Men’s 18 EHF EURO hosts Croatia choose group with Serbia, Portugal and Israel

In August 2016, it was France that celebrated after an incredible final of the Men’s 18 EHF EURO, as they beat hosts Croatia 40:38. From August 9 to 19, 2018, Europe’s top 16 U18 teams will meet again, this time in Croatia – once more, in the cities of Koprivnica and Varazdin.

On Thursday, one day prior to the Men’s EHF EURO Semi-finals, Arena Zagreb was the setting for the draw event.

“Croatia is a long-lasting organiser of top handball events, and they will organise the Men’s 18 EHF EURO in the same perfect way as the Men’s EHF EURO,” EHF Vice President Predrag Boskovic (Montenegro) praised the current and future organisers.

As hosts, Croatia had the right to choose their preliminary round group at the draw, conducted by EHF Competition Manager Peter Sichelschmidt and Chairman of the EHF Competitions Commission Bozidar Djurkovic. U18 national team coach Boris Lisica selected Group A, in which the 2016 silver medallists will face their neighbours Serbia, Portugal and Israel.

Defending champions France were drawn into tough Group B with Denmark, Norway and Romania.

At the Men’s 18 EHF EURO, the two best teams in each of the four groups will qualify for the main round, while the remaining eight teams continue in the intermediate round.

Those are the groups for the Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia:
Group A: Croatia, Serbia, Portugal, Israel
Group B:  France, Denmark, Norway, Romania
Group C: Germany, Spain, Russia, Hungary
Group D: Slovenia, Iceland, Sweden, Poland

All matches will be played in Varazdin and Koprivnica.

Nations that did not qualify for the Men’s 18 EHF EURO will play the M18 European Championships, to be held in Austria and Georgia.