Up to 2000 Norwegians may travel in vain to Paris for the Handball EM at the weekend.
“About 80 from the ‘Handball Friends’ were booked to go to Paris. It will be a great disappointment if Norway will not play there. I think now it will be a miracle if Norway goes to semifinals, “says Sigvard Magelssen in the Handball Friends to NTB.
He has already received inquiries about possible cancellations.
Several Norwegian handball teams booked early trips based on Norway’s semi-final on Friday, and final on Sunday.
In addition, many representatives from the Norwegian Handball Federation, sponsors and family members to Norwegian players are due to travel to the French capital.
After the NTB experience, well over 2000 Norwegians will have tickets for the final weekend. The Bercy Hall seats up to 18,000 spectators.
Rare
If Norway does not go to semifinals, it will only be the second time in the 15 most recent championships.
In the 2013 World Cup, the Norwegian team lost the quarterfinals against Serbia. Previous loss was in 2005 World Cup (Norwegian ninth place).
Norway meets the Netherlands on Tuesday and Spain on Wednesday. Four Norwegian points and “help” from other results are required to provide Norwegian advancement.
If Norway becomes number three , they are expected to play for the 5th place Friday afternoon. This is played in Paris.
These matches remain in Norway’s group for the main round : Tuesday: Spain – Romania at 18.00, The Netherlands – Norway at 21.00.
Wednesday: Spain – Norway at 15.45, Hungary – Romania at 18.00, Netherlands – Germany at 21.00.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
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