Macedonians shock Swiss at Men’s 18 EHF Championship

It has been a week full of narrow victories and minor upsets at the Men’s 18 EHF Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Group 1

After winning their first two matches with ease, Switzerland found the going a lot tougher among the top four sides in Group 1

The Swiss overcame Faroe Islands and Luxembourg by narrow margins, but FYR Macedonia got the better of their group decider on Tuesday.

The Macedonians’ 32:31 victory was true to form for them as all five of their matches were close contests.

Luxembourg’s 26:25 loss to Switzerland consigned them to third place, ahead of Faroe Islands, Estonia and Lithuania.

Group 2

Italy dominated an otherwise tight Group 2, where just two points separated second to fifth place.

Conceding an average of just 20 goals per match sent the Italians on their way to the semi-finals, joined by Belarus, who bounced back well from their loss to Georgia to convincingly beat Finland, 35:19, and jump into second place.

Home side Georgia fell just short of a semi-final berth, due to a 24:19 loss to Greece, who lost the rest of their matches and finished bottom of the group.

Final weekend

Saturday evening’s semi-finals open with a clash between neighbours Switzerland and Italy, followed by FYR Macedonia taking on Belarus.

Saturday 18 August (all times local – CEST)
Cross matches 9-11 place
11:00 hrs – Lithuania vs Greece

Cross matches 5-8 place
13:00 hrs – Faroe Islands vs Georgia
15:00 hrs – Luxembourg vs Finland

Semi-finals
17:00 hrs – Switzerland vs Italy
19:15 hrs – FYR Macedonia vs Belarus

Follow the Men’s 18 EHF Championship in Georgia

Official website: http://www.2018tbilisi.com/
Playing schedule: http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/01-02/18/men/2018/round/1/Championship+-+GEO
ehfTV: https://www.ehftv.com/int/league/men-s-18-ehf-championship-2018-georgia/795