08.10.2015, 10:58
Eight EHF EURO 2014 participants start their mission

ROUND PREVIEW: Big names such as Denmark, Russia, Hungary, Romania and France will have their first qualification matches on the road to Sweden

Eight EHF EURO 2014 participants start their mission

Two direct duels from EHF EURO 2014 - Serbia vs Ukraine and Hungary vs Slovakia are two highlights of the concluding six matches in Round 1 qualification.

In addition, France expects a tough game against Iceland, while Denmark, Russia and Romania are clear favourites.

Round 2 of the EHF EURO 2016 qualification will be carried out on Saturday and Sunday (10 & 11.10.15), and the remaining four rounds will be played in two double headers in April and June 2016.

GROUP 1:

Romania vs Lithuania
Thursday 19:00 local time in Ramnicu Valcea

After falling short of their goals at the 2013 World Championship (10th position) and EHF EURO 2014 (9th position) Gheorghe Tadici was let go as Romanian national team coach and was replaced by Swedish born Tomas Ryde, who had been a coach of the Danish top club Viborg some years ago.

Under the helm of Ryde, Romania qualified for the 2015 World Championship in Denmark by beating Serbia, and now he carries the hopes of a medal-decorated future.

His first EURO qualification is not an easy one, not only it is an away tie, but Lithuania not manage to qualify for any major event since 1996 - and did not win a single point in the qualification for the EHF EURO 2014.

GROUP 2:

Serbia vs Ukraine
Thursday 18:00 local time in Kraljevo

Like in the play-offs for the 2015 World Championship against Romania, some big names are missing in the Serbian head coach, Sasa Boskovic’s selection: Andrea Lekic, Katarina Tomasevic, Sanja Damnjanovic, Jelena Popovic or Dragana Cvijic are all not listed in the squad list.

So only some players of the famous 2013 World Championship silver medal-winning squad like Katarina Krpez or Kristina Liscevic are in Boskovic’s team.

Under such circumstances the opener against the Ukraine will be a tough encounter for the Serbs.

Ukraine can count on their tall back court shooters, but they will want to continue their EURO-run, as they have never missed a single EHF EURO event.

GROUP 5:

Hungary vs. Slovakia
Thursday 18:00 local time in Dabas

Another duel with a neighbour for Hungary: After facing Austria in the 2015 World Championship play-offs they now have their opener against another EHF EURO 2014 participant and local rival.

But the Slovaks’ squad are suffering from some injuries like right back Lydia Jakubisova (torn cruciate ligament).

Even with their top squad, they would have still been the underdogs against the EHF EURO 2000 winners.

After her comeback for Györ, it will be interesting to see if Hungarian top star Anita Görbicz will make an appearance in the national team.

GROUP 6:

Russia vs. Portugal
Thursday 19:00 local time in Rostov-Don

No trip in the entire EHF EURO qualification is longer than from Portugal to Russia, but it will not only be the journey which will make Portugal the underdog.

After their successful World Championship qualification, Russia are flying high and with a big group of players reuniting at domestic champions Rostov-Don, Ksenia Makeeva & Co. will have a true home match in their opener.
 
After some disappointing years, the Russians want to make it back to the top of world handball while Portugal have only qualified once (2008) for any EHF EURO event.

Denmark vs Turkey
Thursday 20:15 local time in Aarhus

After being the only team to win all six respective matches in the qualification for the EHF EURO 2014, Denmark are eager to continue this trend.

In addition, the two EHF EURO 2016 qualifiers are an ideal test ahead of December for the World Championship hosts.

The new Danish national team coach Klavs Bruun Jorgensen, replaced Jan Pytlick at the helm after they failed to make it to the EHF EURO 2014 semi-finals.

But this tie the Danes is seen to be an easy start.

Turkey have never qualified for any major event, and in the qualification for the EHF EURO 2014 their only points were from two wins over Italy.

GROUP 7:

France vs. Iceland
Thursday 19:00 local time in Antibes

French coach Alain Portes knows their first opponent, but on home court his team will carry the favourite role against the Icelandic team.

The Nordic side failed to qualify for the EHF EURO 2014 losing narrowly to the Slovaks.

Both teams have faced each other already in qualification in the past, with France taking two clear 27:21, 24:19 victories.

For the first two matches, Portes must replace his cornerstones Nina Kamto Njitam (pivot) and Cleopatre Darleux (goal) due to injuries.

However, after her knee injury Allison Pineau is back on track.

After being part of EHF EURO final tournaments in 2010 and 2012, Iceland are eager to go all the way again, but mainly will focus on taking points in their home matches.

TEXT: Björn Pazen / bc