Israel Stuns Slovenia in Handball Upset, Hailed as 'Decade's Sensation'
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
The Israeli national handball team secured a stunning 31-28 away victory against Slovenia in the Euro 2028 qualifiers. Hailed as the "sensation of the decade" by some outlets, the win has revitalized Israel's qualification hopes. Slovenia's coach cited numerous errors and a key Israeli run as reasons for the unexpected loss.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's national handball team achieved a major 31-28 upset victory over Slovenia.
- The win was called the "sensation of the decade" by Montenegrin media.
- Slovenia is a strong handball nation, having won a World Championship bronze medal.
- The victory significantly boosts Israel's chances in the Euro 2028 qualifiers.
- Slovenian media and coach expressed shock and disappointment following the loss.
The Israeli national handball team achieved a monumental 31-28 victory over Slovenia on Saturday, a result that has sent shockwaves across Europe and earned Israel widespread acclaim. Prominent sports outlets, including Spain's "El Mundo Deportivo," have highlighted the win as a major upset, with the European Handball Federation's official website labeling it the "biggest surprise" of the Euro 2028 qualifiers thus far. Montenegrin media went further, calling it the "sensation of the decade" given Slovenia's strong international pedigree.
Slovenia is a regular participant in major tournaments, having won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championship and reaching the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics. Prior to this match, Slovenia had won all six previous encounters against Israel. The Israeli team's victory, achieved on Slovenian soil, marks a significant achievement and revitalizes their hopes for qualifying for the Euro 2028 tournament, especially after an initial loss to the Czech Republic.
Slovenian media struggled to process the defeat, with "Delo" calling it a "black day for Slovenian handball." "Ekipa" described the Slovenian players as "pale and uninspired," lacking clear direction and appearing "like zombies" in the second half, allowing Israel to capitalize on their momentum. Coach Uroš Zorman expressed his disappointment, citing numerous mistakes and missed opportunities in the first half, and a critical 5-0 run by Israel early in the second half that they could not recover from.
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