Macedonia secure last ticket for EURO 2014

Macedonia - Portugal 26:19 (14:10)

Temporarily the match was on the edge, but finally Macedonia clinched their third berth at an EHF EURO tournament following their participations in 1998 and 2010. Portugal showed great resistance - and a draw already would have been enough to see them progress. But thanks to the saves of goalkeeper Borko Ristovski and the better options in defence, Kiril Lazarov and his teammates made it to Denmark 2014. Macedonia were the team with the lowest number of overall points (6) to qualify in second rank for the EHF EURO, following two wins against Switzerland and the final victory against Portugal. Until the score stood at 20:17 the match was quite close, but then the host forged ahead, while Portugal lacked the power to stay in the game. At the latest at 24:18 the the match's winners were confirmed - and after the final whistle the spectators in the hall in Skopje went crazy and celebrate their handball heroes.