Women’s 2011 Beach Handball EURO reaches Main Round

The third match day at the 2011 European Beach Handball Championships saw the conclusion of the Preliminary Round in the women’s tournament. It was played in a Round Robin system with two groups of seven teams each.

The teams ranked on places 1-4 will go through to the Main Round, where they are put into two groups of four teams each, and will play two matches against the two opponents coming from the other Preliminary Round group.

The teams ranked 5-7 continue the tournament in the Placement Round 9-14 to play three matches against the three opponents coming from the other Preliminary Round group.

GROUP A

Like in the men’s tournament, host nation Croatia managed to attract the crowds and impress with formidable game-play. In their last game they taught their strongest opponents Spain a lesson. By that they secured group victory and sent Spain – who were leading the group table for a long time – to second place. Title defenders Italy lost against those two teams but triumphed in their other four matches and went through to the Main Round without big struggle. Both the teams of Poland and FYR Macedonia left a good impression in their games, and ended up with six points each – but Poland deservedly ended up in the better spot, after their direct duel ended with a straight 2:0 victory over FYR Macedonia, which takes Poland to the Main Round. Furthermore it was Serbia’s 2:1 victory over Switzerland, who decided the last two places in the group.

Group A Final Standings
1.Croatia
2.Spain
3.Italy
4.Poland
5.FYR Macedonia
6.Serbia
7.Switzerland

GROUP B

Also in Group B the final standings were very close. Hungary won the group with five victories and just one loss in their opener against world champions Norway. The world champions from Scandinavia secured third place in the group and qualified for Main Round but are happy the take two points from the victory over Hungary with them. Denmark also had eight points like their Scandinavian fellows and landed on second place after four victories and two defeats against Hungary and the Ukraine. The last ticket to the Main Round was taken by the Turkish team who took advantage of the Ukraine’s thriller defeat against Norway and their own victory over Greece in their last match. The Greek and the team from Cyprus landed on places 6 and 7 and go to the Placement Round.

Group B Final Standings
1.Hungary
2.Denmark
3.Norway
4.Turkey
5.Ukraine
6.Cyprus
7.Greece

Main Round

GROUP 1
1. Croatia
2. Denmark
3. Italy
4. Turkey

GROUP 2
1. Hungary
2. Spain
3. Norway
4. Poland

Placement Round 9-14

1. FYR Macedonia
2. Ukraine
3. Serbia
4. Cyprus
5. Switzerland
6. Greece

Find all results of the Women’s 2011 European Beach Handball Championship here.

Find photos and more info on the Official Event Website
http://www.ebhc2011.com/