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Handballers suffer European defeat

Switzerland's national handball team have been beaten in their second qualifying match for the 2002 European Championships. Arno Ehret's side lost their away game in Lithuania 26-16.

The defeat came just three days after the Swiss celebrated a deserved home win over the Lithuanians. But there was never any sign of that feat being repeated in the second match.

The hosts dominated Sunday’s game from the start and successfully contained Robbie Kostadinovich, the Swiss captain who had been the hero of Thursday’s opening match.

Despite the latest setback, Switzerland will be hoping to put their qualifying campaign back on track next weekend when they take on the minnows of their group, the Faroe Islands.

The Swiss team have agreed to having both matches played in the small Danish territory. After the trip to the Faroe Islands, Switzerland will face probably their hardest challenge of the qualifying process with two games in mid-January against former world champions Romania.

swissinfo with agencies

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR