Quotes from the Women's EHF EURO Final Tournament Draw

Some tough groups for the Women's EHF EURO 2014 were drawn in Zagreb on Thursday. In Group A hosts Hungary face Spain, Russia and Poland.

In Group B Norway play Denmark, Romania and Ukraine. In Group C Sweden will meet Germany, hosts Croatia and Netherlands.

Defending champions Montenegro were drawn to Group D alongside Serbia, France and Slovakia.

Here is what coaches and players said after the draw

Andras Nemeth - Hungary head coach

On being drawn to Group A alongside Spain, Russia and Poland:

"We got the strongest possible opponent from the fourth pot (Poland). Spain and Russia are real powerhouses, who are not at their peak period but have excellent players to lead them back to the game.

"The road to the semi-final seems to be an adventurous one as Norway and Romania play in Debrecen, too."

Viktoria Soos - Hungary right back

On the draw:

"There are no easy games at a European Championship but with the help of our great fans we are obliged to reach the semi-final on home turf."

Dragan Adzic - Montenegro head coach

On being in drawn in Group D in the preliminary round alongside Serbia, France and Slovakia:

"France defeated us at the last World Championship in Serbia, while Serbia are a very strong team, who's always motivated when they play against us."

"We also had a difficult group at EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia (Romania, Russia, Iceland), but we managed to be ready and to play best when it was most needed. I believe that we will be ready to play well from the start and for the game with Serbia."

On the possibility of playing again for the title at the 2014 event:

"It will be hard in the main round. With Croatia we have the most negative head-to-head stats of all European teams. Sweden were drawn from the first pot, which speaks for itselfs about their strength. We expect to face only serious teams in the Main Round."

"We have to play well in order to reach the hall in Budapest, where with Buducnost we played this years's EHF Champions FINAL4."

"It's essential that the girls train well and stay healthy. The experience we had from last year's World Championships and the previous two EHF EURO will help us to be better than in the last event (they bowed out in the Last 16 at the World Championship 2013)."

Katarina Bulatovic - Montenegro right back

On the opponents in the preliminary round:

"Is not desirable to say that we wanted this or that opponent in the group. We have a tough group. It will be hard from the start. But, if we want to be the best, we must beat the best."

Alain Portes - France head coach

On being drawn in Group D with Serbia, Montenegro and Slovakia:

"I knew before the draw there would be no easy group, but I could hardly have been worse!

"It will be a very hard task for us to get out of this group. Montenegro and Serbia appear to be the two main opponents at the first glance, but Slovakia caused us some problems last week, and if we're having a bad day, they could again bother us.

"I think facing such a tough first phase will be good for us, we'll have to be in the competition right from the beginning."

Helle Thomsen – Sweden national team coach

On meeting Germany, Croatia and Netherlands in the preliminary round:

"Those are three good teams, but then that would more or less have been the case no matter whom we had been drawn against.

"I do think however, that the Netherlands is a tough opponent from Pot 4, but as I always say, if you want to get far in a tournament, you have to be able to defeat the teams you run into. The draw could have been better, but it cold also have been worse."

On playing in Croatia against one of the hosting nations:

"I think it will be cool to play one of the hosts in their own country. Of course, it will always be difficult to play against a team who is on home ground, but it also means that there will be a lot of atmosphere and a lot of attention around the match."

Jan Pytlick - head coach Denmark

On meeting Norway, Romania and Ukraine in the preliminary round:

"This will be a tournament where virtually all teams can beat each other, so it didn't matter a lot to us, whom we were drawn against. I expect this EURO to be a super championship, if you look at the teams who are there."

"We know Norway very well. I annoys me a bit that we are meeting them twice in our preparation matches, but of course, that will mean that we know their way of playing even better."

“Romania still have a strong team, and they will have some kind of home advantage, as Debrecen, where our group is being played, is close to the Romanian border, but that will just improve the atmosphere."

“Ukraine is a team we have just met in our qualification matches, so we also know them very well.

"All in all I am simply looking forward to the tournament.”

Camilla Herrem - Norway left wing

On meeting Denmark, Romania and Ukraine in the preliminary round:

"All the groups are tough, so it did not really matter which group we ended in. However, it is always fun to meet Denmark, whom we know very well."

"We also know Romania, whom we defeated twice in our qualification group, but anything can happen at a final tournament, so we definitely have to watch out for them too."

"I do not know Ukraine all that well, apart from some of their players, but that fact that they have qualified indicated that they will be a tough opponent too."

Jorge Duenas - Spanish head coach

On being drawn in a preliminary round group with Hungary, Russia and Poland:

"I wanted to avoid Russia, Poland and avoid the hosts and the draw gives us all three. It was a very difficult and strong draw for us."

"In the main round we will play against Norway or Denmark. They are not easy opponents and everything depends on in what kind of shape we will arrive at the EHF EURO."

On his expectations:

“We should not think about medals. We want to go on top of the group and get the maximum points."

Heine Jensen - German head coach

On being drawn in a preliminary round group with Sweden, Croatia and Netherlands:

"Sweden are strong, Croatia can count on their home advantage and also against the Dutch team we need a top performance to be successful." 

"In all those games we can win or we can lose. It is our first goal to proceed to the main round, with the highest possible number of points.

"It is a challenge, but we are looking forward to it. In general, all groups at an EHF EURO event are, there is no weak team."