Norway vs Portugal Prediction & Betting Tips - Euro Handball

Prediction published on 16/01/2024, 12:58  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 16/01/2024 at 13:59 in Euro Handball Predictions

Group II of the Main Round of the 2024 Men's European Handball Championships get underway on Wednesday afternoon. There are six teams in this group with the top two going into the knockout semi-finals. Norway are in fifth position and Portugal in sixth. Results against other qualified teams are carried forward but both of these teams begin this Main Round without any to their name. Nor do fourth placed Netherlands with Denmark, Sweden and Slovenia all on two points. Norway finished second behind Slovenia in Group D of the Preliminary Round. Their campaign got off to a good start with a win over Poland but they then were held to a draw by Faroe Islands. Their final group fixture saw them lose by a single goal to Slovenia. That was only their second loss in their last seven games. After this match, they take on the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.

Portugal are also playing catch-up after their second place finish behind Denmark in Group F of the Preliminary Round. Their championships began well with a couple of wins over Greece and the Czech Republic. That saw them qualified for the Main Round with a game to spare. It didn't go well against the Danes though and they were beaten by ten goals. Half time saw them only a couple of goals behind but Denmark overwhelmed them in the second half. That left them with no points to carry forward so it's an uphill task to secure a top two finish. They next play Slovenia, Sweden and the Netherlands. That qualification task is going to get more difficult as we predict a win for Norway in this match.