01.11.2012, 09:51
German disaster against Montenegro

2007 world champions lose their first ever EHF EURO qualification match on home soil, while France and Sweden take home victories

German disaster against Montenegro

Montenegro sensationally took home the points in Germany, causing the one and only major surprise in the first round of the Men’s EHF EURO 2014 qualification.

In the remaining two matches of this round on Thursday night the two Olympic finalists France (against Lithuania) and Sweden (against Ukraine) celebrated more or less clear victories.

Group 2:

Germany vs. Montenegro 27:31 (11:17)

Brilliant Montenegrins, poor Germans: For the first time since the EHF EURO qualification is played in a group formata, Germany have lost a qualification match on home ground.

And the 27:31 against a bravely fighting Montenegro did not even reflect the rundown of the match, as the guests were away by eight goals at 28:20 eight minutes before the final buzzer.

The German catch-up chase came much to late – and also their series in the SAP Arena in the city of Mannheim came to an end, as they had won all matches in this arena before.

The Balkan team showed an outstanding performance for more than 50 minutes, leaving the Germans behind with no ideas and no passion – and no lead or levelled result in the whole match.

Backed by goalkeeper Rade Mijatovic, who saved 14 shots in the first 30 minutes and 24 in total, Montenegro had no respect for the host, which needed eleven minutes to score two goals.

First, thanks to the counter-attacks of Fehrudin Melic and later because of the easy jump shot goals of Vasko Sevaljevic and Drasko Mrvaljevic (top scorer with eight goals), the Montenegrins constantly extended the margin to six goals at the break.

Both German goalkeepers – Silvio Heinevetter and Carsten Lichtlein – had a day to forget, as on the other side their teammates did not find any means to break through Montenegro's aggressive defence.

Who thought that the German resistance would start after the break, was completely wrong. As their defence was far away from their opponents, Montenegro did not have any problems to increase the lead to first seven, then eight goals.

Only line player Patrick Wiencek played to his regular standard in the German team, scoring six times.

After eliminating Sweden in the World Championship qualification, Montenegro caused the next major upset in men’s handball after winning Olympic silver and the EHF Champions League with their women’s teams.

Germany are now on the bottom of their group, while Montenegro have the huge change to make a big leap towards the qualification for the final tournament if they beat the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Group 3:

France vs. Lithuania 27:18 (14:11)

Though he was nominated as a late replacement by coach Claude Onesta, Nikola Karabatic was not among those 16 players for the match against Lithuania, but maybe will get his chance against Turkey on Sunday.

Instead and after his great performances in the VELUX EHF Champions League for MAHB Montpellier, Matthieu Grebille gave his debut in the French team.

But his team was not able to shake up the opponents until minute 26 when the score stood at 10:9. But a time-out woke them up – it was the call to extend the gap to three goals at the break. But still “les bleus” did not find their rhythm in their attack.

But flying on the wings of Matthieu Grebille, who started his scoring machine with the start of the second half, France left the Lithuanians behind - even defender Didier Dinart, who rarely crosses the middle line, netted for France.

The host switched to 'express mode' from minute 42 on, outdistancing their opponent and were on the road to victory at the latest when the score was 22:15 in minute 49.

Top scorer was Guillaume Joli with five goals, while debutant Grebille hit the net four times. Aidenas Malasinskas stroke three times for the Lithuanians.

Group 5:

Sweden vs. Ukraine 27:23 (14:11)

Thanks to Niklas Ekberg, top scorer of the Olympic Games in London, and Andreas Nilsson, Sweden took home a victory, which looks closer than it was. The host were in the lead throughout the entire match, but could not forge ahead more as they could not avoid the Ukrainian back court goals.

The host had to replace both top defenders Magnus Jernemyr and Tobias Karlsson due to injuries.

Group 1:

Spain vs. Portugal 34:20 (16:9)

The Spanish men’s team unlucky elimination at the London Olympic Games' quarter-finals against France has now been forgotten - by beating Portugal 34:20 (16:9) on Thursday afternoon in the opener of their EHF EURO 2014 qualification campaign, they made the 5722 spectators in Seville jump with joy.

The key to success was the opening stage and the whole first half, when the rock-solid defence including outstanding goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik only allowed nine goals.

Spain had started with a 6:2 lead and put enormous pressure on Portugal. Especially their ever dangerous counter-attacks by wings Alberto Rocas or Viktor Tomas really hurt the Portuguese, punishing every mistake with a goal – so the half-time result already stood at 16:9.

And the gap increased constantly to exactly double the half-time margin – 14 goals in the end – as Portugal resigned very early and Spain kept their speed and precision high, although coach Valero Rivera started a huge rotation after the break.

Apart from Sterbik and young Angel Montoro, Alberto Entrerrios set the biggest signs after the experienced back court player had not been nominated for the Olympic Games.

Together with Rocas he became Spanish top scorer with six goals, Bruno Moreira netted four times for the Portuguese team.

Round 2 of the EHF EURO 2012 qualification on Saturday and Sunday:

Group 1:

Switzerland vs. Spain - 4 Nov, 16:00 hrs. local time in Schaffhausen

Portugal vs. Fyr Macedonia - 4 Nov, 17:00 hrs. local time in Espinho

Group 2:

Montenegro vs. Czech Republic - 4 Nov, 17:00 hrs. local time in Bar

Israel vs. Germany - 4 Nov, 19:45 hrs. local time in Rishon Le Zion

Group 3:

Lithuania vs. Norway - 4 Nov, 16:15 hrs. local time in Kaunas

Turkey vs. France - 4 Nov, 19:00 hrs. local time in Mersin

Group 4:

Latvia vs. Croatia - 3 Nov, 19:05 hrs. local time in Dobele

Slovakia vs. Hungary - 4 Nov, 17:00 hrs. local time in Presov

Group 5:

Netherlands vs. Sweden - 3 Nov, 19:30 hrs. local time in Almere

Ukraine vs. Poland - 4 Nov, 17:00 hrs. local time in Zaporozhye

Group 6:

Belarus vs. Slovenia - 4 Nov, 14:00 hrs. local time in Minsk

Romania vs. Iceland - 4 Nov, 16:00 hrs local time in Piatra Neamt

Group 7:

Bosnia Herzegovina vs. Serbia - 4 Nov, 17:00 hrs local time in Sarajevo

Russia vs. Austria - 4 Nov, 17:00 hrs local time in Perm

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ts