Europe draw for U21 World Championship qualifications

Slovenia, third ranked at the 2012 Men's 20 European Championship in Turkey, will face Iceland, Netherlands and Ukraine on their route to qualify for the 2013 Men's U21 World Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Seven European qualification groups with four teams each were drawn on Friday, 21 September, at the European Handball Federation in Vienna, Austria.

The draw was made by Chairman of the Competitions Commission Leopold Kalin and EHF Secretary General Michael Wiederer.

The organisation right for the respective qualification groups were also drawn on Friday.

The draw was made with first right to row four, second right to row three, third to row one and fourth to row two. However, because Ukraine, Belgium, and Italy already organised three of the 2011 Men's U21 World Championship qualification groups, the first right to organise Group 1 went to the Netherlands, Group 2 to Hungary, Group 6 to Belarus.

The first organisation right for Group 3 went to Greece, Group 4 to Austria, Group 5 to Estonia and Group 7 to Romania.

Three nations have already qualified: the event’s host Bosnia and Herzegovina, the winners of the 2012 Men’s 20 European Championship, Spain, and runners up, Croatia.

Nine teams overall will qualify from the Qualification stage. Two teams each will qualify from Group 1 and 2, one team will qualify from Groups 3 to 7.

The U21 World Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina take place from 14 to 28 July 2013.

The playing dates for the Qualification Europe are 4 to 6 January 2013.    

The complete results of the draw are as follows:

Group 1: Slovenia, Iceland, Netherlands, Ukraine

Group 2: Sweden, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium

Group 3: Denmark, Serbia, Slovakia, Greece 

Group 4: Germany, Czech Republic, Finland, Austria

Group 5: Norway, France, Montenegro, Estonia 

Group 6: Switzerland, Poland, Belarus, Italy 

Group 7: Russia, Turkey, Israel, Romania