18. March 2025
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Netherlands – Faroe Islands 31-32 (15-15)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Torshavn–Germany-Almere: just four days after I saw the EHF Euro Qualification match between the Faroe Islands and the Netherlands, the Dutch were about to host the rematch. Topsportcentrum Almere hosted this match on the afternoon of 16th March 2025, for which 700 Faroese supporters were expected. After the stunning match in the Faroese capital, you could expect another close battle in the Netherlands. Apart from the home crowd, the Dutch hopes were based on the comeback of Luc Steins, who could not attend the match four days before. Here is my review from the fourth match day of Group 6 of the qualification tournament.

This posting comes with a section of 406 major size pictures in the sports galleries. 

 

Netherlands – Faroe Islands – Match Report

After the close battle on Wednesday, the match felt to take a similar story again in Almere. The Netherlands felt to have a slightly better momentum at the beginning, but finally none of the teams could really create a major gap in goals in the first half. However, there was a twenty minute period between the 8th and the 29th minute, in which the home team never made it to be in the lead. Vice versa, though, the Faroese lead was never higher than two goals. The guests typically went for their expected tactics, playing attacks without goalies, which lead to a few fast and easy goals for the Netherlands.

The match got a bit more hectic and nervous towards the end of the first half. The Serbian referees Vanja Antic and Jelena Jakovljevic also got a bit more into focus than they should have been. However, in the most drastic scene of the period, there was almost no discussion. With three seconds left to play, a rude attack by Samir Benghamen lead to a red card for the Dutch. Oli Mittun showed the skills which his team has proven four days ago already and finished the period with a buzzer-beating goal – the score after 30 minutes was tied, 15-15.

 

The Netherlands come back in the Second Half

It is always hard to argue whether the Faroe Islands had their best or the hosts had their weakest part of the match at the beginning of the second half. Regardless of that discussion, the Faroe Islands felt to be able to pull off a bit, leading for the first time by three goals in the 36th minute and even by four ones some five minutes later. The distance between the teams stayed in the range of some three goals for a while. However, the last ten minutes got more dramatic. When the Netherlands stole a Faroese pass and scored a goal into the empty net by Dani Baijens after 53 minutes, it was a close battle again with a one goal difference (27-28).

The Faroese held the lead, but especially Baijens and Niels Versteijnen found their way through the Faroese defense a couple of times. In the last minute, Mittun gave the Faroe Islands the 32-30, immediately followed by an quick reply netter by Versteijnen. The Faroese failed to convert their own attack, so that the Netherlands had 14 seconds left, ball in hand, to gain exactly the same result as these two teams had four days ago somewhere out in the Atlantic Ocean. However, the Faroese defense stood well and could prevent another shot on goal, so that the white-and-blue jersey fans could kick-off a big party overseas.

 

Netherlands – Faroe Islands – My View of the Match

This series of two matches had it all. In the crazy group 6, all four teams (including the Ukraine and Kosovo) still have good chances playing the EHF Euro 2026. With the two dramatic matches, the Faroe Islands are now having a slight advantage over their peers. Having two opposing (but very friendly) fan groups, the atmosphere in Almere was outstanding. Both teams, the Netherlands and the Faroe Islands, would add a lot to the upcoming tournament, on the sportive as well as on the atmospheric side. Let’s keep the fingers crossed for both of them (maybe a bit harder for the Nordics, sorry 😉 ). A bit on the negative side were the umpires this time, who definitely faced a difficult game, but were also not always lucky in their positioning and presence.

 

Netherlands – Faroe Islands – Lineups

Netherlands: 1 Bart Ravensbergen, 11 Jorick Pol – 3 Ivar Stavast, 5 Rutger ten Velde, 7 Robin Schoenaker, 10 Armando Besseling, 11 Jorick Pol, 13 Samir Benghanem, 14 Bobby Schagen, 17 Kaj Geenen, 20 Kaj Versteijnen, 21 Martijn Kleijkers, 22 Luc Steins, 23 Jorn Smits, 40 Robin Nagtegaal, 41 Jeromy van der Ban, 77 Dani Baijens

Faroe Islands: 1 Pauli Jacobsen, 22 Aleksandar Lacok – 4 Bjarni I Selvindi, 6 Leivur Mortensen, 7 Allan Nordberg, 8 Paetur Mikkjalsson, 9 Roi Berg Hansen, 17 Hakun West Av Teigum, 18 Rogvi Dal Christiansen, 24 Hallur Arason, 30 Trondur Mikkelsen, 47 Isak Vedelsbol, 71 Elias Ellefsen a Skipagotu, 75 Roi Ellefsen A Skipagotu, 78 Oli Mittun, 79 Teis Horn Rasmussen

 

Netherlands – Faroe Islands – Gallery

In the sports gallery, there is a designated major size picture gallery with 406 pictures of this match at

 

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