22.06.2017, 10:15
Ukraine upset defending champions at Beach Handball EURO 2017

REVIEW: Defending champions Croatia have lost their first game at this EURO, but nevertheless qualified with ease for the main round. Hungary finished the preliminary round with six wins from as many matches, upsetting another medal favourite in their final match

Ukraine upset defending champions at Beach Handball EURO 2017

Ukraine propelled themselves into the ranks of the medal favourites at the Beach Handball EURO 2017, when they beat defending champions Croatia 2:1 on Thursday.

The win granted them the top spot in Group A ahead of the hosts. However, both teams take two points with them to the main round in which Croatia start in Group 1 and Ukraine in Group 2.

Also starting with two points in the main round are Hungary and Spain who both qualified from Group A.

In one of the group's final matches Hungary beat Spain to secure themselves the top spot – they are also the only team which has finished the group phase with six wins from as many matches.

Joining these four teams in the main round are Russia and Sweden – in Group 1 – and Denmark and Norway, who start in Group 2. All four have zero points in their account.

Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland, France and Poland play the Placement Round for places 9 to 14.

Matches will start again at 10:00 hrs on Friday morning with all the action from Court 1 and Court 2 being streamed live on youtube.com/ehfTV.

Fair Play award for Germany's Johnny Dahne

In the women's competition, the main round started on Thursday afternoon. After each team has played three matches, Netherlands and Norway jointly top Group 1 with six points while Croatia, Denmark and Spain all have four points in their account in Group 2.

Every team will play two more matches on Friday. The first four teams of each group qualify for the quarter-finals on Saturday morning.

This day's Fair Play award, sponsored by the EHF's sports outfitter Salming, was given to German goalkeeper Johnny Dahne.

In his team's game against Spain, Dahne touched a shot very lightly. Deflected from his hand, the ball hit the post and crossed the line. The referee asked Dahne whether he had touched the ball and Dahne openly admitted to it.

The Fair Play award honours on a daily basis one player at the Beach Handball EURO whose action stood out in the game's spirit of fair play.   

TEXT: EHF / ts