13.08.2014, 11:56
Home team dream of the Main Round

INTERVIEW: Poland coach Rafal Kuptel has his sights set on progressing past the Group Phase and securing a World Championship place with the help of the home crowd

Home team dream of the Main Round

In the final days before the start of the Men’s 18 EHF EURO in Poland, the young Poles intensively prepare for their opening match against Germany. The hosts have only one aim – qualify for the next year’s World Championship. 

The Polish U18s were the first team to arrive in Gdynia and Gdansk, which from Thursday will be the home to the top 16 teams in Europe. Attentive training in the last days before the start of the event should help young Poles in reaching their aim – qualifying for the 2015 Youth World Championship.

“This is our dream. If we only manage to maintain the level of concentration like in the last test games, then we can fight for the promotion with great success,” says coach Rafal Kuptel, former World Championship silver medallist in 2007.

With ten tickets for the 2015 World Championship to play for, the Poles will make sure of their participation by qualifying to the Main Round at the EHF EURO in their home country. To accomplish this, they have to finish in the top two from the group with Germany, Belarus and Czech Republic. Kuptel is certain that each group rival will be a very tough opponent.

“We are aware, that it will be a very difficult task to win against our rivals. The Germans are always one of the best teams at each youth tournament, so we will have to face a really strong opponent.

“On the other side, Belarusians are a different team. They base more on the individual skills of players and while playing against them, you have to be focused all the time, because they like to take shots from every possible position.

“The Czechs however, have better physical conditions than us, with two really tall boys at left and right back. We will try to prevent them from shooting,” Kuptel states. 

Using home advantage

What can help hosts in making their dream come true? As a major factor Kuptel indicates a balanced squad. However, there is no doubt that strong fan support and the right mental preparation will be important as well.

“I count on all sixteen players. If we want to make our dream come true, each player has to be ready to take the responsibility and win the game.”

If we will believe in our skills and we will maintain the high level of our play, then we can fight for good results. However, we have to remember that these are young lads and it’s a first big tournament for them. Moreover, playing in front of your own fans means bigger pressure. I am curious how my lads will cope with it,” adds Kuptel.

Carried by the support of local fans, Poland may be the dark horse of the tournament. Is there any chance, that the result of Polish U20 team from 2002, European champions on home soil, could be repeated? Kuptel is far from making such declarations. 

“I wish these boys would follow the footsteps of this great team, but it’s hard to compare these two teams and its players. For my lads this is the first big tournament and these guys who have won the European Championship in 2002 were two years older.

“It is hard to predict anything now. My team has changed a lot. At the beginning we were losing to Denmark, Germany or Russia by fifteen goals. Now we even manage to win in the games against them. We have to remember, that youth sport is unpredictable,” concludes the Polish coach.

Tournament information

The Men’s 18 EHF EURO takes place in the Polish cities of Gdynia and Gdansk from 14 to 24 August 2014. For more information visit the official website and the event's Facebook page.

During the tournament eurohandball.com and the EHF EURO Facebook page will also feature regular reports, features and photo galleries.

Austria hosted the Men’s 18 EHF EURO 2012. Back then Germany won, Sweden came second and Denmark placed third.

TEXT: Maciej Wojs / cor