Article by Ionuţ Coman – published Wednesday, 07 May 2025, 20:04 / Updated Wednesday, 07 May 2025 20:04
The tricolor handball players provide their presence at the 2026 European Championship, if they defeat tomorrow, May 8, in Constanța, representative of Portugal, from 7:00 pm (Direct Proarena and LiveText GSP).
The Romanian handball is in front of a crossroads. The tricolors coached by George Buricea have the chance to qualify for the European Championship in 2026, which will be hosted by three Nordic countries, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They still have to take a safe step, a very difficult one: a victory in front of Portugal, ranked 4th at the last edition of the World Championship.
A success in the game scheduled tomorrow, from 7:00 pm, in the Sports Hall in Constanța, would mean the presence at the final tournament in the position of occupant 3 in the 8th group. “We did all the possible and impossible calculations and, by two points, we are 99 percent qualified”, Explained the coach of the Romanian national.
George Buricea: “I feel we will make a big match”
In the last days, George Buricea's boys have prepared in the sea of the sea for the duel with the Lusitani and are not afraid of the opponent, nor the pressure of the result.
“The boys have been very involved in the few days since we met and I saw them eager to make a good result, because they would not let them pass such a chance you do not meet too many times alive“Said Buricea.
“We want to go to a European championship again, even if we play with one of the first four nationals in the world. They will not come up with all the players, but they have a very good team. I work better under pressure and I think the players have started handball for such matches. I have some of the experienced players, who have played many international matches, and do not overwhelm our emotions. I feel we will make a big match and the difference will make little details“, Added the 45 -year -old technician.
Coach George Buricea Photo: Imago Images
What the players say: “Let's give 200 percent!”
And the players are determined not to miss such a great chance. “If we have pressure, it means that the world, and we all believe that we can win. There is a lot of desire and it remains to put on the ground everything we have prepared. Taking into account the 50 extraordinary minutes of the tour there is a real chance at victory”, Confessed the pivot Călin Dedu.
“The power of the group can defeat any opponent. We are proud to play for Romania and we have to enter the field and win. It does not matter who is in front of us, that I come with the first or second team. We have one thing to do, to give 200 percent of as much as we can and to win. We can go to a European championship,”
The importance of the moment was emphasized by the president of the Romanian Handball Federation, Constantin from: “It is not just a match or a qualification, but more than that. About a reconstruction of Romanian handball and a regaining of the position that Romania deserves, among the most powerful forces in the world. I believe very much in this team!”.
Men's Handball national team at Constanta's: Facebook FR Handball
George Buricea: “Huge, this is the word!”
The optimism of the tricolors is also given by the match in the tour, when Romania has long been driving on the scoreboard, but finally gave up with 37-30. And on Thursday, Portugal, already qualified, will approach the match without many of the basic players.
“I made a lot of very good matches. We were told that we are missing something. It is true, we work on this, on details. In Portugal, 50 minutes I was over them, I think we also drove to a difference of 6 goals, but in the last 10 minutes we got off the tactical plane and there the difference was made”, The belly analyzed.
“In the near future, I will be able to solve that little something that we are missing and we will look better from match to match. I am not a long time to national, but I say that I have achieved a united group, who dies on the field to achieve good results.
I have never met the national of Portugal in Constanța. But, I played about four matches with Sporting, two with Benfica, one with Braga and Horta. I have not lost none and I hope history will repeat itself – George Buricea
The Hall of Constanța, sentimental choice
Even though the Sports Hall in Constanța does not appear in the best conditions and has a small capacity, it was designated as a host due to the public. Constans are great handball lovers, proof that the tickets have already been exhausted, and George Buricea and the internationals from CSM Constanța, who will leave the vice-champion at the end of the championship, want to say goodbye to the fans.
“I did not decide, but it was kept in mind that I am a coach in Constanța and most of the players are from here and I know the room well. If we do not stay at the SCM, we somehow deserve to say goodbye to a room and a victory and qualification at a European championship. A more beautiful gift that doesn't exist. It will be a very exciting moment for me”, George Buricea revealed
He said what would represent a qualification obtained at home: “It would mean enormously, this is the word. If you do your job in the true sense of the word and it is correct with it, you are rewarded”.
8th group ranking: 1. Portugal 7p, 2. Poland 4p, 3. Romania 3p, 4. Israel 2p.
Also in the Sports Hall in Constanța and also on Thursday, from 4:00 pm, Israel will meet Poland, in the other match of the group. Due to the situation in the Middle East, the first one has to dispute the matches on their own ground outside the country and chose to evolve in this round in Romania. There are also to be disputed in the last stage, scheduled on May 8: Poland – Romania and Portugal – Israel.
