14.01.2014, 11:01
Spain, Iceland and Denmark through to main round

REVIEW: First three teams qualified for the EHF EURO 2014 Main Round with still one game to play, while two other matches ended up in draws

Spain, Iceland and Denmark through to main round

All goes to plan for the EHF EURO 2014 hosts so far. Denmark beat Austria 33:29 on Tuesday evening in  Herning's Group A and with four points out of two games they have already sealed the ticket to the main round. The sell-out crowd of 14,000 spectators in the Jyske Bank Boxen saw a clear affair in which the home favourites easily maintained a comfortable lead throughout the whole game.

Czech hopes were not completely dashed as an excellent performance of the veteran goalkeeper Petr Stochl combined with an eight-goal effort of Pavel Horak prevented their early exit despite conceding 12 goals from Macedonian star Kiril Lazarov. Filip Jicha could give his team even more satisfaction, but his potential game winner in the dying seconds of the match did not make it through the goal line (24:24).

Only one spot to the top 12 of the championship remained at stake in Aalborg's Group B as both Spain and Iceland secured their places in Herning's Group I. The reigning world champions from Spain had to come from behind in the second half to beat spirited Norway 27:25.

Their victory not only meant their promotion to the main round but also clinched a ticket for Iceland who emulated an epic quarter-final fight with Hungary from London Olympics. After a 27:27 draw the Nordic team had to wait for Spanish victory, while Hungarians kept their hopes alive. The direct match between Norway and Hungary will decide about who will move to Herning and who to travel home.

TEXT: EHF / br