Portugal prepare for the World & European Wheelchair Handball Championship with four wins

Portugal’s wheelchair handball national team secured four wins in four matches in the friendly tournament in Portimão, which served as a preparation for the World & European Wheelchair Handball Championship. This six-a-side tournament will take place in Leiria, Portugal, between 16 and 20 November 2022.

Three teams took part in the competition that spanned over the weekend – with Portugal’s national team being joined by two club sides – French team Lyon Métropole Handfauteuil and Portuguese side CPSBM/Algarve.

Danilo Ferreira’s side swept their opponents, with each team playing against the other twice. Portugal won against Lyon Métropole Handfauteuil, 15:10 and 20:5, and secured two other wins against CPSBM/Algarve, 25:12 and 22:13.

The French side finished second, with two wins against CPSBM/Algarve, 18:10 and 19:9, as the Portuguese club team finished last in the standings, with four losses.

“We have scheduled that the games would be to give game time to players who normally play less. The aim was to try to reduce the difference in the international level of play, and that is what we were able to outline and implement and solidify the game model that we want Portugal to present in the future”, said Portugal’s coach Danilo Ferreira according to the official website of the Portuguese Handball Federation.

Portugal are one of the most decorated teams in wheelchair handball, having secured a medal in each of the previous four editions of the European Wheelchair Handball Nations Tournament.

They have secured gold in 2018, winning the final 20:8 against Croatia, with three other silver medals coming in 2015, 2016 and 2019, when they lost against Croatia and twice against Netherlands.

Photo: Mário Moreira