31.05.2013, 09:57
The spotlight is on the duel of the Olympic quarter-finalists

European play-offs for the 2013 Women's World Championship in Serbia throw off on 1 and 2 June. Follow the matches via the EHF's designated live ticker

The spotlight is on the duel of the Olympic quarter-finalists

Four European teams are already qualified for the 2013 Women’s World Championship in Serbia, eight more will follow. Who those eight teams are, will be decided in the European play-off matches which take place on 1 and 2 as well as on 8 and 9 June.

Handball fans have the chance to follow the matches via the European Handball Federation's designated live ticker.

Hosts, Serbia, and defending champions, Norway, had booked the first two tickets, followed by EHF EURO 2012 champions, Montenegro, and EHF EURO 2012 bronze medallists, Hungary.

The 16 teams which will face off over the next two weekends have either been part of the EHF EURO 2012 or made it to the play-off stage by winning  pre-qualification tournaments.

Definitely one quarter-finalist of the 2012 Olympic Games will miss the World Championship in Serbia (7 to 22 December 2011), as 2011 World Championship silver medallists, France, will face Croatia.

2011 World Championship bronze medallists, Spain, play their play-off encounter against FYR Macedonia, while 2011 World Championship semi-finalists, Denmark, are the favourite against Turkey.

The draw for the preliminary round groups of the World Championship (played in Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad and Zrenjanin) will take place on 15 June 2013 in Belgrade.

An overview of all play-off matches is available on eurohandball.com.

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ts