17.12.2013, 09:16
EHF EURO 2014 squad lists by the numbers

NEWS REPORT: eurohandball.com had a closer look at the players that have been nominated for the Men's EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark

EHF EURO 2014 squad lists by the numbers

With less than one month to until Men's EHF EURO 2014 throws in Denmark (12 to 26 January) eurohandball.com has taken a closer look at the official squad lists that have been submitted by the 16 partcipating federations.

The 16 teams have nominated 447 players in total. All teams but FYR Macedonia went for the maximum of 28 players, whereas FYR Macedonia nominated 27.

However, some head coaches have already chosen a smaller core group of players out of which they will nominate their final EHF EURO team.

The players listed in the official squad list are the only players eligible to participate in the EHF EURO 2014. Changes or insertions of players in the official squad list at a later stage are not permitted.

France can boast themselves of having the most capped player in their squad. Head coach Claude Onesta still hopes for the return of Jerome Fernandez, who is still recovering from a right hand injury he sustained earlier this year.

Fernandez has taken to the court a record 357 times - more than any other player nominated for the EHF EURO -, scoring 1,388 goals along the way.

In terms of international goals he is only topped by Iceland's Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (pictured above) who netted 1483 times in his international career.

Iceland is also one of the most experienced squads with all 28 players counting for 2170 internationals. Only Hungary's players have more as they bring their team's tally up to 2268.

At 34 years the aforementioned left wing Sigurdsson, who goes into his eighth European Championship, is by far not the oldest player among the 447 nominated.

This accolade goes to Belarusian goalkeeper Kazimir Kotlinski who was born on 12 April 1974 and is therefore 39 years old. Only slightly younger is Russian goalkeeper Igor Levshin who was born on 18 August 1974.

The exact opposite is also a goalkeeper. Norway's Torbjorn Sitturp Bergerud was born on 16 July and is the youngfest player of all on the official squad list.

The title 'heaviest player' also goes to a goalkeeper as Serbian Strahinja Milic weighs 135 kilograms.

The lightest player is Tobias Schopf from Austria who is listed with just 67 kilos. The left wing is also the smallest player at 1,70 metres.

The tallest is right back Marko Kopljar from Croatia with his 2,10 metres.

There are several players celebrating their birthday during the EHF EURO. However, if Lovro Sprem is among the 16 players selected by Croatian head coach Slavko Goluza, he has an extra incentice to make it to the final, as the 26 January also marks his 24th birthday.

TEXT: EHF / ts