27.07.2015, 10:48
Majority of favourites reach main round at Women's 19 EHF EURO

NEWS REPORT: Group C ends in a nail-biting finish with only the smallest possible margin of one goal giving Hungary the edge over France. Youth world champions Romania exit the tournament with just one win

Majority of favourites reach main round at Women's 19 EHF EURO

The Scandinavian duo of Denmark and Norway are the only two teams left at the Women's 19 EHF EURO in Valencia who are yet to lose a single point, after the championship's group phase came to an end on Sunday.

In Group A Denmark, the bronze medallists at the Women's Youth World Championships 2014, finished their preliminary round campaign with a 32:21 against Croatia, after they had beaten Montenegro 21:20 and Serbia 32:18 earlier in the week, to enter the main round with two points.

They are followed by Montenegro who join them as the second ranked team from Group A.

Norway in Group D also went through the group phase undefeated and, like Denmark, enter the main round with two points following wins against Spain, Portugal and Belarus. The second team to make it to the next phase from Group D are hosts Spain.

The biggest surprise came, however, in Group C where current youth world champions Romania have forfeited all their chances for another medal after they finished only fourth.

Following losses against Hungary and France in their first two matches, Romania's chances to reach the main round had already evaporated into thin air ahead of the last match, and Sunday's 21:14 win was only a small consolation that did not change the final ranking.

Group C also saw the closest finish all groups: Hungary and France had both won one match before before they faced on Sunday. And after the 18:18 tie, it was only Hungary's better goal difference of -2 (60:62) that saw them occupying the second spot ahead of France (-3/64:67).

In Group B Russia claimed the first rank with points after wins against Germany and Lithuania and a draw against FYR Macedonia. Germany came second with four points.

The main round as well as the intermediate round (for all teams ranked third and fourth in the preliminary round) continue on Tuesday, 28 June.

All matches can be watched live via the Spanish federation's YouTube channel and the event's official website.

TEXT: EHF / ts