Dark horse Iceland hopes to make history at Beijing Olympic men's handball
21/8/2008 17:58
Iceland handball team will take on Spain in the semifinal of Beijing
Olympic men's handball event in Beijing tomorrow, and they will make history if
reaching the final.
Having taken part in Olympic handball tournaments for
five times, Iceland's best placing is the fourth in 1996 in Barcelona. Now, the
Icelanders have got the chance to make history in Beijing, only if they could
grab a win in either of the following two games to welcome their first-ever
Olympic handball medal, or maybe the first medal in Beijing Games for their
country.
"We don't have any medal plan in the Beijing Olympic Games, but we
have a very good handball team and I believe they will at least finish top
eight," said Chef de Mission of the Iceland Olympic delegation Einar
Thorvardarson in the Olympic Village two days before the opening of Beijing
Games.
The Iceland handball team did not turn their Chef de Mission down,
beating Athens bronze medallist Russia and world titlist Germany and tying with
African champ Egypt and European Champ Denmark in the round-robin
stage.
After entering the top eight clash, Iceland continued their solid form
and stunned Poland, runner-up of 2007 World Championship, 32-30 in the
quarterfinal.
The semifinal against Spain will be a rematch of the 7-8
placement in 2007 WC, when Iceland lost 36-40 to the Spanish. But the determined
Icelanders who have taken the whole country's medal hope on their back, will try
every means to seek revenge and give their nation a surprise.
The other
semifinal will be played between defending gold winner Croatia and France, the
third finisher in 2008 European Championship.
Xinhua
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