RETURN TO THE COMPETITION 18 YEARS AFTER THE LAST PARTICIPATION
Portuguese handball coach Paulo Pereira believes that Portugal can win a medal at the 2021 World Cup, although he admits that it is a „very difficult“ goal, for the national team to return to the competition 18 years after the last participation.
The goal we have for this World Cup is to get to the podium. For many, it may be crazy, but we believe that it is possible to at least set ourselves that goal and we will follow it, „said Paulo Pereira, quoted by the Portuguese Handball Federation (FPA), in a preview of the competition draw, which takes place today. “We know it’s very difficult, but we also know we can. Let’s mix the two and it’s almost mandatory to say that’s the main goal. “
Portugal’s best result so far at the World Championships was 12th place in 2003, and at the last European Championship (2020), the Portuguese team reached the sixth place, thus improving its best placement – seventh place from the year 2000. Paulo Pereira says Portugal’s goals „will not change with the outcome of the draw“ taking place on the plateau of the pyramids at Giza in Egypt.
The selection of Portugal is placed in the pot of 1 foal, thus avoiding some of the main favorites, such as Germany, Croatia, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Norway and Sweden.
It’s always better to be in pot 1 than in someone below, but we’ve worked hard to make that happen. We hope that we will be able to maintain the placement we had at the European Championship and in the qualifications for it, and if that is the case, we will certainly make a good championship, „says the coach.
Today’s draw is from 19-21h (local time) https://www.handballegypt2021.com
