen from him by 21-year-old THW teammate a Skipagotu. The Faroese would have been free on the way to the goal, but Reinkind held on to him – seven meters. A Skipagotu stayed cool and scored to make it 26:26 with three seconds left. The rest was drowned in deafening cheers over the Faroese’s first point at a major tournament.
The Faroese could theoretically even move into the main round with a clear win against Poland and a Norwegian defeat against Slovenia. Either way, the team is already one of the highlights of this tournament – and a promise for the future.