09.06.2015, 03:55
The next teams can book their tickets to Poland 2016

ROUND PREVIEW: 26 from 28 participants of the EHF EURO 2016 Qualification take to Europe’s courts on Wednesday. Czech Republic vs France and Austria vs Spain broadcast live on ehfTV

The next teams can book their tickets to Poland 2016

The Men’s EHF EURO 2016 Qualification draws to a close this week. After four rounds and 55 matches have been played, so far only three teams have clinched their berth for the final tournament in Poland (15 to 31 January 2015), hence 12 spots are still up for grabs before the final tournament’s preliminary round groups will be drawn on 19 June in Krakow.

Round 5 of the qualification starts on Wednesday with 13 matches, which means that 26 from 28 teams overall will play.

The list of matches includes the encounter between Russia and Ukraine, who will play the first of two matches on neutral ground within 24 hours in Minsk.

More tickets to the final tournament are up for grabs on Wednesday, with the likes of Croatia, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, Spain and Germany only being a small step away from their EHF EURO participation.

The first two teams from each group and the best third ranked team overall will make it to Poland.

For all matches the EHF live ticker is available, and the matches between Czech Republic and France as well as Austria and Spain are furthermore broadcast live on ehfTV with commentary by experienced handball commentator Paul Bray.

Group 1: Turkey vs. Norway; Wednesday, 19:00 hrs. local time in Cankaya

After having beaten Croatia on home court in Round 3, the gate to Poland is open for Norway, who travel to Turkey as the clear favourites.

If they are equal by points with Croatia at the end of the qualification, they will finish second because of the aggregate result from the teams’ two direct encounters.  

The first leg against the Turkish side was an easy-going affair for Norway which they won 36:27 back in October.

Group 1: Netherlands vs. Croatia; Wednesday, 20:00 hrs. local time in Sittard

Similar to Norway, one victory in the remaining two matches will be enough for Croatia to book the ticket to Poland.

Head coach Zeljko Babic can count on a well-rehearsed team including several players who have been part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 such as Domagoj, Duvnjak, Mirko Alilovic and wing duo Ivan Cupic and Manuel Strlek.

On the other hand, Netherlands can still hope to qualify as well, but they are – even on home court – nevertheless the underdogs in this match.

Group 2: Lithuania vs. Denmark; Wednesday, 19:00 hrs. local time in Kaunas

Denmark are already qualified for the EHF EURO 2016, while Lithuania have proven their home strength by beating World Championship participants Bosnia-Herzegovina in their Round 4 qualifier.

The team still has the chance for a second rank finish in case they win both remaining matches.

Hence their motivation can expected to be high – but it is more than questionable, if this is enough to beat the two-time EHF EURO winners from Denmark.

Group 3: Slovakia vs. Slovenia; Wednesday, 17:00 hrs. local time in Presov

After two disappointing defeats against Latvia in the previous two rounds, Slovakia are already confirmed last in this group.

On the other side, new Slovenian head coach Veselin Vujovic has the clear objective to lead his team to Poland.

After a last-gasp draw against Sweden (28:28), Slovenia have five points on their account and if they win at Presov, they will be part of the EHF EURO 2016.

The first leg was a clear matter for Slovenia as they beat Slovakia 31:25.

Group 3: Latvia vs. Sweden; Wednesday, 19:35 hrs. local time in Dobele

Latvia boosted their confidence with a double victory against Slovakia in the May qualifiers, but they know that they are anything but the favourites in their last home match.

Sweden let the win and a possible earlier qualification for Poland slip from their hands in Slovenia, when they conceded a last-second equaliser.

But they only need one more point to book their EHF EURO tickets – and it is a realistic matter that they will take it at Dobele.

Group 4: Israel vs. Iceland; Wednesday, 19:45 hrs. local time in Tel Aviv

Iceland need to win their remaining matches away at Israel and on home court against Montenegro to be definitely sure of having a place at Poland.

The first match in Tel Aviv seems to be the easier task, even though the team of Serbian born coach Dragan Djukic gave Montenegro two hard fights in Rounds 3 and 4.

Iceland will have to replace right back Alexander Petersson because of an injury, but are arguably still the clear favourites. They won the first leg at home 36:19.

Montenegro vs. Serbia; Wednesday, 20:00 hrs. local time in Bar

Serbia have five points on their account and therefore rank below Montenegro on six, who can make their EHF EURO dream come true if they win the encounter against their neighbours.

Despite having the tough match against Iceland looming in Round 6, the chance to clinch their third consecutive EHF EURO participation is already there for Montenegro.

Serbia have lost the direct encounter against Iceland, so if they finish with the same number of points, they will be ranked behind them.

The result of the first leg between Serbia and Montenegro (25:21) does not reflect the actual rundown of the game, as the Serbs only forged ahead in the last minutes.

Group 5: Russia vs. Ukraine; Wednesday, 18:00 hrs. local time in Minsk

Because of the political situation, the match of the two neighbouring nations had been postponed, and the solution eventually found was that Russia and Ukraine face twice within only 24 hours on neutral ground in Minsk.

As some of the Ukrainian top stars stopped playing for the national team, Russia are in the favourites’ role, in particular as their injury situation is not as worse as it was ahead of the two defeats they conceded against Hungary in Rounds 3 and 4.

However, Russian left back Pavel Atman will still miss both encounters, as his club team El-Jaish is playing the Emir Cup in Qatar at the same time.

Russia trail second ranked Portugal by two points and they should win both encounters to remain in the race for Poland 2016.

Group 5: Portugal vs. Hungary; Wednesday, 20:15 hrs. local times in Sto. Tirso

After a hotly contested first leg which was decided in Hungary’s favour only in its dying seconds, the qualification went different ways for both teams.

Hungary kept their unbeaten record with three more wins and have already qualified for the EHF EURO. Portugal also lost to Russia, but after having beaten Ukraine twice they can still hope to make it to Poland 2016.

The upcoming games with Hungary at home and Russia away are arguably two tough ones.

Hungary can count on several VELUX EHF FINAL4 finalists from Veszprem and with a win they can secure the top spot in Group 5.

Group 6: Czech Republic vs. France; Wednesday, 18:10 hrs. local times in Brno (live on ehfTV)

Without their top star Filip Jicha and several other key players, the Czechs were overrun by France 25:41 in the first encounter in October against the reigning EHF EURO, world and Olympic champions.

France have already booked their ticket for Poland, while Czech Republic have five points on their account and will likely play the decisive match for the berth at Poland 2016 against FYR Macedonia on Sunday.

For France, a draw is already enough to finish on top of this group.

Group 6: Switzerland vs. Fyr Macedonia: Wednesday, 20:00 hrs. local times in St. Gallen

The game in St. Gallen is a ‘must-win’ one for the Macedonians, who so far only gained three points in four matches, if they want to have a real ‘final’ against Czech Republic in Round 6 on Sunday.

In order to clinch the berth for Poland, FYR Macedonia must win both encounters and after having won the first leg against Switzerland 27:20 at home, they are, at least for this match, the clear favourites.

Group 7: Finland vs. Germany; Wednesday, 20:00 hrs. local times in Vantaa

It is not only the 30:18-win in the first leg, which turn Germany into the favourites at Vantaa, but also the fact that the hosts currently play their first major qualification phase and lack some international experience compared to their opponents.

For Finland it is the match of the year, for Germany it is the chance to book their ticket to Poland 2016 even before they play their final home match against Austria.

If the Germans finish equal by points with Spain (both teams are currently on six), the latter will be the group winners courtesy of the aggregate result in the two direct encounters.

Group 7: Austria vs. Spain: Wednesday, 20:25 hrs. local times in Innsbruck (live on ehfTV)

Spain can book their tickets to Poland 2016 with a win, but Austria are obviously a tough nut to crack.

The home team in Rounds 3 and 4 recorded two wins against Finland, and their hope is still alive to make it to Poland.

Head coach Patrekur Johannesson has to replace his team captain Viktor Szilagyi because of an injury, but his team has proven in previous years that they have the abilities to beat top nations on home court.

Several newly crowned VELUX EHF Champions League winners from Barcelona will take to the court for Spain in Vienna.

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ts