Qualification Groups for the Men's EHF EURO 2014 drawn in Copenhagen

In total 39 men’s national teams in two qualification stages fight for 15 places at the EHF EURO 2014 played 12 - 26 January 2014 in Denmark.  On Friday evening the groups for the Qualification Phase 2 were drawn in Copenhagen on the fringes of the Secretary General meeting of all EHF member federations.

The draw was conducted by four famous men in handball: Heiner Brand (former German national team coach and current manager of the German national teams), Staffan Olsson (four times EHF EURO champion and current Swedish national team coach), Robert Hedin (EHF EURO champion with Sweden and current Norwegian men’s national team coach) and Morten Stig Christenssen (Secretary General of the Danish Handball Federation).

They were assisted by EHF General Secretary Michael Wiederer and Jan Tuik (Chairman of EHF Competitions Commission).

The result of the draw for the qualification groups:
Group 1: Spain, FYR Macedonia, Portugal, winner qualification tournament B
Group 2: Germany, Czech Republic, Montenegro, best ranked second team of Qualification Phase 1
Group 3: France, Norway, Lithuania, winner qualification tournament D
Group 4: Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, second best ranked second ranked team from Qualification Phase 1
Group 5: Poland, Sweden, Netherlands, winner of qualification tournament A
Group 6: Iceland, Slovenia, Belarus, winner of qualification tournament C
Group 7: Serbia, Austria, Russia, Bosnia Herzegovina

For the first time ever the defending champions are not directly qualified for the EHF EURO event – but host Denmark are EHF EURO 2012 champions, too.

The each first and second ranked teams qualify for the EHF EURO 2014.

Best third ranked team from all groups qualify for the EHF EURO 2014 (taking into account matches against first and second raked teams)

The matches of the Qualification Phase 1 will be played from 8 to 10 June in four tournaments with each four teams.

Playing dates for Qualification Phase 2:
Round 1: 31 October/1 November 2012
Round 2:  3-4 November 2012
Round 3: 3-4 April 2013
Round 4: 6-7 April 2013
Round 5: 12-13 June 2013
Round 6: 15/16 June 2013

For more information visit the Official EHF EURO 2014 Website at www.ehf-euro.com/DEN2014.

Photo: Jan Christensen