Qualification for EHF EURO 2014 begins

Thirty eight nations will fight it out for just fifteen places at EHF EURO 2014 starting this weekend as the first phase of qualification begins across Europe.

The Final Tournament of the Men’s EHF European Championship will be played in Denmark from 13 to 27 January 2014, with only the host nation, Denmark, so far qualified for the event.

Competing in the first phase are 16 national teams, playing for just six berths in phase 2, where they will meet some of the big guns of European handball.

Phase 1 will be played in four, four-nation tournaments in Nicosia in Cyprus, Bari in Italy, Rishon Lezion in Israel and Mersin in Turkey, with the top team from each group, plus the two best ranked second-placed teams qualifying for the next phase.

The four groups are as follows:

Group A: Ukraine, Cyprus, Finland, Luxembourg

Group B: Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain

Group C: Romania, Israel, Belgium, Ireland

Group D: Estonia, Latvia, Turkey, Malta

For the complete schedule of matches, and results over the weekend, visit the EHF EURO 2014 competition and results page on the eurohandball.com website. Matches to be shown on television can be found on Hot on TV. Check local listings for further information.

Phase 2 will be played in a home and away format, seven groups of four teams in six qualification rounds, with the first rounds to be played at the end of October 2012.