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QUALIFICATION MEDIA GUIDE

2

Foreword 3

Qualif ication information 4

GROUP 1 OVERVIEW 5

Norway 6

Romania 8

Belarus 10

Lithuania 12

GROUP 2 OVERVIEW 14

Serbia 15

Czech Republic 17

Ukraine 19

Italy 21

GROUP 3 OVERVIEW 23

Spain 24

Netherlands 26

Austria 28

Bulgaria 30

GROUP 4 OVERVIEW 32

Montenegro 33

Croatia 35

FYR Macedonia 37

Slovenia 39

GROUP 5 OVERVIEW 41

Hungary 42

Poland 44

Slovakia 46

Finland 48

GROUP 6 OVERVIEW 50

Denmark 51

Russia 53

Turkey 55

Portugal 57

GROUP 7 OVERVIEW 59

France 60

Germany 62

Iceland 64

Switzerland 66

Pure heart. All hands. 68

EHF EURO 2016 venues 69 Previous hosts & winners 70

MEDIA GUIDE CONTENTS

3

FOREWORD

Dear Media Representative,

The 12th edition of the Women’s EHF European Handball Championship, the EURO 2016, will take place in Sweden from 4 to 18 December 2016.

However, the road to the final tournament is a long one, and 32 national teams registered to take part in the qualification for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016. Based on the EHF’s national team ranking, six of these teams were placed into two groups in Qualification Phase 1 and the winners of these groups – Bulgaria and Finland respectively – progressed to Qualification Phase 2 along with the remaining 26 teams.

The teams will be split into seven groups for Qualification Phase 2 playing in a round-robin system (home and away). The teams that finish in first, second and best ranked third position in their group will proceed to the final tournament in Sweden. The organising federation Sweden has already qualified directly.

Handball stakeholders and fans can expect to witness a lot of exciting qualification matches with thrills and passion we have come to love from EHF EURO events over the past two decades. Once again the European Handball Federation is excited to be working with our longstanding media partner: Infront Sports & Media AG. This established cooperation dates back to the men’s inaugural event in 1994 in Portugal.

It is of the utmost importance for the EHF to present handball to an ever-growing audience in the correct fashion therefore we will continue to use the harmonised advertising set-up in all hosting arenas designed for the optimal handball experience.

I welcome you all to the Women’s EHF EURO 2016 Qualification Phase 2 group matches, enjoy!

JEAN BRIHAULTEHF President

4

QUALIFICATION INFORMATION

Besides organiser Sweden, who are directly qualified for the final tournament, 32 national teams registered to take part in the qualification for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016.

Based on the EHF’s national team ranking, six of these 32 - Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Finland, Israel and Faroe Islands - had to play the first qualification phase in June 2015. They had been drawn to two groups of three, and at the end of the two qualification tournaments Bulgaria and Finland made it through to the second and final qualification phase.

There they joined the 26 teams that had been already drawn to seven groups of four teams each. This second qualification phase will be played in three periods of two matches each with a home and an away match against each of the other teams in the respective group. These groups are:

GROUP 1: NORWAY, ROMANIA, BELARUS LITHUANIA

GROUP 2: SERBIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, UKRAINE, ITALY

GROUP 3: SPAIN, NETHERLANDS, AUSTRIA, BULGARIA

GROUP 4: MONTENEGRO, CROATIA, FYR MACEDONIA, SLOVENIA

GROUP 5: HUNGARY, POLAND, SLOVAKIA, FINLAND

GROUP 6: DENMARK, RUSSIA, TURKEY, PORTUGAL

GROUP 7: FRANCE, GERMANY, ICELAND, SWITZERLAND

The two top ranked teams from each of the seven qualification groups will qualify for the final tournament in Sweden. The best ranked third team overall will also qualify for the final tournament in Sweden.

THE BEST THIRD RANKED TEAM IS DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS: After the conclusion of the qualification, a ranking of those teams ranked third in each group (a total of seven teams) will be established. This ranking will include only the results of those four matches of the third ranked teams against the two teams ranked first and second in the group. The results of the two matches against the teams ranked fourth in the group will not be considered. The best team from this ranking of the third ranked teams will qualify for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016.

5

QUALIFICATION GROUP 1

LITHUANIANORWAY ROMANIA BELARUS

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 19:00 Norway vs Belarus

08.10.2015 19:00 Romania vs Lithuania

11.10.2015 13:00 Lithuania vs Norway

11.10.2015 15:00 Belarus vs Romania

Romania vs Norway

Lithuania vs Belarus

Norway vs Romania

Belarus vs Lithuania

Belarus vs Norway

Lithuania vs Romania

Norway vs Lithuania

Romania vs Belarus

6

NORWAY

Norway have been a leading force in women’s handball for the last decade, despite not lifting trophies at the Women’s EHF EURO 2012 and the 2013 World Championship. In Budapest the team of Thorir Hergeirsson struck back, and won their sixth EHF EURO title by beating Spain in 2014. The 2008 and 2012 Olympic and 2011 World Champions can count on their experience - though both five-time EHF EURO champions are out of action:

Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth-Koren (maternity) and Caroline Breivang (retired). Goalkeeper Katrine Lunde, however, is back in the side after giving birth. Left wing Camilla Herrem, right back Nora Mörk and line player Heidi Löke will be the driving force for the team. As European champions, Norway have already qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. In qualification for the EHF EURO 2014 they won all four matches against Romania and Belarus.

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 147:98 +49 10:2 1st Group 51994 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 134:130 +4 8:6 3rd Place1996 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 134:121 +13 10:2 1st Group 11996 EHF EURO 7 4 2 1 179:151 +28 10:4 Runners-up1998 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 144:116 +28 10:2 1st Group 31998 EHF EURO 7 7 0 0 189:132 +57 14:0 Winners2000 EHF EURO 6 2 2 2 151:149 +2 6:6 6th Place2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 70:35 +35 4:0 Won vs. LTU2002 EHF EURO 8 6 1 1 203:169 +34 13:3 Runners-up2004 EHF EURO 8 8 0 0 259:191 +68 16:0 Winners2006 EHF EURO 8 8 0 0 258:179 +79 16:0 Winners2008 EHF EURO 8 7 1 0 248:169 +79 15:1 Winners2010 EHF EURO 8 7 0 1 239:146 +93 14:2 Winners2012 EHF EURO 8 6 0 2 219:194 +25 12:4 Runner-up2014 Qualif. 4 4 0 0 120:94 +26 8:0 1st Group 62014 EHF EURO 8 7 0 1 225:192 +33 14:2 Winners -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 24 21 0 3 615:464 +151 42:6Total EHF EURO 83 66 6 11 2304:1802 +502 138:28

MEDIA CONTACTHALVOR LEA+47 419 00 [email protected]

ACHIEVEMENTSEHF EURO

1998, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014 1996, 2002, 2012 1994

OLYMPIC GAMES

2008, 2012 1988, 1992 2000

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

1999, 2011 1997, 2001, 2007 1986, 1993, 2009

TEAM PROFILE

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

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EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

NORWAY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

LegendECh – European Championship; WCh – World Championship; A-WCh – A-World Championship; B-WCh – B-World Championship; C-WCh – C-World Championship; OG – Olympic Games; MR – Main Round; Qual. – Qualification; Pre-Qual. – Pre-Qualification; MP – Matches Played; W – Wins; D – Draws; L – Losses

Biggest win: 34:13 (15:6) vs. Latvia @ Trondheim NOR, 06.06.1993 13:34 (07:16) vs. Latvia @ Bauska LAT, 05.08.1993Biggest defeat: 29:18 (14:6) vs. Lithuania @ Kaunas LTU, 04.02.1996Longest winning run: 9 matches (15.03.1998 – 30.03.2014)Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (15.03.1998 – 30.03.2014)Longest losing run: 1 match (08.08.1993) 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (12.03.1998)Longest run without win: 1 match (08.08.1993) 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (12.03.1998)Current run: W9 (15.03.1998 – 30.03.2014)Most goals: 38 vs. Lithuania 38:18W @ Orkanger NOR, 31.05.2002Most goals opponent: 29 vs. Lithuania 29:18L @ Kaunas LTU, 04.02.1996 29 vs. Belarus 33:29W @ Stavanger NOR, 26.03.2014Most goals both teams: 62 vs. Belarus 33:29W @ Stavanger NOR, 26.03.2014Fewest goals: 17 vs. France 14:17W @ Lille FRA, 19.10.1993Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Latvia 34:13W @ Trondheim NOR, 06.06.1993 13 vs. Latvia 13:34W @ Bauska LAT, 05.08.1993Fewest goals both teams: 31 vs. France 14:17W @ Lille FRA, 19.10.1993

NOR VS BLR02.12.1997 Saarbrücken GER NOR-BLR WCh – Group B 34:21 (14:12)29.11.1999 Oslo NOR NOR-BLR WCh – Group A 29:13 (13:9)09.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU BLR-NOR ECh – Group B 26:26 (13:12)26.03.2014 Stavanger NOR NOR-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 33:29 (16:13)30.03.2014 Mogilev BLR BLR-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 24:32 (12:16)

NOR VS LTU03.07.1993 Kragerø NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 5 18:17 (8:10)08.08.1993 Vilnius LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 5 22:21 (11:11)01.02.1996 Stavanger NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 1 32:16 (14:11)04.02.1996 Kaunas LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 1 29:18 (14:6)06.12.1996 Vejle DEN NOR-LTU ECh – Group B 36:18 (17:9)12.02.1998 Trondheim NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 3 30:14 (12:7)15.02.1998 Vilnius LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 3 26:30 (13:12)31.05.2002 Orkanger NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Playoff 38:18 (17:10)01.06.2002 Kristiansund NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Playoff 32:17 (17:9)

NOR VS ROU12.12.1971 Rotterdam NED NOR-ROU A-WCh – Group B 6:8 (3:4)10.12.1973 Zavidovići YUG ROU-NOR A-WCh – Group B 10:5 (6:2)04.12.1975 Vilnius URS ROU-NOR A-WCh – Group A 13:10 (6:3)11.12.1982 Budapest HUN NOR-ROU A-WCh – Place 7-12 16:16 (8:8)12.12.1986 Arnhem NED NOR-ROU A-WCh – MR-Group II 23:23 (10:11)27.11.1990 Seoul KOR NOR-ROU A-WCh – Group D 13:12 (7:8)05.12.1993 Oslo NOR NOR-ROU WCh – Place 3/4 20:19 (11:9)14.12.1995 Wiener Neustadt AUT NOR-ROU WCh – 1/4-final 21:19 (10:12)11.12.1996 Fredericia DEN NOR-ROU ECh – Group B 26:26 (12:16)28.09.2000 Sydney AUS NOR-ROU OG – 1/4-final 28:16 (12:8)10.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU ROU-NOR ECh – Group B 26:22 (14:12)07.12.2003 Karlovac CRO NOR-ROU WCh – Group C 29:21 (13:9)17.08.2008 Beijing CHN NOR-ROU OG – Group A 24:23 (12:11)11.12.2008 Ohrid MKD ROU-NOR ECh – MR-Group I 31:37 (14:19)10.12.2009 Suzhou CHN NOR-ROU WCh – Group C 25:24 (14:12)23.10.2013 Oradea ROU ROU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 23:25 (10:11)27.10.2013 Bergen NOR NOR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 6 30:18 (14:9)07.12.2014 Debrecen HUN NOR-ROU ECh – Group B 27:19 (16:7)

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS*

*(competitive matches)

8

ROMANIA

Though they arrive as one of the main contenders at nearly every major tournament, Romania continually miss the podium at EHF EURO’s, with one exception: in 2010 they took home bronze - their first, and, so far, only medal on this European stage. Despite losing to Sweden in the semi-final, the team, led by the EHF EURO top scorer of that year Cristina Neagu, secured third spot by beating Denmark.

Some experienced players have resigned from the national team, but the pool of skilled players is huge, which is proved by them being crowned U18 World Champions in 2014 and more top results in the past decade at younger age category events. But Neagu remains at the core of Swedish born Tomas Ryde’s team.

MEDIA CONTACTLORAND BALINT BOTOND+40 0 21 2016100 / (mob) +40 0 751 [email protected]


2010

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

1962 1973, 2005

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 122:83 +39 10:2 1st Group 41994 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 112:124 –12 4:8 10th Place1996 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 137:126 +11 7:5 2nd Group 31996 EHF EURO 6 4 1 1 155:139 +16 9:3 5th Place1998 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 164:157 +7 8:4 2nd Group 41998 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 148:168 –20 2:10 11th Place2000 EHF EURO 7 3 1 3 168:164 +4 7:7 4th Place2002 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 169:166 +3 8:6 7th Place2004 Play-off 2 1 1 0 58:55 +3 3:1 Won vs. NED2004 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 206:187 +19 10:4 7th Place2006 Play-off 2 0 1 1 47:51 -4 1:3 Lost vs. SCG2008 Play-off 2 2 0 0 70:46 +24 4:0 Won vs. ISL2008 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 209:199 +10 10:4 5th Place2010 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 219:153 +66 9:3 2nd Group 12010 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 205:197 +8 10:6 3rd Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 187:128 +59 10:2 1st Group 22012 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 136:139 -3 5:7 10th Place2014 Qualif. 4 2 0 2 103:103 0 4:4 2nd Group 62014 EHF EURO 6 3 1 2 136:137 -1 7:5 9th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 40 26 4 10 1107:902 +205 56:24Total EHF EURO 66 34 4 28 1644:1620 +24 72:60


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ROMANIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 18:39 (7:20) vs. Switzerland @ Zürich SUI, 17.10.2009 23:44 (12:20) vs. Portugal @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010Biggest defeat: 30:18 (14:9) vs. Norway @ Bergen NOR, 27.10.12013Longest winning run: 4 matches (01.06.2008 – 17.10.2009) 4 matches (26.05.2010 – 22.10.2011)Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (03.06.2006 – 31.03.2010)Longest losing run: 2 matches (23.10.2013 - 27.10.2013)Longest run without win: 3 matches (06.06.2004 – 03.06.2006)Current run: W2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 44 vs. Portugal 23:44W @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010Most goals opponent: 36 vs. Ukraine 35:36L @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010Most goals both teams: 71 vs. Ukraine 35:36L @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010Fewest goals: 17 vs. Yugoslavia 21:17L @ Kruševac SCG, 03.02.1996Fewest goals opponent: 14 vs. Greece 31:14W @ Piatra Neamț ROU, 02.06.2012Fewest goals both teams: 38 vs. Yugoslavia 21:17L @ Kruševac SCG, 03.02.1996

ROU VS BLR11.02.1998 Ploieşti ROU ROU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 4 30:26 (10:12)15.02.1998 Minsk BLR BLR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 4 31:21 (15:12)08.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU ROU-BLR ECh – Group B 29:28 (15:15)06.06.2009 Mogilev BLR BLR-ROU WCh-Playoff 31:32 (14:18)13.06.2009 Bucureşti ROU ROU-BLR WCh-Playoff 38:32 (22:16)11.06.2014 Mogilev BLR BLR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 6 28:30 (13:14)15.06.2014 Baia Mare ROU ROU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 32:20 (15:6)

ROU VS LTU08.12.1996 Vejle DEN ROU-LTU ECh – Group B 32:26 (16:12)

ROU VS NOR12.12.1971 Rotterdam NED NOR-ROU A-WCh – Group B 6:8 (3:4)10.12.1973 Zavidovići YUG ROU-NOR A-WCh – Group B 10:5 (6:2)04.12.1975 Vilnius URS ROU-NOR A-WCh – Group A 13:10 (6:3)11.12.1982 Budapest HUN NOR-ROU A-WCh – Place 7-12 16:16 (8:8)12.12.1986 Arnhem NED NOR-ROU A-WCh – MR-Group II 23:23 (10:11)27.11.1990 Seoul KOR NOR-ROU A-WCh – Group D 13:12 (7:8)05.12.1993 Oslo NOR NOR-ROU WCh – Place 3/4 20:19 (11:9)14.12.1995 Wiener Neustadt AUT NOR-ROU WCh – 1/4-final 21:19 (10:12)11.12.1996 Fredericia DEN NOR-ROU ECh – Group B 26:26 (12:16)28.09.2000 Sydney AUS NOR-ROU OG – 1/4-final 28:16 (12:8)10.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU ROU-NOR ECh – Group B 26:22 (14:12)07.12.2003 Karlovac CRO NOR-ROU WCh – Group C 29:21 (13:9)17.08.2008 Beijing CHN NOR-ROU OG – Group A 24:23 (12:11)11.12.2008 Ohrid MKD ROU-NOR ECh – MR-Group I 31:37 (14:19)10.12.2009 Suzhou CHN NOR-ROU WCh – Group C 25:24 (14:12)23.10.2013 Oradea ROU ROU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 23:25 (10:11)27.10.2013 Bergen NOR NOR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 6 30:18 (14:9)07.12.2014 Debrecen HUN NOR-ROU ECh – Group B 27:19 (16:7)



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BELARUS

Since 2008 the Belarusian women have not qualified for any major event, though they were part of three EHF EURO tournaments and two World Championships before. The team of coach Tomas Chater consists of tall shooters, but they lack international experience. One of the most experienced Belarusian players is line player Anastasia Lobach.

Several Belarusian players have transferred to clubs in Hungary, Russia, Poland or Slovenia to play at the top level, partly in the Champions League like Liliya Artsivkhovich (Minsk) or Alesia Mihdalieva (Lublin). Their best ever EHF EURO result was eleventh in 2000. However, being in the same group Norway and Romania make it difficult for them. They lost all their qualification matches on route to the EHF EURO 2014.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTTATIANA PUSTOKHOD+375 17 2909 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 2 1 3 158:154 +4 5:7 3rd Group 31996 Pre-Qualif. 2 1 0 1 43:46 -3 2:2 Lost vs. POL1998 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 142:158 –16 4:8 3rd Group 42000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 59:50 +9 2:2 Won vs. TUR2000 EHF EURO 6 1 3 2 161:165 -4 5:7 11th Place2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 62:38 +24 4:0 Won vs. GRE2002 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 65:86 –21 0:6 16th Place2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 49:41 +8 4:0 Won vs. AZE2004 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 70:87 –17 0:6 16th Place2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 51:56 -5 2:2 Lost vs. NED2008 Qualif. 5 3 1 1 171:122 +49 7:3 3rd Group 12008 Play-off 2 1 1 0 54:50 +4 3:1 Won vs. SLO2008 EHF EURO 6 1 2 3 164:171 -7 4:8 12th Place2010 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 166:176 –10 6:6 3rd Group 42012 Qualif. 2 6 2 0 4 155:162 -7 4:8 3rd Group 12014 Qualif. 4 0 0 4 101:127 –26 0:8 3rd Group 6 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 45 20 3 22 1211:1180 +31 43:47Total EHF EURO 18 2 5 11 460:509 -49 9:27


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BELARUS NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 12:40 (8:20) vs. Israel @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.11.2007Biggest defeat: 32:20 (15:6) vs. Romania @ Baia Mare ROU, 15.06.2014Longest winning run: 5 matches (16.04.2000 – 05.06.2004)Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (16.04.2000 – 05.06.2004) 5 matches (03.06.2006 – 01.12.2007)Longest losing run: 6 matches (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014)Longest run without win: 6 matches (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014)Current run: L6 (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 40 vs. Israel 12:40W @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.11.2007Most goals opponent: 35 vs. Austria 35:27L @ Sankt Pölten AUT, 18.06.1993 35 vs. Germany 35:24L @ Dessau GER, 04.04.2010Most goals both teams: 64 vs. Bosnia Herzegovina 29:35W @ Panevėžys LTU, 28.11.2007Fewest goals: 17 vs. Slovakia 28:17L @ Šaľa SVK, 29.04.1998Fewest goals opponent: 12 vs. Israel 12:40W @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.11.2007Fewest goals both teams: 42 vs. Poland 24:18W @ Minsk BLR, 25.10.1995

BLR VS LTU29.01.1997 Vilnius LTU LTU-BLR WCh-Qual. – Group 8 18:22 (10:11)01.02.1997 Minsk BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 8 21:24 (13:9)03.12.2006 Mogilev BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 2 27:24 (16:12)30.11.2007 Panevėžys LTU LTU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 1 27:27 (12:16)03.10.2012 Mogilev BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 3 42:22 (22:13)28.11.2012 Kaunas LTU LTU-BLR WCh-Qual. – Group 3 26:47 (12:22)

BLR VS NOR02.12.1997 Saarbrücken GER NOR-BLR WCh – Group B 34:21 (14:12)29.11.1999 Oslo NOR NOR-BLR WCh – Group A 29:13 (13:9)09.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU BLR-NOR ECh – Group B 26:26 (13:12)26.03.2014 Stavanger NOR NOR-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 33:29 (16:13)30.03.2014 Mogilev BLR BLR-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 24:32 (12:16)

BLR VS ROU11.02.1998 Ploieşti ROU ROU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 4 30:26 (10:12)15.02.1998 Minsk BLR BLR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 4 31:21 (15:12)08.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU ROU-BLR ECh – Group B 29:28 (15:15)06.06.2009 Mogilev BLR BLR-ROU WCh-Playoff 31:32 (14:18)13.06.2009 Bucureşti ROU ROU-BLR WCh-Playoff 38:32 (22:16)11.06.2014 Mogilev BLR BLR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 6 28:30 (13:14)15.06.2014 Baia Mare ROU ROU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 32:20 (15:6)



12

LITHUANIA

Since the 1995 World Championship, the Lithuanian women have not qualified for a major tournament. Their most experienced player in the current squad is Birute Stellbrink, who plays in Germany. A Lithuanian player who did make an impression in the qualification for the EHF EURO 2014 was Laima Bernataviciute. Bernataviciute was the top scorer of the

qualification with 52 goals in six matches, despite her team not picking up a single point. Beating Azerbaijan in the first qualification stage for the 2015 World Championship was their only win in the last few years. And having two European powerhouses in their current qualification group - Norway and Romania - the road to Sweden seems too steep.

MEDIA CONTACTLAURYNAS SUOPYS+370 624 [email protected]

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 150:115 +35 9:3 2nd Group 51994 Runners-Up 2 1 0 1 37:38 -1 2:2 Lost vs. SWE1996 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 129:125 +4 6:6 2nd Group 11996 EHF EURO 6 0 0 6 124:183 –59 0:12 12th Place1998 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 113:164 –51 0:12 4th Group 32000 Qualif. 2 0 0 2 38:45 -7 0:4 Lost vs. TUR2002 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 59:41 +18 4:0 Won vs. SUI2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 35:70 –35 0:4 Lost vs. NOR2004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 60:63 -3 0:4 Lost vs. AUT2006 Qualif. 5 3 0 2 151:143 +8 6:4 3rd Group 22006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 44:53 -9 2:2 Lost vs. POL2008 Qualif. 5 4 1 0 161:107 +54 9:1 1st Group 12008 Play-off 2 0 1 1 49:54 -5 1:3 Lost vs. ESP2010 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 131:203 –72 0:12 4th Group 72012 Qualif. 2 6 1 0 5 166:211 –45 2:10 4th Group 42014 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 160:202 –42 0:12 4th Group 1 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 60 19 3 38 1483:1634 -151 41:79Total EHF EURO 6 0 0 6 124:183 -59 0:12


13


LITHUANIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 34:11 (16:6) vs. Latvia @ Panevėžys LTU, 17.11.1993Biggest defeat: 38:18 (17:10) vs. Norway @ Orkanger NOR, 31.05.2002Longest winning run: 3 matches (08.08.1993 – 18.11.1993) 3 matches (03.06.2006 – 28.11.2007)Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (03.06.2006 – 02.12.2007)Longest losing run: 9 matches (25.03.2012 – 15.06.2014)Longest run without win: 10 matches (31.05.2008 - 23.10.2011)Current run: L9 (25.03.2012 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Finland 21:37W @ Lagos POR, 22.11.2005Most goals opponent: 42 vs. Croatia 24:42L @ Panevėžys LTU, 18.10.2009Most goals both teams: 69 vs. Denmark 31:38L @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.10.2013Fewest goals: 14 vs. Norway 30:14L @ Trondheim NOR, 12.02.1998 14 vs. Spain 31:14L @ Guadalajara ESP, 30.04.1998Fewest goals opponent: 11 vs. Latvia 34:11W @ Panevėžys LTU, 17.11.1993Fewest goals both teams: 35 vs. Norway 18:17L @ Kragerø NOR, 03.07.1993

LTU VS BLR29.01.1997 Vilnius LTU LTU-BLR WCh-Qual. – Group 8 18:22 (10:11)01.02.1997 Minsk BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 8 21:24 (13:9)03.12.2006 Mogilev BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 2 27:24 (16:12)30.11.2007 Panevėžys LTU LTU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 1 27:27 (12:16)03.10.2012 Mogilev BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 3 42:22 (22:13)28.11.2012 Kaunas LTU LTU-BLR WCh-Qual. – Group 3 26:47 (12:22)

LTU VS NOR03.07.1993 Kragerø NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 5 18:17 (8:10)08.08.1993 Vilnius LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 5 22:21 (11:11)01.02.1996 Stavanger NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 1 32:16 (14:11)04.02.1996 Kaunas LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 1 29:18 (14:6)06.12.1996 Vejle DEN NOR-LTU ECh – Group B 36:18 (17:9)12.02.1998 Trondheim NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 3 30:14 (12:7)15.02.1998 Vilnius LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 3 26:30 (13:12)31.05.2002 Orkanger NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Playoff 38:18 (17:10)01.06.2002 Kristiansund NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Playoff 32:17 (17:9)

LTU VS ROU08.12.1996 Vejle DEN ROU-LTU ECh – Group B 32:26 (16:12)



14


ITALYSERBIA CZECH REPUBLIC UKRAINE

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 16:05 Czech Rep. vs Italy

08.10.2015 18:00 Serbia vs Ukraine

11.10.2015 18:00 Ukraine vs Czech Rep.

11.10.2015 19:00 Italy vs Serbia

Czech Rep. vs Serbia

Italy vs Ukraine

Serbia vs Czech Rep.

Ukraine vs Italy

Ukraine vs Serbia

Italy vs Czech Rep.

Serbia vs Italy

Czech Rep. vs Ukraine

15

SERBIA

MEDIA CONTACTZIKA BOGDANOVIC+381 600 643 [email protected]

After becoming silver medallists at the 2013 World Championship on home court, only one year later and the team of head coach Sasa Boskovic was eliminated in the preliminary round of the EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia. Some key players such as Andrea Lekic and Dragana Cvijic have retired from international handball. The Serbs originally failed to qualify for the 2015 World Championship, but were later awarded by a wild card.

Their players are spread all over Europe, mainly signed by top clubs. Women’s handball had an enormous boost thanks to the EHF EURO 2012 and the 2013 World Championship, where the spectator world records for women’s handball matches were broken three times in a week in the Kombank Arena Belgrade - with 19,000 fans cheering them on in a (unsuccessful) final against Brazil.

TEAM PROFILE

ACHIEVEMENTSWORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK2006 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 77:92 –15 0:6 14th Place2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 54:52 +2 2:2 Won vs. NED2008 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 87:93 -6 0:6 13th Place2010 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 179:142 +37 8:4 2nd Group 52010 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 71:91 –20 0:6 14th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 179:131 +48 10:2 2nd Group 22012 EHF EURO 8 4 1 3 213:209 +4 9:7 4th Place2014 Qualif. 6 3 2 1 156:140 +16 8:4 2nd Group 52014 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 68:89 –21 0:6 15th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 20 13 2 5 568:465 +103 28:12Total EHF EURO 20 4 1 15 516:574 -58 9:31


16


SERBIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 45:18 (25:10) vs. Greece @ Zrenjanin SRB, 14.10.2009Biggest defeat: 31:26 (16:12) vs. Slovenia @ Ljubljana SLO, 27.10.2013Longest winning run: 5 matches (26.05.2010 – 22.03.2012)Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (26.05.2010 – 22.03.2012)Longest losing run: 2 matches (31.03.2010 – 04.04.2010)Longest run without win: 3 matches (27.10.2013 – 30.03.2014)Current run: W2 (12.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 45 vs. Greece 45:18W @ Zrenjanin SRB, 14.10.2009Most goals opponent: 31 vs. Slovenia 31:26L @ Ljubljana SLO, 27.10.2013Most goals both teams: 63 vs. Greece 45:18W @ Zrenjanin SRB, 14.10.2009Fewest goals: 18 vs. Sweden 18:18D @ Kristianstad SWE, 30.03.2014Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs. Greece 17:29W @ Patras GRE, 26.05.2010Fewest goals both teams: 36 vs. Sweden 18:18D @ Kristianstad SWE, 30.03.2014

SRB VS CZE08.12.2012 Beograd SRB SRB-CZE ECh – Group A 28:24 (12:15)

SRB VS ITA No previous encounters

SRB VS UKR 06.12.2012 Beograd SRB SRB-UKR ECh – Group A 25:23 (14:10)



17

CZECH REPUBLIC

From the highs like qualifying for major events like the EHF EURO 2012 or the 2013 World Championship to lows like failing to qualify for the EHF EURO 2014 and the 2015 World Championship, women’s handball in the Czech Republic has been on a quite the roller coaster ride. After the Czech federation started to focus on their youth programmes, including hosting YAC EURO and World

Championship events, a huge number of the national team players made it abroad, mainly to Germany, Hungary and Poland. In terms of qualifying for Sweden, the Czechs seem to have a good chance of turning the tide. Current top player is Iveta Luzumova from German champions and Champions League participant Thüringer HC, but the Czechs also can count on a strong goalkeeper in Barbora Ranikova.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTVÍT CHALUPA+420 608 079 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 142:115 +27 11:1 1st Group 71994 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 118:122 -4 4:8 8th Place1996 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 107:119 –12 4:8 3rd Group 11998 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 127:143 –16 2:10 3rd Group 22000 Play-off 2 0 0 2 45:59 –14 0:4 Lost vs. HUN2002 Play-off 2 1 0 1 58:56 +2 2:2 Won vs. MKD2002 EHF EURO 7 3 0 4 162:167 -5 6:8 8th Place2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 51:44 +7 4:0 Won vs. ISL2004 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 60:74 –14 0:6 15th Place2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 49:51 -2 2:2 Lost vs. ESP2008 Qualif. 4 4 0 0 143:89 +54 8:0 1st Group 32008 Play-off 2 0 0 2 44:54 –10 0:4 Lost vs. SWE2010 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 152:158 -6 4:8 3rd Group 22012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 169:152 +17 8:4 2nd Group 52012 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 146:163 –17 2:10 12th Place2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 157:136 +21 6:6 3rd Group 3 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 50 25 1 24 1244:1176 +68 51:49Total EHF EURO 22 6 0 16 486:526 -40 12:32


18


CZECH REPUBLIC NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 42:20 (19:12) vs. Bulgaria @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007Biggest defeat: 33:20 (15:10) vs. Hungary @ Nyíregyháza HUN, 16.04.2000Longest winning run: 6 matches (20.06.1993 – 31.01.1996)Longest unbeaten run: 7 matches (21.04.1993 – 31.01.1996)Longest losing run: 7 matches (04.04.1996 – 29.04.1998)Longest run without win: 7 matches (04.04.1996 – 29.04.1998)Current run: L1 (14.06.2014)

Most goals: 42 vs. Bulgaria 42:20W @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007Most goals opponent: 34 vs. Sweden 34:24L @ Kristianstad SWE, 02.06.2012Most goals both teams: 62 vs. FYR Macedonia 32:30L @ Kumanovo MKD, 08.06.2002 62 vs. Bulgaria 42:20W @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 62 vs. Azerbaijan 37:25W @ Brno CZE, 04.04.2010 62 vs. Austria 26:36W @ Maria Enzersdorf AUT, 19.10.2011Fewest goals: 10 vs. Spain 13:10L @ Leganes ESP, 04.02.1996Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Spain 13:10L @ Leganes ESP, 04.02.1996Fewest goals both teams: 23 vs. Spain 13:10L @ Leganes ESP, 04.02.1996

CZE VS ITA28.11.2007 Plzeň CZE CZE-ITA ECh-Qual. – Group 3 32:24 (18:14)03.12.2010 Oderzo ITA ITA-CZE WCh-Qual. – Group 4 22:38 (8:19)

CZE VS SRB08.12.2012 Beograd SRB SRB-CZE ECh – Group A 28:24 (12:15)

CZE VS UKR11.12.2004 Debrecen HUN UKR-CZE ECh – Group A 25:20 (13:8)04.12.2012 Beograd SRB UKR-CZE ECh – Group A 22:25 (7:12)



19

Ukraine has participated in every edition of the Women’s EHF EURO since its inauguration in 1994. However, success continues to evade the team. With the exception of a silver performance in Romania (2002), the team has never ranked in the top five. At their last EHF EURO, they finished in a disappointing 16th place in Hungary and Croatia. The other success story was their surprising performance at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens

winning bronze medal under Leonid Ratner (80) who is still at the helm of the Ukrainians. Ratner & Co. failed to qualify for the 2015 World Championship after two clear defeats against Poland. As some players have retired playing for the national team and the pool of talent is not that large in Ukraine - the future and the task ahead for Methusalem Ratner does not look easy.

MEDIA CONTACTVASILI YUMASHEV+380 44 [email protected]@nbi.uawww.handball.net.ua


2000

OLYMPIC GAMES

2004

TEAM PROFILE

UKRAINE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 147:111 +36 10:2 1st Group 11994 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 126:135 -9 4:8 11th Place1996 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 108:116 -8 6:6 3rd Group 21996 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 141:144 -3 4:8 9th Place1998 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 156:147 +9 7:5 1st Group 51998 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 163:148 +15 6:6 7th Place2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 54:50 +4 2:2 Won vs. POL2000 EHF EURO 7 3 3 1 188:176 +12 9:5 Runners-up2002 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 132:167 –35 2:10 12th Place2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 54:49 +5 4:0 Won vs. POR2004 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 173:172 +1 8:6 6th Place2006 Play-off 2 2 0 0 54:46 +8 4:0 Won vs. SVK2006 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 73:86 –13 0:6 13th Place2008 Play-off 2 2 0 0 58:51 +7 4:0 Won vs. SVK2008 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 168:172 -4 5:7 10th Place2010 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 197:160 +37 11:1 1st Group 12010 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 134:170 –36 2:10 12th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 151:135 +16 10:2 1st Group 72012 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 62:68 -6 0:6 14th Place2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 177:166 +11 6:6 2nd Group 12014 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 68:89 –21 0:6 16th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 44 31 2 11 1156:1031 +125 64:24Total EHF EURO 59 18 4 37 1428:1527 -99 40:78


20


UKRAINE NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 31:15 (17:5) vs. Slovenia @ Kyiv UKR, 20.10.1993Biggest defeat: 29:18 (14:7) vs. Poland @ Głogów POL, 15.04.2000Longest winning run: 8 matches (29.05.2004 – 17.10.2009)Longest unbeaten run: 14 matches (29.05.2004 – 23.10.2011)Longest losing run: 3 matches (27.10.2013 – 04.06.2014)Longest run without win: 3 matches (27.10.2013 – 04.06.2014)Current run: W2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 36 vs. Poland 36:21W @ Kyiv UKR, 08.04.2000 36 vs. Portugal 31:36W @ Lagos POR, 17.10.2009 36 vs. Romania 35:36W @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010 36 vs. Lithuania 25:36W @ Kaunas LTU, 11.06.2014Most goals opponent: 35 vs. Romania 35:36W @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010Most goals both teams: 71 vs. Romania 35:36W @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010Fewest goals: 14 vs. France 21:14L @ Maubeuge FRA, 03.02.1996Fewest goals opponent: 15 vs. Slovenia 31:15W @ Kyiv UKR, 20.10.1993 15 vs. Poland 18:15W @ Zaporozhye UKR, 09.03.1996Fewest goals both teams: 33 vs. Poland 18:15W @ Zaporozhye UKR, 09.03.1996

UKR VS CZE11.12.2004 Debrecen HUN UKR-CZE ECh – Group A 25:20 (13:8)04.12.2012 Beograd SRB UKR-CZE ECh – Group A 22:25 (7:12)

UKR VS ITA No previous encounters

UKR VS SRB 06.12.2012 Beograd SRB SRB-UKR ECh – Group A 25:23 (14:10)



21

ITALY

We have to go back to 2001 to find an Italian women’s team at a major tournament. As hosts of the event they finished in 16th position. Up until now a common pattern is: successful pre-qualification followed by elimination in the qualification tournaments. However, the Italian federation has started a new “Olympic Games” project which is based on talented youth players getting extra training and games. Some of these players

were part of the squad for the EHF EURO 2014 qualification, and despite the Italians not picking up a single point serious improvement could be seen, and during the qualification for the 2015 World Championship in Denmark, Italy beat FYR Macedonia twice. Most of the top players are contracted by Southern Tyrolian clubs - the heart of Italian handball - such as the youngster Annika Niederwieser and Christina Gheorghe.

MEDIA CONTACTMATTEO ALDAMONTE+39 06 [email protected]

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 0 3 3 97:138 -41 3:9 4th Group 21996 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 67:73 -6 4:4 3rd Group C1998 Pre-Qualif. 4 0 0 4 57:123 –66 0:8 3rd Group C2000 Qualif. 2 0 0 2 40:70 –30 0:4 Lost vs. SLO2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 34:74 –40 0:4 Lost vs. AUT2004 Qualif. 3 1 0 2 80:88 -8 2:4 3rd Group 22006 Qualif. 5 3 0 2 151:140 +11 6:4 2nd Group 12006 Play-off 2 0 0 2 46:74 –28 0:4 Lost vs. AUT2008 Qualif. 4 2 0 2 127:114 +13 4:4 3rd Group 32008 Play-off 2 0 0 2 53:65 –12 0:4 Lost vs. AUT2010 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 137:204 –67 0:12 4th Group 42012 Qualif. 2 6 0 0 6 104:187 –83 0:12 4th Group 62014 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 105:151 –46 0:12 4th Group 4 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 52 8 3 41 1098:1501 -403 19:85


22


ITALY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 18:37 (6:16) vs. Latvia @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007Biggest defeat: 45:19 (20:9) vs. Germany @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010Longest winning run: 3 matches (23.11.2003 – 23.11.2005)Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches (23.11.2003 – 23.11.2005)Longest losing run: 21 matches (01.12.2007 – 14.06.2014)Longest run without win: 21 matches (01.12.2007 – 14.06.2014)Current run: L21 (01.12.2007 – 14.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Latvia 18:37W @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 37 vs. Bulgaria 28:37W @ Plzeň CZE, 30.11.2007Most goals opponent: 45 vs. Germany 45:19L @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010Most goals both teams: 68 vs. Bulgaria 31:37L @ Mezzocorona ITA, 25.11.2005Fewest goals: 10 vs. Russia 10:31L @ Enna ITA, 15.06.1993 10 vs. Spain 10:22L @ Aosta ITA, 29.10.1997Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. The Netherlands 17:13W @ Cassano Magnago ITA, 22.11.1995Fewest goals both teams: 28 vs. Portugal 14:14D @ Palermo ITA, 10.10.1993

ITA VS CZE28.11.2007 Plzeň CZE CZE-ITA ECh-Qual. – Group 3 32:24 (18:14)03.12.2010 Oderzo ITA ITA-CZE WCh-Qual. – Group 4 22:38 (8:19)

ITA VS SRB No previous encounters

ITA VS UKR No previous encounters



23


SPAIN NETHERLANDS AUSTRIA BULGARIA

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 19:30 Netherlands vs Bulgaria

07.10.2015 20:45 Spain vs Austria

11.10.2015 17:00 Bulgaria vs Spain

11.10.2015 18:15 Austria vs Netherlands

Netherlands vs Spain

Bulgaria vs Austria

Spain vs Netherlands

12.03.2016 20:25 Austria vs Bulgaria

Bulgaria vs Netherlands

01.06.2016 20:25 Austria vs Spain

Spain vs Bulgaria

Netherlands vs Austria

24

SPAIN

The ‘guerreras’ were the big surprise of the EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia as they made it to the final (losing to Norway). In the semi-final they dethroned the defending champions Montenergo, which was like a sort of revenge for the semi-final defeat in the Olympic Games in 2012. Jorge Duenas and his team have shown in past events that their willpower is one of their stronger assets.

Duenas has brought in youth players into the team especially on the line after Begona Fernandez and Veronica Cuadrado both retired. Despite the loss, they can still count on Alexandrina Barbosa Cabral who was third top scorer in the EHF EURO 2014 qualification. Furthermore, Lara Gonzalez, goalkeeper Silvia Navarro and centre back Macarena Aguilar are among the best players in their positions in Europe.

MEDIA CONTACTJAVIER FERNANDEZ +34 91 [email protected]


2008, 2014

OLYMPIC GAMES

2012

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2011

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 96:111 –15 6:6 3rd Group 61996 Pre-Qualif. 4 4 0 0 111:67 +44 8:0 1st Group A1996 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 100:105 -5 4:8 4th Group 11998 Pre-Qualif. 4 4 0 0 105:59 +46 8:0 1st Group C1998 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 141:118 +23 8:4 2nd Group 31998 EHF EURO 6 0 1 5 132:154 –22 1:11 12th Place2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 53:53 0 2:2 Lost vs. RUS2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 60:42 +18 4:0 Won vs. TUR2002 EHF EURO 3 0 2 1 76:80 -4 2:4 13th Place2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 62:57 +5 4:0 Won vs. POL2004 EHF EURO 7 3 0 4 185:193 -8 6:8 8th Place2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 51:49 +2 2:2 Won vs. CZE2006 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 150:149 +1 6:6 9th Place2008 Play-off 2 1 1 0 54:49 +5 3:1 Won vs. LTU2008 EHF EURO 8 4 2 2 199:197 +2 10:6 Runners-up2010 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 181:128 +53 12:0 1st Group 52010 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 143:142 +1 4:8 11th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 153:132 +21 8:4 2nd Group 72012 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 153:156 -3 5:7 11th Place2014 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 160:106 +54 10:2 1st Group 42014 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 200:191 +9 10:6 Runners-up -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 54 39 1 14 1327:1076 +251 79:29Total EHF EURO 50 19 6 25 1238:1262 -24 44:56


25


SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 39:16 (16:5) vs. Greece @ Utebo ESP, 30.05.2010Biggest defeat: 37:17 (18:9) vs. Denmark @ Århus DEN, 20.10.1993Longest winning run: 9 matches (14.10.2009 – 21.03.2012)Longest unbeaten run: 11 matches (31.05.2008 - 21.03.2012)Longest losing run: 3 matches (15.09.1993 – 14.11.1993)Longest run without win: 3 matches (15.09.1993 – 14.11.1993)Current run: W3 (30.03.2014 – 14.06.2014)

Most goals: 39 vs. Greece 39:16W @ Utebo ESP, 30.05.2010Most goals opponent: 37 vs. Denmark 37:17L @ Århus DEN, 20.10.1993Most goals both teams: 62 vs. Russia 33:29W @ Lucena ESP, 08.04.2000Fewest goals: 11 vs. Croatia 23:11L @ Rijeka CRO, 14.11.1993Fewest goals opponent: 10 vs. Czech Republic 13:10W @ Leganés ESP, 04.02.1996 10 vs. Italy 10:22W @ Aosta ITA, 29.10.1997Fewest goals both teams: 23 vs. Czech Republic 13:10W @ Leganés ESP, 04.02.1996

ESP VS AUT05.12.1981 Viborg DEN AUT-ESP B-WCh – Place 11/12 24:22 (11:11, 20:20)08.11.1986 Sagunto ESP ESP-AUT C-WCh – Place 1-4 16:21 (8:12)30.07.1992 Barcelona ESP ESP-AUT OG – Group B 16:30 (4:9)09.12.2003 Zagreb CRO ESP-AUT WCh – MR-Group I 27:26 (19:14)

ESP VS BUL04.12.1981 Taars DEN BUL-ESP B-WCh – Group B 23:10 (11:4)08.12.1983 Chorzów POL BUL-ESP B-WCh – Group A 29:11 (13:3)05.12.1992 Kaunas LTU BUL-ESP B-WCh – Place 5/6 24:25 (9:10, 22:22)

ESP VS NED04.12.1977 Berlin FRG NED-ESP B-WCh – Group A 15:9 (8:5)29.11.1981 Højslev DEN NED-ESP B-WCh – Group B 17:16 (8:10)14.12.1983 Chorzów POL ESP-NED B-WCh – Place 11/12 24:23 (11:11, 21:21)14.12.1987 Veliko Tarnovo BUL ESP-NED B-WCh – Place 13-16 21:25 (11:13)01.11.1988 Dreux FRA ESP-NED C-WCh – Place 3/4 19:17 (9:10)30.11.1992 Kaunas LTU NED-ESP B-WCh – Group B 11:17 (5:10)11.06.2005 ‘s-Hertogenbosch NED NED-ESP WCh-Playoff 24:25 (14:12)18.06.2005 Ciudad Real ESP ESP-NED WCh-Playoff 30:31 (14:14)07.12.2006 Malmö SWE ESP-NED ECh – Group D 26:16 (11:9)03.12.2011 Barueri BRA NED-ESP WCh – Group B 27:34 (15:18)26.05.2012 Guadalajara ESP ESP-NED OG – Qual. Tournament 2 28:24 (14:13)26.03.2014 Rotterdam NED NED-ESP ECh-Qual. – Group 4 27:22 (17:12)30.03.2014 Logroño ESP ESP-NED ECh-Qual. – Group 4 29:22 (16:14)



26

NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands were always on the brink of being a top team, but still their best result is 5th at the 2005 World Championship. The young guns like Laura van der Heijden have proved their ability at the EHF EURO 2014, when they were close to reaching their first ever semi-final, but finally were beaten by Montenegro (finishing 7th). Most of their top players are contracted by German or Danish clubs like Van der Heijden, Lois Abbingh (Baia Mare) or

Danick Snelder (Thüringer HC). Their two top stars have made huge steps in their career, with centre back Nycke Groot and line player Yvette Broch signing for two-time Champions League winners Györ. Coach Henk Groener will be hoping to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time, since in 2012 when exactly one goal was missing at the qualification tournament.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTANNEMIEK SCHOUTEN+31 26 707 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 119:125 -6 4:8 3rd Group 71996 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 80:73 +7 4:4 1st Group C1996 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 119:135 –16 4:8 3rd Group 41998 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 126:153 –27 2:10 10th Place2000 Play-off 2 0 1 1 52:54 -2 1:3 Lost vs. YUG2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 58:49 +9 4:0 Won vs. POR2002 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 73:80 -7 0:6 14th Place2004 Play-off 2 0 1 1 55:58 -3 1:3 Lost vs. ROU2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 56:51 +5 2:2 Won vs. BLR2006 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 65:84 –19 0:6 15th Place2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 52:54 -2 2:2 Lost vs. SRB2010 Qualif. 6 3 2 1 161:146 +15 8:4 2nd Group 72010 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 131:145 –14 4:8 8th Place2014 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 170:122 +48 10:2 2nd Group 42014 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 161:158 +3 5:7 7th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 38 18 4 16 922:867 +55 40:36Total EHF EURO 24 5 1 18 556:620 -64 11:37


27


NETHERLANDS NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 37:21 (18:12) vs. Turkey @ Rotterdam NED, 15.06.2014Biggest defeat: 26:16 (13:8) vs. Sweden @ Märsta SWE, 31.01.1996Longest winning run: 3 matches (31.03.2010 – 26.05.2010) 3 matches (23.10.2013 – 26.03.2014)Longest unbeaten run: 8 matches (18.10.2009 – 26.03.2014)Longest losing run: 5 matches (17.12.1995 – 09.03.1996)Longest run without win: 5 matches (17.12.1995 – 09.03.1996)Current run: W2 (12.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Turkey 37:21W @ Rotterdam NED, 15.06.2014Most goals opponent: 32 vs. Croatia 32:23L @ Rijeka CRO, 15.10.2009Most goals both teams: 60 vs. Portugal 34:26W @ Eindhoven NED, 08.06.2002Fewest goals: 13 vs. Italy 17:13L @ Cassano Magnago ITA, 22.11.1995Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Italy 28:13W @ Rotterdam NED, 23.10.2013Fewest goals both teams: 30 vs. Italy 17:13L @ Cassano Magnago ITA, 22.11.1995

NED VS AUT13.12.1983 Katowice POL NED-AUT B-WCh – Group B 18:20 (10:9)10.12.1986 Amsterdam NED NED-AUT A-WCh – MR-Group I 22:17 (9:9)06.12.1989 Ribe DEN NED-AUT B-WCh – MR-Group I 17:21 (7:9)17.12.1998 Amsterdam NED NED-AUT ECh – Group A 24:28 (9:13)02.12.2012 Apeldoorn NED NED-AUT WCh-Qual. – Group 2 30:18 (16:9)

NED VS BUL28.11.1981 Skørping DEN NED-BUL B-WCh – Group B 17:24 (6:11)10.12.1987 Burgas BUL BUL-NED B-WCh – Group C 23:18 (14:5)25.05.1993 Nieuwegein NED NED-BUL ECh-Qual. – Group 7 19:22 (11:14)24.10.1993 Gabrovo BUL BUL-NED ECh-Qual. – Group 7 21:19 (12:7)

NED VS ESP04.12.1977 Berlin FRG NED-ESP B-WCh – Group A 15:9 (8:5)29.11.1981 Højslev DEN NED-ESP B-WCh – Group B 17:16 (8:10)14.12.1983 Chorzów POL ESP-NED B-WCh – Place 11/12 24:23 (11:11, 21:21)14.12.1987 Veliko Tarnovo BUL ESP-NED B-WCh – Place 13-16 21:25 (11:13)01.11.1988 Dreux FRA ESP-NED C-WCh – Place 3/4 19:17 (9:10)30.11.1992 Kaunas LTU NED-ESP B-WCh – Group B 11:17 (5:10)11.06.2005 ‘s-Hertogenbosch NED NED-ESP WCh-Playoff 24:25 (14:12)18.06.2005 Ciudad Real ESP ESP-NED WCh-Playoff 30:31 (14:14)07.12.2006 Malmö SWE ESP-NED ECh – Group D 26:16 (11:9)03.12.2011 Barueri BRA NED-ESP WCh – Group B 27:34 (15:18)26.05.2012 Guadalajara ESP ESP-NED OG – Qual. Tournament 2 28:24 (14:13)26.03.2014 Rotterdam NED NED-ESP ECh-Qual. – Group 4 27:22 (17:12)30.03.2014 Logroño ESP ESP-NED ECh-Qual. – Group 4 29:22 (16:14)



28

AUSTRIA

During the 90’s and the early 00’s Austria were one of the powerhouses of women’s handball winning bronze medals in 1996 and 1999 on European and world levels respectively. Since 2009, however, they have not qualified for any European or World Championships. Herbert Müller has now put his focus on his youth players and in contrast to previous years on players not solely contracted by Hypo.

The most experienced players of the current squad are Gorica Acimovic and Kathrin Engel, but young guns like Sonja Frey or Beate Scheffknecht (second top scorer in the 2014 EHF EURO qualification), bring fresh blood to the team. Two years ago, they were close to qualifying for the EHF EURO, and in 2015 they were defeated clearly twice by Hungary in the qualification for the World Championship in Denmark.

MEDIA CONTACTMARKUS RIEDLMAYER+43 664 184 69 [email protected]


1996

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2001

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 163:114 +49 12:0 1st Group 31994 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 120:122 -2 4:8 9th Place1996 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 155:113 +42 9:3 2nd Group 51996 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 175:150 +25 10:4 3rd Place1998 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 164:140 +24 8:4 1st Group 11998 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 182:183 -1 8:6 4th Place2000 Play-off 2 2 0 0 62:54 +8 4:0 Won vs. SWE2000 EHF EURO 6 0 0 6 111:179 –68 0:12 12th Place2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 74:34 +40 4:0 Won vs. ITA2002 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 159:150 +9 6:6 9th Place2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 63:60 +3 4:0 Won vs. LTU2004 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 164:170 -6 4:8 10th Place2006 Play-off 2 2 0 0 74:46 +28 4:0 Won vs. ITA2006 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 153:200 –47 4:8 10th Place2008 Play-off 2 2 0 0 65:53 +12 4:0 Won vs. ITA2008 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 53:86 -33 0:6 15th Place2010 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 150:145 +5 6:6 3rd Group 32012 Qualif. 2 6 1 1 4 148:184 –36 3:9 3rd Group 52014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 177:186 -9 6:6 3rd Group 1 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 46 31 2 13 1295:1129 +166 64:28Total EHF EURO 47 18 0 29 1117:1240 -123 36:58


29


AUSTRIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 38:15 (22:8) vs. Italy @ Villach AUT, 06.06.2002Biggest defeat: 39:17 (16:10) vs. Sweden @ Norrköping SWE, 24.03.2012Longest winning run: 12 matches (02.05.1998 – 14.10.2009)Longest unbeaten run: 12 matches (02.05.1998 – 14.10.2009)Longest losing run: 3 matches (18.10.2009 – 04.04.2010)Longest run without win: 5 matches (19.10.2011 – 30.05.2012)Current run: L2 (07.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 41 vs. Italy 41:23W @ Feldkirchen AUT, 28.05.2006Most goals opponent: 42 vs. Denmark 42:27L @ Roskilde DEN, 24.10.2013Most goals both teams: 69 vs. Denmark 42:27L @ Roskilde DEN, 24.10.2013Fewest goals: 17 vs. Hungary 17:17D @ Wiener Neustadt AUT, 05.04.1996 17 vs. Sweden 39:17L @ Norrköping SWE, 24.03.2012Fewest goals opponent: 15 vs. Turkey 15:28W @ Ankara TUR, 17.10.1993 15 vs. Azerbaijan 35:15W @ Frohnleiten AUT, 31.01.1996 15 vs. Yugoslavia 29:15W @ Wien AUT, 14.03.1998 15 vs. Italy 38:15W @ Villach AUT, 06.06.2002Fewest goals both teams: 34 vs. Hungary 17:17D @ Wiener Neustadt AUT, 05.04.1996

AUT VS BUL16.12.1985 Celle FRG AUT-BUL B-WCh – MR-Group II 16:17 (9:7)14.12.1987 Burgas BUL BUL-AUT B-WCh – MR-Group II 17:24 (5:7)

AUT VS ESP05.12.1981 Viborg DEN AUT-ESP B-WCh – Place 11/12 24:22 (11:11, 20:20)08.11.1986 Sagunto ESP ESP-AUT C-WCh – Place 1-4 16:21 (8:12)30.07.1992 Barcelona ESP ESP-AUT OG – Group B 16:30 (4:9)09.12.2003 Zagreb CRO ESP-AUT WCh – MR-Group I 27:26 (19:14)

AUT VS NED13.12.1983 Katowice POL NED-AUT B-WCh – Group B 18:20 (10:9)10.12.1986 Amsterdam NED NED-AUT A-WCh – MR-Group I 22:17 (9:9)06.12.1989 Ribe DEN NED-AUT B-WCh – MR-Group I 17:21 (7:9)17.12.1998 Amsterdam NED NED-AUT ECh – Group A 24:28 (9:13)02.12.2012 Apeldoorn NED NED-AUT WCh-Qual. – Group 2 30:18 (16:9)



30

BULGARIA

In the early 2000’s they managed to keep up with other European strongholds but then a downward swing started. However, they have marched step by step, from the EHF/IHF Challenge Trophy tournaments, which they won in 2012 and 2014 to the first stage of the EHF EURO 2016 qualification, when they beat Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan on home soil to book their ticket for the second stage of qualification. And the Bulgarian top star Elizabeth

Omoregie impressed so much in the national team, that she was signed by Champions League participant Krim Mercator (Slovenia). Being part of this qualification and facing experienced teams like Spain, Austria or Netherlands, will be a perfect lesson for further improvement. The opportunity has been a long time coming as it has been nine years since Bulgaria beat Slovenia in the EHF EURO 2006 qualification.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTNO NAME PROVIDED+359 2 980 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 3 2 1 121:118 +3 8:4 2nd Group 71994 Runners-Up 2 0 0 2 36:46 –10 0:4 Lost vs. DEN1996 Qualif. 6 0 2 4 127:150 –23 2:10 4th Group 31998 Pre-Qualif. 2 2 0 0 63:44 +19 4:0 Won vs. ISL1998 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 130:155 –25 2:10 4th Group 22000 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 47:44 +3 4:0 Won vs. SUI2000 Play-off 2 0 0 2 50:69 –19 0:4 Lost vs. MKD2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 44:57 –13 0:4 Lost vs. SWE2004 Qualif. 3 3 0 0 76:65 +11 6:0 1st Group 12004 Play-off 2 1 0 1 47:50 -3 2:2 Lost vs. CRO2006 Qualif. 5 4 1 0 161:138 +23 9:1 1st Group 12006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 52:60 -8 2:2 Lost vs. SLO2008 Qualif. 4 1 0 3 100:135 –35 2:6 4th Group 32016 Qualif. 1 2 2 0 0 63:50 +13 4:0 1st Group A -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 46 20 5 21 1117:1181 -64 45:47


31


BULGARIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 36:19 (21:9) vs. Iceland @ Sofia BUL, 01.11.1997Biggest defeat: 42:20 (19:12) vs. Czech Republic @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007Longest winning run: 4 matches (21.11.2003 – 29.05.2004) 4 matches (22.11.2005 – 26.11.2005)Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (22.11.2005 – 27.11.2005)Longest losing run: 4 matches (02.03.1994 - 04.02.1996) 4 matches (11.02.1998 – 15.03.1998) 4 matches (09.04.2000 – 08.06.2002)Longest run without win: 9 matches (19.12.1993 – 07.04.1996)Current run: W3 (02.12.2007 – 14.06.2015)

Most goals: 37 vs. Italy 31:37W @ Mezzocorona ITA, 25.11.2005Most goals opponent: 42 vs. Czech Republic 42:20L @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007Most goals both teams: 68 vs. Italy 31:37W @ Mezzocorona ITA, 25.11.2005Fewest goals: 16 vs. Croatia 28:16L @ Ivanec CRO, 31.01.1996Fewest goals opponent: 16 vs. Azerbaijan 17:16W @ Sofia BUL, 18.12.1993Fewest goals both teams: 33 vs. Azerbaijan 17:16W @ Sofia BUL, 18.12.1993

BUL VS AUT16.12.1985 Celle FRG AUT-BUL B-WCh – MR-Group II 16:17 (9:7)14.12.1987 Burgas BUL BUL-AUT B-WCh – MR-Group II 17:24 (5:7)

BUL VS ESP04.12.1981 Taars DEN BUL-ESP B-WCh – Group B 23:10 (11:4)08.12.1983 Chorzów POL BUL-ESP B-WCh – Group A 29:11 (13:3)05.12.1992 Kaunas LTU BUL-ESP B-WCh – Place 5/6 24:25 (9:10, 22:22)

BUL VS NED28.11.1981 Skørping DEN NED-BUL B-WCh – Group B 17:24 (6:11)10.12.1987 Burgas BUL BUL-NED B-WCh – Group C 23:18 (14:5)25.05.1993 Nieuwegein NED NED-BUL ECh-Qual. – Group 7 19:22 (11:14)24.10.1993 Gabrovo BUL BUL-NED ECh-Qual. – Group 7 21:19 (12:7)



32


SLOVENIAMONTENEGRO CROATIA FYR MACEDONIA

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 19:00 Croatia vs Slovenia

07.10.2015 19:30 Montenegro vs FYR Macedonia

10.10.2015 20:15 FYR Macedonia vs Croatia

11.10.2015 16:00 Slovenia vs Montenegro

Croatia vs Montenegro

Slovenia vs FYR Macedonia

Montenegro vs Croatia

FYR Macedonia vs Slovenia

FYR Macedonia vs Montenegro

Slovenia vs Croatia

Montenegro vs Slovenia

Croatia vs FYR Macedonia

33

MONTENEGRO

In Montenegro, 2012 was the year of women’s handball: first Buducnost Podgorica won the Women’s EHF Champions League; then they qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games and went almost all the way, only losing to Norway in the final. The icing on the cake became the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia when the team beat Norway in a thrilling final. After the disappointing Last 16 elimination at the 2013 World Championship in Serbia,

the team of head coach Dragan Adzic were back on track again at the EHF EURO 2014, making it to the semi-finals. With world class players like Katarina Bulatovic or the brilliant wings Jovanka Radicevic and Majda Mehmedovic in the squad, they are the favourites to top the group. Adzic has managed to add players like defence ace Suzana Lazovic or W19 EHF EURO top scorer Djurdjina Jaukovic.

MEDIA CONTACTNO NAME PROVIDED+382 20 [email protected]


2012

OLYMPIC GAMES

2012

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK2008 Qualif. 4 3 0 1 128:107 +21 6:2 2nd Group 22008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 63:66 -3 2:2 Lost vs. CRO2010 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 196:160 +36 11:1 1st Group 62010 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 170:169 +1 8:6 6th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 180:136 +44 10:2 1st Group 32012 EHF EURO 8 7 0 1 215:196 +19 14:2 Winner2014 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 150:134 +16 11:1 1st Group 32014 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 199:187 +12 10:6 4th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 24 19 2 3 717:603 +114 40:8Total EHF EURO 23 16 0 7 584:552 +32 32:14


34


MONTENEGRO NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 34:18 (21:6) vs. Great Britain @ Herceg Novi MNE, 19.10.2011Biggest defeat: 31:23 (16:10) vs. Croatia @ Kutina CRO, 07.06.2008Longest winning run: 7 matches (31.03.2010 – 21.03.2012) 7 matches (30.05.2012 – 11.06.2014)Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (14.10.2009 – 21.03.2012)Longest losing run: 1 match (01.12.2007) 1 match (07.06.2008) 1 match (25.03.2012)Longest run without win: 1 match (01.12.2007) 1 match (07.06.2008) 1 match (17.10.2009) 1 match (25.03.2012) 1 match (15.06.2014)Current run: D1 (15.06.2014)

Most goals: 40 vs. Croatia 40:35W @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008Most goals opponent: 35 vs. Croatia 40:35W @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008Most goals both teams: 75 vs. Croatia 40:35W @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008Fewest goals: 22 vs. Portugal 22:22D @ Nikšić MNE, 15.06.2014Fewest goals opponent: 18 vs. Great Britain 34:18W @ Herceg Novi MNE, 19.10.2011Fewest goals both teams: 44 vs. Portugal 22:22D @ Nikšić MNE, 15.06.2014

MNE VS CRO31.05.2008 Podgorica MNE MNE-CRO ECh-Playoff 40:35 (21:13)07.06.2008 Kutina CRO CRO-MNE ECh-Playoff 31:23 (16:10)11.12.2010 Århus DEN MNE-CRO ECh – Group B 28:29 (12:13)03.08.2012 London GBR CRO-MNE OG – Group A 27:26 (12:12)

MNE VS MKD No previous encounters

MNE VS SLO25.11.2008 Pljevlja MNE MNE-SLO WCh-Qual. – Group 2 32:22 (16:14)



35

CROATIA

After failing to reach the main round of the EHF EURO 2014, the national team coach Vladimir Canjuga resigned, which was followed by elimination from the 2015 World Championship in the play-offs against Sweden. At that stage Goran Mrden was in charge, but despite the results, these matches marked a point of transition for this side. Experienced players such as team captain Andrea Penezic or goalkeeper Marta Zderic remained in the squad, but

a huge number of talents like tall shooter Micicevic were included. Their best result to date at an EHF EURO was 6th in 2008. But they reached the quarter-final at the World Championship 2011 and at the 2012 Olympic Games losing to eventual bronze medallists, Spain. Missing out on the qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games means the team are eager to impress at every major tournament.

MEDIA CONTACTLJERKA VRESK+385 95 9999 [email protected]

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 189:116 +73 9:3 1st Group 61994 EHF EURO 6 4 0 2 115:118 -3 8:4 5th Place1996 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 148:118 +30 10:2 1st Group 31996 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 138:143 -5 6:6 6th Place1998 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 128:139 –11 6:6 3rd Group 52000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 42:45 -3 2:2 Lost vs. GER2002 Play-off 2 0 1 1 46:49 -3 1:3 Lost vs. GER2004 Play-off 2 1 0 1 50:47 +3 2:2 Won vs. BUL2004 EHF EURO 3 1 0 2 82:89 -7 2:4 13th Place2006 Play-off 2 2 0 0 51:48 +3 4:0 Won vs. POR2006 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 141:143 -2 6:6 7th Place2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 66:63 +3 2:2 Won vs. MNE2008 EHF EURO 7 3 0 4 212:208 +4 6:8 6th Place2010 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 191:138 +53 10:2 1st Group 72010 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 152:167 –15 6:6 9th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 6 0 0 186:116 +70 12:0 1st Group 62012 EHF EURO 3 1 0 2 65:69 -4 2:4 13th Place2014 EHF EURO 3 1 0 2 83:83 0 2:4 13th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 40 28 2 10 1097:879 +218 58:22Total EHF EURO 37 18 0 19 905:937 -32 36:38


36


CROATIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 55:14 (26:6) vs. Moldova @ Zagreb CRO, 20.10.1993Biggest defeat: 34:27 (16:14) vs. Ukraine @ Kyiv UKR, 12.03.1998 25:18 (10:8) vs. Germany @ Sindelfingen GER, 15.04.2000Longest winning run: 7 matches (29.05.2010 – 03.06.2012)Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (26.05.1993 – 07.03.1996)Longest losing run: 2 matches (14.02.1998 – 12.03.1998) 2 matches (09.06.2002 – 29.05.2004)Longest run without win: 4 matches (15.04.2000 - 29.05.2004)Current run: W7 (29.05.2010 – 03.06.2012)

Most goals: 55 vs. Moldova 55:14W @ Zagreb CRO, 20.10.1993Most goals opponent: 40 vs. Montenegro 40:35L @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008Most goals both teams: 75 vs. Montenegro 40:35L @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008Fewest goals: 18 vs. Romania 22:18L @ Arad ROU, 04.04.1996 18 vs. Germany 25:18L @ Sindelfingen GER, 15.04.2000Fewest goals opponent: 11 vs. Spain 23:11W @ Rijeka CRO, 14.11.1993Fewest goals both teams: 34 vs. Spain 23:11W @ Rijeka CRO, 14.11.1993

CRO VS MKD29.04.1998 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh-Qual. – Group 5 28:22 (14:11)03.05.1998 Osijek CRO CRO-MKD ECh-Qual. – Group 5 21:17 (8:7)11.12.2007 Metz FRA MKD-CRO WCh – MR-Group I 29:29 (13:15)04.12.2008 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh – Group D 31:29 (15:13)31.03.2010 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh-Qual. – Group 7 21:26 (12:13)03.04.2010 Cakovec CRO CRO-MKD ECh-Qual. – Group 7 36:23 (18:10)

CRO VS MNE31.05.2008 Podgorica MNE MNE-CRO ECh-Playoff 40:35 (21:13)07.06.2008 Kutina CRO CRO-MNE ECh-Playoff 31:23 (16:10)11.12.2010 Århus DEN MNE-CRO ECh – Group B 28:29 (12:13)03.08.2012 London GBR CRO-MNE OG – Group A 27:26 (12:12)

CRO VS SLO12.12.2004 Zalaegerszeg HUN SLO-CRO ECh – Group B 29:30 (16:17)



37

FYR MACEDONIA

Their top club Vardar Skopje were two-time MVM EHF FINAL4 participants in 2014 and 2015, but the Macedonian national team are suffering from a barren run: They missed the qualifications for all major tournaments after the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia, where the Macedonians finished 16th. Former top star Julija Nikolic has resigned from the national team, leaving coach Emil Ugrinovski with a tough task.

A number of players have transferred to the German Bundesliga because of lack of real competition in the Macedonian league. The women’s national team has been in the shadow of the men’s national team for many years. The organisation of the EHF EURO 2008, women’s handball experienced a revival; however, finishing in 7th at the 1997 World Championship is still the best ever result at EHF EURO events.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTIVAN IVANOVIKJ+389 22 464 444iivanovikj@macedoniahandball.com.mkwww.macedoniahandball.com.mk

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 1 1 2 95:101 -6 3:5 2nd Group B1998 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 140:130 +10 6:6 2nd Group 51998 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 132:171 –39 4:8 8th Place2000 Play Off 2 2 0 0 69:50 +19 4:0 Won vs. BUL2000 EHF EURO 6 1 2 3 151:162 –11 4:8 8th Place2002 Play Off 2 1 0 1 56:58 -2 2:2 Lost vs. CZE2004 Qualif. 3 3 0 0 91:73 +18 6:0 1st Group 22004 Play Off 2 1 0 1 47:51 -4 2:2 Lost vs. GER2006 Play Off 2 2 0 0 55:47 +8 4:0 Won vs. ISL2006 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 138:167 –29 2:10 12th Place2008 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 160:175 -15 6:6 7th Place2010 Qualif. 6 2 2 2 157:153 +4 6:6 3rd Group 72012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 170:176 -6 8:4 2nd Group 42012 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 61:92 –31 0:6 16th Place2014 Qualif. 4 0 0 4 84:121 –37 0:8 3rd Group 7 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 37 19 3 15 964:960 +4 41:33Total EHF EURO 27 7 2 18 642:767 -125 16:38


38


FYR MACEDONIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 37:23 (19:12) vs. Bulgaria @ Skopje MKD, 15.04.2000 19:33 (9:18) vs. Lithuania @ Kaunas LTU, 26.05.2010Biggest defeat: 40:20 (19:12) vs. France @ Clermont-Ferrand FRA, 25.03.2012Longest winning run: 5 matches (08.06.2002 – 29.05.2004)Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (08.06.2002 – 29.05.2004)Longest losing run: 4 matches (26.03.2014 – 14.06.2014)Longest run without win: 4 matches (26.03.2014 – 14.06.2014)Current run: L4 (26.03.2014 – 14.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Bulgaria 37:23W @ Skopje MKD, 15.04.2000Most goals opponent: 40 vs. France 40:20L @ Clermont-Ferrand FRA, 25.03.2012Most goals both teams: 64 vs. Turkey 36:28L @ Antalya TUR, 23.10.2011Fewest goals: 16 vs. France 25:16L @ Valence FRA, 25.10.1995 16 vs. Germany 31:16L @ Magdeburg GER, 14.06.2014Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs. Sweden 20:17W @ Skopje MKD, 15.03.1998Fewest goals both teams: 37 vs. Sweden 20:17W @ Skopje MKD, 15.03.1998

MKD VS CRO29.04.1998 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh-Qual. – Group 5 28:22 (14:11)03.05.1998 Osijek CRO CRO-MKD ECh-Qual. – Group 5 21:17 (8:7)11.12.2007 Metz FRA MKD-CRO WCh – MR-Group I 29:29 (13:15)04.12.2008 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh – Group D 31:29 (15:13)31.03.2010 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh-Qual. – Group 7 21:26 (12:13)03.04.2010 Cakovec CRO CRO-MKD ECh-Qual. – Group 7 36:23 (18:10)

MKD VS MNE No previous encounters

MKD VS SLO22.11.1995 Prilep MKD MKD-SLO ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group B 31:24 (13:13)25.11.1995 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group B 27:23 (13:10)02.12.1997 Neubrandenburg GER MKD-SLO WCh – Group D 26:22 (11:11)17.03.1999 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD WCh-Qual. – Group 2 26:23 (14:14)21.03.1999 Skopje MKD MKD-SLO WCh-Qual. – Group 2 21:17 (12:7)19.05.2001 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD WCh-Playoff 29:22 (12:13)26.05.2001 Niš YUG MKD-SLO WCh-Playoff 28:28 (11:13)



39

SLOVENIA

On club level, Slovenia have one of the best teams in Europe - Krim Ljubljana, but the national team has never been able to match that success. They have qualified for four previous World Championships and EHF EURO events, but failed to make it to the EHF EURO 2014 and the 2015 World Championship. The last time, Slovenia were part of a major event was at the EHF EURO 2010 in Denmark and Norway,

when they finished last. The best result on a EURO level was 9th in 2004. Now it is the job of former Krim coach Marta Bon to rebuild a team with only a small number of experienced players such as goalkeeper Sergeja Stefanisin. Young guns like Barbara Lazovic-Varlec, Tamara Mavsar or Ana Gros will try to reach the heights of their forerunners.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTANJA FREŠER+386 1 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 0 1 5 109:159 -50 1:11 4th Group 11996 Pre-Qualif. 4 1 0 3 100:111 –11 2:6 3rd Group B1998 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 149:184 –35 0:12 4th Group 12000 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 70:40 +30 4:0 Won vs. ITA2000 Play Off 2 0 0 2 42:48 -6 0:4 Lost vs. FRA2002 Play Off 2 2 0 0 48:45 +3 4:0 Won vs. SVK2002 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 151:166 –15 4:8 10th Place2004 Play Off 2 2 0 0 79:68 +11 4:0 Won vs. TUR2004 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 164:181 –17 4:8 9th Place2006 Play Off 2 1 0 1 60:52 +8 2:2 Won vs. BUL2006 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 80:108 –28 0:6 16th Place2008 Play Off 2 0 1 1 50:54 -4 1:3 Lost vs. BLR2010 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 166:176 –10 6:6 2nd Group 42010 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 54:89 –35 0:6 16th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 1 0 5 138:170 –32 2:10 4th Group 52014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 162:173 –11 6:6 3rd Group 5 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 46 15 2 29 1173:1280 -107 32:60Total EHF EURO 18 4 0 14 449:544 -95 8:28


40


SLOVENIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 38:19 (21:11) vs. Italy @ Koper SLO, 20.11.1999Biggest defeat: 30:14 (18:9) vs. Poland @ Ciechanów POL, 13.10.1993 31:15 (17:5) vs. Ukraine @ Kyiv UKR, 20.10.1993Longest winning run: 5 matches (01.06.2002 – 28.05.2006)Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (01.06.2002 – 28.05.2006)Longest losing run: 8 matches (13.12.1995 – 03.05.1998)Longest run without win: 8 matches (13.12.1995 – 03.05.1998)Current run: L2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 41 vs. Turkey 41:34W @ Ilirska Bistrica SLO, 06.06.2004Most goals opponent: 38 vs. Russia 26:38L @ Trebnje SLO, 11.03.1998Most goals both teams: 75 vs. Turkey 41:34W @ Ilirska Bistrica SLO, 06.06.2004Fewest goals: 13 vs. Poland 13:22L @ Ptuj SLO, 10.04.1993Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs. Greece 17:29W @ Patras GRE, 26.05.2010Fewest goals both teams: 35 vs. Poland 13:22L @ Ptuj SLO, 10.04.1993

SLO VS CRO12.12.2004 Zalaegerszeg HUN SLO-CRO ECh – Group B 29:30 (16:17)

SLO VS MKD22.11.1995 Prilep MKD MKD-SLO ECh-Pre-Qual. – Gp B 31:24 (13:13)25.11.1995 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD ECh-Pre-Qual. – Gp B 27:23 (13:10)02.12.1997 Neubrandenburg GER MKD-SLO WCh – Group D 26:22 (11:11)17.03.1999 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD WCh-Qual. – Group 2 26:23 (14:14)21.03.1999 Skopje MKD MKD-SLO WCh-Qual. – Group 2 21:17 (12:7)19.05.2001 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD WCh-Playoff 29:22 (12:13)26.05.2001 Niš YUG MKD-SLO WCh-Playoff 28:28 (11:13)

SLO VS MNE25.11.2008 Pljevlja MNE MNE-SLO WCh-Qual. – Group 2 32:22 (16:14)



41


FINLANDHUNGARY POLAND SLOVAKIA

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 20:00 Poland vs Finland

08.10.2015 18:00 Hungary vs Slovakia

10.10.2015 18:00 Slovakia vs Poland

11.10.2015 14:00 Finland vs Hungary

Poland vs Hungary

Finland vs Slovakia

Hungary vs Poland

Slovakia vs Finland

Slovakia vs Hungary

Finland vs Poland

Hungary vs Finland

Poland vs Slovakia

42

HUNGARY

Hungary are only one of two teams (Montenegro) who were able to end the Norwegian/Danish dominance at EURO events. Hungary took gold in 2000 and added later bronze to their tally (98, 04, 12). The team’s most recent history was tragically marked by the death of Karl Erik Böhn (coach) who passed away in February 2014. Andras Nemeth has since been in charge, but they disappointingly finished

in sixth, two years after Böhn had led the team to a sensational bronze medal at the 2012 EHF EURO. Their playmaker, two-time Champions League winner and former IHF World Player of the Year Anita Görbicz and could be back on court after giving birth. Besides Görbicz and Zsuzsana Tomori, Nemeth started a big transition by including a big number of younger players.

MEDIA CONTACTLISZKAY GÁBOR +36 306 [email protected]

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 127:128 -1 7:5 2nd Group 11994 Runners-Up 2 2 0 0 65:37 +28 4:0 Won vs. ISL1994 EHF EURO 7 3 1 3 163:160 +3 7:7 4th Place1996 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 149:115 +34 9:3 1st Group 51996 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 131:154 –23 2:10 10th Place1998 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 154:134 +20 11:1 1st Group 21998 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 175:161 +14 10:4 3rd Place2000 Play-off 2 2 0 0 59:45 +14 4:0 Won vs. CZE2000 EHF EURO 7 6 1 0 216:169 +47 13:1 Winner2002 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 223:204 +19 10:4 5th Place2004 EHF EURO 8 6 0 2 236:217 +19 12:4 3rd Place2006 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 234:186 +48 10:4 5th Place2008 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 143:160 -17 5:7 8th Place2010 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 174:134 +40 12:0 1st Group 22010 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 126:147 –21 6:6 10th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 174:138 +36 10:2 2nd Group 12012 EHF EURO 8 4 0 4 219:226 -7 8:8 3rd Place2014 EHF EURO 7 3 1 3 178:172 +6 7:7 6th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 34 27 3 4 902:731 +171 57:11Total EHF EURO 76 43 4 29 2044:1956 +88 90:62



2000 1998, 2004, 2012

OLYMPIC GAMES

2000 1976, 1996

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

1965 1957, 1982, 1995, 2003 1971, 1975, 1978, 2005

43


HUNGARY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 41:19 (20:7) vs. Azerbaijan @ Szombathely HUN, 19.10.2011Biggest defeat: 26:18 (13:9) vs. Germany @ Trier GER, 25.03.2012Longest winning run: 11 matches (08.04.2000 - 22.03.2012)Longest unbeaten run: 21 matches (06.03.1996 – 22.03.2012)Longest losing run: 1 match (13.06.1993) 1 match (16.10.1993) 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (25.03.2012)Longest run without win: 1 match (30.05.1993) 1 match (13.06.1993) 1 match (16.10.1993) 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (05.04.1996) 1 match (03.05.1998) 1 match (25.03.2012)Current run: W2 (30.05.2012 – 03.06.2012)

Most goals: 41 vs. Azerbaijan 41:19W @ Szombathely HUN, 19.10.2011Most goals opponent: 28 vs. Germany 28:28D @ Sindelfingen GER, 03.05.1998Most goals both teams: 61 vs. Azerbaijan 35:26W @ Nyíregyháza HUN, 30.05.2010Fewest goals: 15 vs. Slovakia 17:15L @ Púchov SVK, 04.02.1996Fewest goals opponent: 15 vs. Azerbaijan 15:31W @ Baku AZE, 18.10.2009Fewest goals both teams: 32 vs. Slovakia 17:15L @ Púchov SVK, 04.02.1996

HUN VS FIN No previous encounters

HUN VS POL11.11.1965 Ludwigshafen FRG POL-HUN A-WCh – Group B 5:15 (0:0)03.12.1978 Cheb TCH HUN-POL A-WCh – Group C 21:14 (12:9)10.12.1987 Veliko Tarnovo BUL POL-HUN B-WCh – Group A 24:26 (11:11)06.06.1993 Debrecen HUN HUN-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 1 23:19 (13:7)16.10.1993 Ciechanów POL POL-HUN ECh-Qual. – Group 1 21:18 (13:8)26.11.1993 Østre Toten NOR HUN-POL WCh – Group A 25:25 (13:12)06.12.1996 Brøndby/Sjælland DEN HUN-POL ECh – Group A 21:19 (10:10)13.12.2006 Göteborg SWE HUN-POL ECh –MR-Group I 37:21 (16:9)06.12.2007 Dijon FRA POL-HUN WCh – MR-Group II 26:28 (13:11)28.03.2008 Bucureşti ROU HUN-POL OG – Qual. Tournament 2 39:30 (17:18)09.12.2014 Győr HUN HUN-POL ECh – Group A 29:23 (14:7)

HUN VS SVK18.09.1994 Oldenburg GER SVK-HUN ECh – Group B 23:23 (17:9)31.01.1996 Százhalombatta HUN HUN-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 5 30:22 (17:8)04.02.1996 Púchov SVK SVK-HUN ECh-Qual. – Group 5 17:15 (11:6)06.06.2009 Partizanske SVK SVK-HUN WCh-Playoff 21:22 (9:11)14.06.2009 Nyíregyháza HUN HUN-SVK WCh-Playoff 33:22 (18:11)



44

POLAND

Poland has always been among the top teams ranked 5 to 23 in Europe and at World Championships, but from 2006 to 2014 they didn’t qualify for any EHF EURO event. But beating Sweden in the 2013 World Championship qualification they have put themselves back on the map. Going through the event beating Romania and France they made it to the semi-final, but left empty-handed. This success under Danish born coach Kim Rasmussen was

a signal of change in Polish women’s handball. Rasmussen’s team can count on playmaker Karolina Kudlacz (Leipzig), Alina Wojtas (Larvik) or Kinga Byzdra (Buducnost) to come up with the goods. The 11th place finish at the 2014 EHF EURO was a certain setback, but like ten years ago, Poland again belong to the top of Europe. By beating Ukraine twice, they qualified for the 2015 World Championship.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTJAN KORCZAK-MLECZKO+48 22 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 128:113 +15 6:6 3rd Group 11996 Pre-Qualif. 2 1 0 1 46:43 +3 2:2 Won vs. BLR1996 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 133:132 +1 8:4 2nd Group 21996 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 137:159 –22 2:10 11th Place1998 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 157:136 +21 10:2 1st Group 41998 EHF EURO 6 4 0 2 138:133 +5 8:4 5th Place2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 50:54 -4 2:2 Lost vs. UKR2002 Play-off 2 1 0 1 55:56 -1 2:2 Lost vs. YUG2004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 57:62 -5 0:4 Lost vs. ESP2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 53:44 +9 2:2 Won vs. LTU2006 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 164:186 –22 6:6 8th Place2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 61:63 -2 2:2 Lost vs. POR2010 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 151:191 –40 2:10 4th Group 62012 Qualif. 2 6 3 0 3 163:157 +6 6:6 3rd Group 32014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 140:132 +8 6:6 2nd Group 32014 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 136:162 -26 2:10 11th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 48 24 0 24 1194:1183 +11 48:48Total EHF EURO 24 9 0 15 575:640 -65 18:30


45


POLAND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 30:14 (18:9) vs. Slovenia @ Ciechanów POL, 13.10.1993Biggest defeat: 36:21 (18:10) vs. Ukraine @ Kyiv UKR, 08.04.2000 35:20 (17:11) vs. Russia @ Chekhov RUS, 04.04.2010Longest winning run: 7 matches (03.04.1996 – 29.04.1998)Longest unbeaten run: 7 matches (03.04.1996 – 29.04.1998)Longest losing run: 6 matches (08.06.2008 – 26.05.2010)Longest run without win: 6 matches (08.06.2008 – 26.05.2010)Current run: W1 (14.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Portugal 37:28W @ Elbląg POL, 31.05.2008Most goals opponent: 36 vs. Ukraine 36:21L @ Kyiv UKR, 08.04.2000Most goals both teams: 67 vs. Montenegro 35:32L @ Pljevlja MNE, 26.05.2010Fewest goals: 15 vs. Ukraine 18:15L @ Zaporozhye UKR, 09.03.1996Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Slovenia 13:22W @ Ptuj SLO, 10.04.1993Fewest goals both teams: 33 vs. Ukraine 18:15L @ Zaporozhye UKR, 09.03.1996

POL VS FIN No previous encounters

POL VS HUN11.11.1965 Ludwigshafen FRG POL-HUN A-WCh – Group B 5:15 (0:0)03.12.1978 Cheb TCH HUN-POL A-WCh – Group C 21:14 (12:9)10.12.1987 Veliko Tarnovo BUL POL-HUN B-WCh – Group A 24:26 (11:11)06.06.1993 Debrecen HUN HUN-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 1 23:19 (13:7)16.10.1993 Ciechanów POL POL-HUN ECh-Qual. – Group 1 21:18 (13:8)26.11.1993 Østre Toten NOR HUN-POL WCh – Group A 25:25 (13:12)06.12.1996 Brøndby/Sjælland DEN HUN-POL ECh – Group A 21:19 (10:10)13.12.2006 Göteborg SWE HUN-POL ECh –MR-Group I 37:21 (16:9)06.12.2007 Dijon FRA POL-HUN WCh – MR-Group II 26:28 (13:11)28.03.2008 Bucureşti ROU HUN-POL OG – Qual. Tournament 2 39:30 (17:18)09.12.2014 Győr HUN HUN-POL ECh – Group A 29:23 (14:7)

POL VS SVK23.04.1997 Partizanske SVK SVK-POL WCh-Qual. – Group 7 16:23 (6:9)26.04.1997 Chorzów POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 7 19:19 (9:8)12.02.1998 Chorzów POL POL-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 4 24:19 (12:8)14.02.1998 Púchov SVK SVK-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 4 20:23 (9:13)26.11.2004 Kielce POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 2 29:24 (14:13)26.11.2008 Dąbrowa Górnicza POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 3 26:31 (11:17)18.10.2009 Hlohovec SVK SVK-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 6 32:28 (16:14)30.05.2010 Piotrków Trybunalski POL POL-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 6 24:23 (11:13)03.12.2010 Lublin POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 1 31:28 (12:12)



46

SLOVAKIA

After a 20-year-long wait, the Slovak women’s team qualified again for an EHF EURO event in 2014. And there they ended the hopes of, at the time World Championship silver medallist, Serbia. One key to this success was the arrival of coach Dusan Poloz, he managed to qualify for the EHF EURO by eliminating Iceland including a draw against France. Most of the current national team players play for Slovakian champions HK Slovan Duslo Sala, some from Czech clubs

including former Challenge Cup winner Petra Benuskova (DHK Banik Most), and others play for German sides like Jakubisova for Champions League participant Thüringer HC. In the meantime, some experienced players like Petra Popluharova and Denisa Glankovicova have resigned from the national team, but some young guns have stepped who recently failed to qualify for the 2015 World Championship in the play-offs against Spain.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTTOMÁŠ HÚSKA+421 915 498 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 143:126 +17 7:5 2nd Group 31994 EHF EURO 6 0 1 5 111:148 –37 1:11 12th Place1996 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 124:146 –22 4:8 3rd Group 51998 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 103:83 +20 4:4 2nd Group C1998 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 136:148 –12 2:10 4th Group 42000 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 66:34 +32 4:0 Won vs. GRE2000 Play-off 2 0 0 2 40:63 –23 0:4 Lost vs. DEN2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 45:48 -3 0:4 Lost vs. SLO2004 Play-off 2 1 0 1 46:47 -1 2:2 Lost vs. SCG2006 Qualif. 5 4 1 0 187:113 +74 9:1 1st Group 22006 Play-off 2 0 0 2 46:54 -8 0:4 Lost vs. UKR2008 Qualif. 4 3 1 0 132:100 +32 7:1 1st Group 22008 Play-off 2 0 0 2 51:58 -7 0:4 Lost vs. UKR2010 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 156:193 –37 2:10 3rd Group 62012 Qualif. 2 6 2 0 4 133:154 –21 4:8 3rd Group 62014 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 154:139 +15 7:5 2nd Group 22014 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 129:167 -38 2:10 12th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 61 24 4 33 1562:1506 +56 52:70Total EHF EURO 12 1 1 10 240:315 -75 3:21


47


SLOVAKIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 10:40 (4:19) vs. Finland @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005Biggest defeat: 37:20 (15:8) vs. Denmark @ Kolding DEN, 16.04.2000Longest winning run: 4 matches (23.11.2005 – 27.11.2005)Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (22.11.2005 – 27.11.2005)Longest losing run: 6 matches (26.11.1997 – 15.03.1998) 6 matches (31.03.2010 – 22.10.2011)Longest run without win: 6 matches (26.11.1997 – 15.03.1998) 6 matches (31.03.2010 – 22.10.2011)Current run: L1 (15.06.2014)

Most goals: 45 vs. Azerbaijan 28:45W @ Lagos POR, 26.11.2005Most goals opponent: 39 vs. Montenegro 39:24L @ Pljevlja MNE, 31.03.2010Most goals both teams: 73 vs. Azerbaijan 28:45W @ Lagos POR, 26.11.2005Fewest goals: 14 vs. Spain 30:14L @ Algemesi ESP, 26.11.1997Fewest goals opponent: 10 vs. Finland 10:40W @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005Fewest goals both teams: 32 vs. Hungary 17:15W @ Púchov SVK, 04.02.1996

SVK VS FIN25.11.2005 Lagos POR SVK-FIN ECh-Qual. – Group 2 40:10 (19:4)01.12.2012 Partizánske SVK SVK-FIN WCh-Qual. – Group 1 38:18 (20:8)26.03.2014 Vantaa – Vanda FIN FIN-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 2 25:27 (14:12)29.03.2014 Michalovce SVK SVK-FIN ECh-Qual. – Group 2 38:17 (17:7)

SVK VS HUN18.09.1994 Oldenburg GER SVK-HUN ECh – Group B 23:23 (17:9)31.01.1996 Százhalombatta HUN HUN-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 5 30:22 (17:8)04.02.1996 Púchov SVK SVK-HUN ECh-Qual. – Group 5 17:15 (11:6)06.06.2009 Partizanske SVK SVK-HUN WCh-Playoff 21:22 (9:11)14.06.2009 Nyíregyháza HUN HUN-SVK WCh-Playoff 33:22 (18:11)

SVK VS POL23.04.1997 Partizanske SVK SVK-POL WCh-Qual. – Group 7 16:23 (6:9)26.04.1997 Chorzów POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 7 19:19 (9:8)12.02.1998 Chorzów POL POL-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 4 24:19 (12:8)14.02.1998 Púchov SVK SVK-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 4 20:23 (9:13)26.11.2004 Kielce POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 2 29:24 (14:13)26.11.2008 Dąbrowa Górnicza POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 3 26:31 (11:17)18.10.2009 Hlohovec SVK SVK-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 6 32:28 (16:14)30.05.2010 Piotrków Trybunalski POL POL-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 6 24:23 (11:13)03.12.2010 Lublin POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 1 31:28 (12:12)



48

FINLAND

In contrast to their Scandinavian neighbours Sweden and Norway, handball has no long and successful tradition in Finland. But in the past years, the women’s team have made progress. After winning the IHF/EHF Challenge Trophy twice in 2008 and 2010, the door to EHF EURO qualification was open. In 2013, on the way to the EHF EURO 2014, the Finnish team then made it to the group qualification

stage for the first time. Though the amateur squad of national team coach Jan Hagman lost all their respective matches against Iceland, France and Slovakia, their will to improve did not stop. In June, Finland finished on top of their qualification group after beating Kosovo and Israel. Key players are Alexandra Roos (playing for Swedish club Skara HK) and Madeleine Lindholm.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTMARKUS ERHOVAARA+358 400 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK2006 Qualif. 5 0 0 5 100:176 -76 0:10 6th Group 22010 Pre-Qualif. 2 0 0 2 37:41 -4 0:4 Lost vs. GBR2012 Qualif. 1 2 0 0 2 42:58 –16 0:4 Lost vs. GBR2014 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 106:191 –85 0:12 4th Group 22016 Qualif. 1 2 2 0 0 53:42 +11 4:0 1st Group B -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 17 2 0 15 338:508 -170 4:30


49


FINLAND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 27:19 (12:6) vs. Kosovo @ Karjaa – Karis FIN, 12.06.2015Biggest defeat: 40:10 (19:4) vs. Slovakia @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005Longest winning run: 2 matches (12.06.2015 – 14.06.2015)Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (12.06.2015 – 14.06.2015)Longest losing run: 15 matches (22.11.2005 – 15.06.2014)Longest run without win: 15 matches (22.11.2005 – 15.06.2014)Current run: W2 (12.06.2015 – 14.06.2015)

Most goals: 27 vs. Greece 29:27L @ Lagos POR, 27.11.2005 27 vs. Kosovo 27:19W @ Karjaa - Karis FIN, 12.06.2015Most goals opponent: 40 vs. Slovakia 40:10L @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005Most goals both teams: 59 vs. Azerbaijan 35:24L @ Lagos POR, 23.11.2005Fewest goals: 10 vs. Slovakia 40:10L @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs. Great Britain 14:17L @ Helsinki – Helsingfors FIN, 23.09.2009Fewest goals both teams: 31 vs. Great Britain 14:17L @ Helsinki – Helsingfors FIN, 23.09.2009

FIN VS HUN No previous encounters

FIN VS POL No previous encounters

FIN VS SVK25.11.2005 Lagos POR SVK-FIN ECh-Qual. – Group 2 40:10 (19:4)01.12.2012 Partizánske SVK SVK-FIN WCh-Qual. – Group 1 38:18 (20:8)26.03.2014 Vantaa – Vanda FIN FIN-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 2 25:27 (14:12)29.03.2014 Michalovce SVK SVK-FIN ECh-Qual. – Group 2 38:17 (17:7)



50


DENMARK RUSSIA TURKEY PORTUGAL

DATE TIME FIXTURE

08.10.2015 19:00 Russia vs Portugal

08.10.2015 20:15 Denmark vs Turkey

11.10.2015 16:10 Portugal vs Denmark

11.10.2015 17:00 Turkey vs Russia

Russia vs Denmark

Portugal vs Turkey

Turkey vs Portugal

12.03.2016 17:10 Denmark vs Russia

Turkey vs Denmark

Portugal vs Russia

Russia vs Turkey

05.06.2016 17:10 Denmark vs Portugal

51

DENMARK

Hosting the World Championship in December this qualification is one of the first stepping stones in their journey. From 1994 to 2004 the Danish national team were very successful being crowned Olympic champions (96, 00, 04), world champions (97) and European champions (94, 96, 02). However, this success was followed by an 11-year medal drought, which finally ended in 2013 as they won

bronze at the World Championship. From U17 to U20 the Danes are on top with gold to their name in the 2015 summer events and they will hope to build on this youth success in the coming major tournaments. In the EHF EURO 2014 they disappointingly finished in 8th. The result of this was that Jan Pytlick was replaced by former Danish international coach Klavs Bruun Jörgensen.

MEDIA CONTACTSBODIL KJAERGAARD+45 4326 [email protected]

ALEXANDER ELVERLUND+45 4326 [email protected] www.dhf.dk


1994, 1996, 2002

1998, 2004

OLYMPIC GAMES

1996, 2000, 2004

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

1997 1962, 1993 2013

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 188:117 +71 9:3 2nd Group 61994 Runners Up 2 2 0 0 46:36 +10 4:0 Won vs. BUL1994 EHF EURO 7 7 0 0 186:151 +35 14:0 Winner1996 EHF EURO 7 7 0 0 197:146 +51 14:0 Winner1998 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 189:163 +26 10:4 Runners-up2000 Play-off 2 2 0 0 63:40 +23 4:0 Won vs. SVK2000 EHF EURO 6 1 1 4 151:159 -8 3:9 10th Place2002 EHF EURO 8 8 0 0 200:171 +29 16:0 Winner2004 EHF EURO 8 6 0 2 202:189 +13 12:4 Runners-up2006 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 148:156 -8 4:8 11th Place2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 45:44 +1 2:2 Won vs. TUR2008 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 145:160 -15 5:7 11th Place2010 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 192:175 +17 10:6 4th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 171:137 +34 8:4 2nd Group 62012 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 217:206 +11 10:4 5th Place2014 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 204:164 +40 12:0 1st Group 12014 EHF EURO 6 3 1 2 155:147 +8 7:5 8th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 24 19 1 4 717:538 +179 39:9Total EHF EURO 76 51 3 22 1982:1823 +159 105:47


52


DENMARK NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 41:13 (14:8) vs. Moldova @ Kalundborg DEN, 07.10.1993Biggest defeat: 31:25 (12:10) vs. Croatia @ Zagreb CRO, 12.06.1993Longest winning run: 8 matches (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014)Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (15.09.1993 – 16.04.2000)Longest losing run: 2 matches (21.03.2012 – 24.03.2012)Longest run without win: 2 matches (21.03.2012 – 24.03.2012)Current run: W8 (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 42 vs. Austria 42:27W @ Roskilde DEN, 24.10.2013Most goals opponent: 31 vs. Croatia 31:25L @ Zagreb CRO, 12.06.1993 31 vs. Croatia 27:31L @ Randers DEN, 24.03.2012 31 vs. Lithuania 31:38W @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.10.2013Most goals both teams: 69 vs. Austria 42:27W @ Roskilde DEN, 24.10.2013 69 vs. Lithuania 31:38W @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.10.2013Fewest goals: 19 vs. Croatia 19:19D @ Ikast DEN, 12.10.1993 19 vs. Croatia 21:19L @ Rijeka CRO, 21.03.2012Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Moldova 41:13W @ Kalundborg DEN, 07.10.1993Fewest goals both teams: 38 vs. Croatia 19:19D @ Ikast DEN, 12.10.1993 38 vs. Bulgaria 18:20W @ Gabrovo BUL, 02.03.1994

DEN VS POR04.11.1986 València ESP POR-DEN C-WCh – Group A 18:33 (6:17)06.06.2009 In Peso da Regua POR POR-DEN WCh-Playoff 21:38 (8:18)13.06.2009 Århus DEN DEN-POR WCh-Playoff 41:22 (17:7)

DEN VS RUS28.11.1993 Sandefjord NOR RUS-DEN WCh – Group B 21:24 (10:12)07.12.1997 Neubrandenburg GER DEN-RUS WCh – Group D 22:22 (12:12)13.12.1997 Berlin GER DEN-RUS WCh – 1/2-final 32:22 (19:12)14.12.1998 ‘s-Hertogenbosch NED DEN-RUS ECh – Group B 27:22 (14:10)15.12.2001 Trento ITA DEN-RUS WCh – 1/2-final 20:26 (12:11)14.12.2002 Århus DEN DEN-RUS ECh – 1/2-final 22:18 (8:11)18.12.2004 Budapest HUN RUS-DEN ECh – 1/2-final 27:31 (11:11)17.12.2005 St. Petersburg RUS RUS-DEN WCh – 1/2-final 31:24 (16:9)13.12.2006 Stockholm SWE RUS-DEN ECh –MR-Group II 32:27 (17:13)15.12.2009 Yangzhou CHN DEN-RUS WCh – MR-Group I 25:30 (12:13)13.12.2010 Herning DEN DEN-RUS ECh – MR-Group I 26:20 (11:10)27.05.2012 Aalborg DEN DEN-RUS OG – Qual. Tourn. 3 20:27 (9:9)15.12.2012 Beograd SRB DEN-RUS ECh – Place 5/6 32:30 (15:15)

DEN VS TUR01.06.2008 Ankara TUR TUR-DEN ECh-Playoff 25:24 (14:11)06.06.2008 Ǻrhus DEN DEN-TUR ECh-Playoff 21:19 (12:5)02.06.2013 Çankaya, Ankara TUR TUR-DEN WCh-Playoff 24:42 (13:18)08.06.2013 Aarhus DEN DEN-TUR WCh-Playoff 31:26 (13:15)



53

RUSSIA

Alongside Norway, from 2001 to 2009, Russia were the dominant team in the world of women’s handball. They won four World Championship titles (2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009) and an Olympic silver medal in 2008. But at the European Championships, Russia never secured a title; the biggest EHF EURO success came in 2006 when the team won silver. But for the first time in their history, they failed

to qualify for a World Championship in 2013, one year later they didn’t make it to the main round at the EHF EURO 2014. Even Evgeny Trefilov did not bring success, but they kept their faith in him, and the Russians eliminated Germany on route to the 2015 World Championship. Trefilov has started a huge transition in his team, giving the responsibility to young players from their successful youth programmes.


2006

2000, 2008

OLYMPIC GAMES

2008

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2001, 2005, 2007, 2008

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTIVAN VORONTSOV +7 916 736 86 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 179:88 +91 12:0 1st Group 21994 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 143:116 +27 6:6 6th Place1996 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 151:119 +32 10:2 1st Group 41996 EHF EURO 6 3 1 2 164:147 +17 7:5 7th Place1998 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 160:149 +11 8:4 2nd Group 11998 EHF EURO 6 1 1 4 144:147 -3 3:9 9th Place2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 53:53 0 2:2 Won vs. ESP2000 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 163:148 +15 10:4 3rd Place2002 EHF EURO 8 4 1 3 202:189 +13 9:7 4th Place2004 EHF EURO 8 4 0 4 226:215 +11 8:8 4th Place2006 EHF EURO 8 7 0 1 242:200 +42 14:2 Runners-up2008 EHF EURO 8 5 1 2 210:183 +27 11:5 3rd Place2010 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 196:155 +41 9:3 2nd Group 62010 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 159:145 +14 6:6 7th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 155:135 +20 8:4 2nd Group 32012 EHF EURO 7 2 3 2 190:180 +10 7:7 6th Place2014 Qualif. 4 3 0 1 123:107 +16 6:2 2nd Group 72014 EHF EURO 3 0 1 2 79:83 -4 1:5 14th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 36 27 1 8 1017:806 +211 55:17Total EHF EURO 73 37 8 28 1922:1753 +169 82:64


54


RUSSIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 10:31 (3:15) vs. Italy @ Enna ITA, 15.06.1993 17:38 (7:19) vs. Portugal @ Lagoa POR, 30.12.1993Biggest defeat: 27:19 (12:10) vs. Austria @ Stockerau AUT, 02.05.1998 30:22 (15:14) vs. Poland @ Kwidzyn POL, 30.05.2012Longest winning run: 11 matches (14.06.1993 – 03.04.1996)Longest unbeaten run: 11 matches (14.06.1993 – 03.04.1996)Longest losing run: 2 matches (02.05.1998 – 08.04.2000)Longest run without win: 2 matches (02.05.1998 – 08.04.2000)Current run: W3 (27.10.2013 – 29.03.2014)

Most goals: 38 vs. Portugal 17:38W @ Lagoa POR, 30.12.1993 38 vs. Slovenia 26:38W @ Trebnje SLO, 11.03.1998Most goals opponent: 33 vs. Spain 33:29L @ Lucena ESP, 08.04.2000Most goals both teams: 64 vs. Slovenia 26:38W @ Trebnje SLO, 11.03.1998Fewest goals: 19 vs. Austria 27:19L @ Stockerau AUT, 02.05.1998Fewest goals opponent: 10 vs. Italy 10:31W @ Enna ITA, 15.06.1993Fewest goals both teams: 38 vs. Iceland 14:24W @ Reykjavík ISL, 10.10.1993

RUS VS DEN28.11.1993 Sandefjord NOR RUS-DEN WCh – Group B 21:24 (10:12)07.12.1997 Neubrandenburg GER DEN-RUS WCh – Group D 22:22 (12:12)13.12.1997 Berlin GER DEN-RUS WCh – 1/2-final 32:22 (19:12)14.12.1998 ‘s-Hertogenbosch NED DEN-RUS ECh – Group B 27:22 (14:10)15.12.2001 Trento ITA DEN-RUS WCh – 1/2-final 20:26 (12:11)14.12.2002 Århus DEN DEN-RUS ECh – 1/2-final 22:18 (8:11)18.12.2004 Budapest HUN RUS-DEN ECh – 1/2-final 27:31 (11:11)17.12.2005 St. Petersburg RUS RUS-DEN WCh – 1/2-final 31:24 (16:9)13.12.2006 Stockholm SWE RUS-DEN ECh –MR-Group II 32:27 (17:13)15.12.2009 Yangzhou CHN DEN-RUS WCh – MR-Group I 25:30 (12:13)13.12.2010 Herning DEN DEN-RUS ECh – MR-Group I 26:20 (11:10)27.05.2012 Aalborg DEN DEN-RUS OG – Qual. Tourn. 3 20:27 (9:9)15.12.2012 Beograd SRB DEN-RUS ECh – Place 5/6 32:30 (15:15)

RUS VS POR28.12.1993 Lagoa POR POR-RUS ECh-Qual. – Group 2 15:26 (7:14)30.12.1993 Lagoa POR POR-RUS ECh-Qual. – Group 2 17:38 (7:19)

RUS VS TUR No previous encounters



55

TURKEY

Beach handball is where you see Turkey’s name on a podium most, but the Turkish women’s team have never made it to a major indoor tournament. Hikmet Vurgun & Co. have shown huge improvement in the previous years, however. In 2012/13, they won their pre-qualification group for the 2013 World Championship, but then had to face the mighty Denmark after they had beaten FYR Macedonia and Lithuania in EHF EURO 2012 qualification.

Two years later, in the EHF EURO 2014 qualification Spain and Netherlands were too much for them. Their biggest name is Yeliz Özel who played for Kometal Skopje and Oltchim Valcea and was a Champions League finalist twice. She has returned to Turkey, joining Champions League qualification participant Ankara. All the players of the current squad play for domestic sides, mostly in Muratpasa, Izmir or Ankara.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTEKREM ÖZSOY+90 530 660 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 112:182 –70 0:12 4th Group 31996 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 88:87 +1 4:4 2nd Group A1998 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 109:117 -8 4:4 2nd Group A2000 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 45:38 +7 4:0 Won vs. LTU2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 50:59 -9 2:2 Lost vs. BLR2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 42:60 –18 0:4 Lost vs. ESP2004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 68:79 –11 0:4 Lost vs. SLO2006 Qualif. 5 3 0 2 164:145 +19 6:4 3rd Group 12006 Play-off 2 0 1 1 53:64 –11 1:3 Lost vs. FRA2008 Qualif. 4 3 0 1 132:88 +44 6:2 2nd Group 32008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 44:45 -1 2:2 Lost vs. DEN2010 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 167:156 +11 4:8 3rd Group 52012 Qualif. 2 6 2 0 4 175:190 –15 4:8 3rd Group 42014 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 110:166 –56 4:8 3rd Group 4 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 53 20 1 32 1359:1476 -117 41:65


56


TURKEY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 13:37 (5:21) vs. Latvia @ Plzeň CZE, 30.11.2007Biggest defeat: 28:11 (15:5) vs. Spain @ León ESP, 24.10.2013Longest winning run: 3 matches (13.11.1999 – 09.04.2000) 3 matches (25.11.2005 – 27.11.2005) 3 matches (28.11.2007 – 01.12.2007)Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (25.11.2005 – 26.05.2006)Longest losing run: 7 matches (16.04.2000 – 23.11.2005)Longest run without win: 7 matches (16.04.2000 – 23.11.2005)Current run: L2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 39 vs. Switzerland 29:39W @ Mezzocorona ITA, 27.11.2005Most goals opponent: 41 vs. Slovenia 41:34L @ Ilirska Bistrica SLO, 06.06.2004Most goals both teams: 75 vs. Slovenia 41:34L @ Ilirska Bistrica SLO, 06.06.2004Fewest goals: 11 vs. Spain 28:11L @ León ESP, 24.10.2013Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Latvia 13:37W @ Plzeň CZE, 30.11.2007Fewest goals both teams: 39 vs. Spain 28:11L @ León ESP, 24.10.2013

TUR VS DEN01.06.2008 Ankara TUR TUR-DEN ECh-Playoff 25:24 (14:11)06.06.2008 Ǻrhus DEN DEN-TUR ECh-Playoff 21:19 (12:5)02.06.2013 Çankaya, Ankara TUR TUR-DEN WCh-Playoff 24:42 (13:18)08.06.2013 Aarhus DEN DEN-TUR WCh-Playoff 31:26 (13:15)

TUR VS POR22.03.1991 Mortara ITA POR-TUR C-WCh – Place 9/10 16:14 (6:6)29.10.1997 Moura POR POR-TUR ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group A 26:28 (13:13)02.11.1997 Rize TUR TUR-POR ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group A 28:25 (15:13)04.12.2010 Funchal/Madeira POR POR-TUR WCh-Qual. – Group 3 18:31 (9:13)06.10.2012 Anadia POR POR-TUR WCh-Qual. – Group 4 38:36 (20:17)01.12.2012 Çankaya, Ankara TUR TUR-POR WCh-Qual. – Group 4 35:26 (21:12)04.12.2014 Stockerau AUT TUR-POR ECh-Qual. 1 – Group 2 28:27 (14:14)

TUR VS RUS No previous encounters



57

PORTUGAL

Ulysses Miguel was appointed new head coach of the women’s team this summer, and his mission is anything but easy with him losing Alexandrina Barbosa who (now playing for French side Fleury) took on Spanish citizenship. So coach Miguel will continue to build a team based on young players, from top club and record champion Madeira. In their only appearance at an EHF EURO final tournament in 2008, Portugal were beaten by all three

tough opponents in their group. In the pre-qualification for the 2013 World Championship, they beat Azerbaijan and Turkey. In qualification for the EHF EURO 2012 the won against Greece and two years later - on the road to the EHF EURO in Croatia and Hungary - they had a tough group with defending champions Montenegro, Poland and the Czech Republic, but caused a sensation drawing with the Montenegrins.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTCLAUDIA TEIXEIRA +351 21 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 1 1 4 96:136 –40 3:9 3rd Group 21996 Pre-Qualif. 6 2 1 3 129:144 –15 5:7 3rd Group E1998 Pre-Qualif. 4 0 0 4 100:132 –32 0:8 4rd Group A2000 Qualif. 2 1 0 1 49:54 -5 2:2 Lost vs. SWE2002 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 55:44 +11 4:0 Won vs. BIH2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 49:58 -9 0:4 Lost vs. NED2004 Qualif. 3 1 0 2 80:81 -1 2:4 2nd Group 22004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 49:54 -5 0:4 Lost vs. UKR2006 Qualif. 5 4 1 0 154:117 +37 9:1 2nd Group 22006 Play-off 2 0 0 2 48:51 -3 0:4 Lost vs. CRO2008 Qualif. 4 2 1 1 119:115 +4 5:3 3rd Group 22008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 63:61 +2 2:2 Won vs. POL2008 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 67:101 -34 0:6 6th Place2010 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 142:204 –62 0:12 4th Group 12012 Qualif. 2 6 2 0 4 151:180 –29 4:8 3rd Group 22014 Qualif. 6 0 1 5 127:172 –45 1:11 4th Group 3 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 58 16 5 37 1411:1603 -192 37:79Total EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 67:101 -34 0:6


58


PORTUGAL NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 35:18 (17:11) vs. Finland @ Lagos POR, 26.11.2005Biggest defeat: 17:38 (7:19) vs. Russia @ Lagoa POR, 30.12.1993 23:44 (12:20) vs. Romania @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010Longest winning run: 4 matches (23.11.2005 – 27.11.2005)Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (22.11.2005 – 27.11.2005)Longest losing run: 8 matches (14.10.2009 – 23.10.2011)Longest run without win: 8 matches (14.10.2009 – 23.10.2011) 8 matches (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014)Current run: D1 (15.06.2014)

Most goals: 35 vs. Finland 35:18W @ Lagos POR, 26.11.2005 35 vs. Poland 35:24W @ Vila Nova de Gaia POR, 08.06.2008Most goals opponent: 44 vs. Romania 23:44L @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010Most goals both teams: 67 vs. Yugoslavia 41:26L @ Kučevo SCG, 25.09.1997 67 vs. Ukraine 31:36L @ Lagos POR, 17.10.2009 67 vs. Romania 23:44L @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010Fewest goals: 11 vs. Iceland 11:16L @ Porto POR, 13.06.1993Fewest goals opponent: 14 vs. Italy 14:14D @ Palermo ITA, 10.10.1993Fewest goals both teams: 27 vs. Iceland 11:16L @ Porto POR, 13.06.1993

POR VS DEN04.11.1986 València ESP POR-DEN C-WCh – Group A 18:33 (6:17)06.06.2009 In Peso da Regua POR POR-DEN WCh-Playoff 21:38 (8:18)13.06.2009 Århus DEN DEN-POR WCh-Playoff 41:22 (17:7)

POR VS RUS28.12.1993 Lagoa POR POR-RUS ECh-Qual. – Group 2 15:26 (7:14)30.12.1993 Lagoa POR POR-RUS ECh-Qual. – Group 2 17:38 (7:19)

POR VS TUR22.03.1991 Mortara ITA POR-TUR C-WCh – Place 9/10 16:14 (6:6)29.10.1997 Moura POR POR-TUR ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group A 26:28 (13:13)02.11.1997 Rize TUR TUR-POR ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group A 28:25 (15:13)04.12.2010 Funchal/Madeira POR POR-TUR WCh-Qual. – Group 3 18:31 (9:13)06.10.2012 Anadia POR POR-TUR WCh-Qual. – Group 4 38:36 (20:17)01.12.2012 Çankaya, Ankara TUR TUR-POR WCh-Qual. – Group 4 35:26 (21:12)04.12.2014 Stockerau AUT TUR-POR ECh-Qual. 1 – Group 2 28:27 (14:14)



59


SWITZERLANDFRANCE GERMANY ICELAND

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 19:30 Germany vs Switzerland

08.10.2015 19:00 France vs Iceland

11.10.2015 15:00 Switzerland vs France

11.10.2015 16:00 Iceland vs Germany

Germany vs France

Switzerland vs Iceland

France vs Germany

Iceland vs Switzerland

Iceland vs France

Switzerland vs Germany

France vs Switzerland

Germany vs Iceland

60

FRANCE

The women’s French national team seems to have more success at World Championships than EHF EURO events, with one gold and three silver versus just two bronze. This title from 2003 was a final win over Hungary in Zagreb, the last final performance was the appearance in China in 2009 as they were beaten by Russia. When it comes down to crunch-time the French seem to come up short like in the 2012 Olympic quarter-final

against Montenegro or in the 2013 World Championship quarter-final against Poland. With the EHF EURO 2018 taking place in France for the first time the side of Alain Portes will be looking to take advantage of their physically strong and back court scorers like Alexandra Lacrabere, brilliant game technicians like Allison Pineau and swift wings such as Siraba Dembele or goalkeepers like Amandine Leynaud.

MEDIA CONTACTNADEGE COULET+33 1 46 15 03 [email protected]


2002, 2006

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2003

1999, 2009, 2011

TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 2 1 3 125:125 0 5:7 3rd Group 51996 Pre-Qualif. 4 3 1 0 107:90 +17 7:1 1st Group B1996 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 116:125 -9 2:10 4th Group 21998 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 127:127 0 6:6 3rd Group 32000 Play-off 2 2 0 0 48:42 +6 4:0 Won vs. SLO2000 EHF EURO 6 4 0 2 150:125 +25 8:4 5th Place2002 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 189:191 -2 10:6 3rd Place2004 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 153:177 –24 2:10 11th Place2006 Play-off 2 1 1 0 64:53 +11 3:1 Won vs. TUR2006 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 203:196 +7 10:6 3rd Place2008 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 74:83 -9 0:6 14th Place2010 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 191:124 +67 12:0 1st Group 32010 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 168:153 +15 10:4 5th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 215:149 +66 10:2 1st Group 42012 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 140:131 +9 6:6 9th Place2014 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 163:108 +55 11:1 1st Group 22014 EHF EURO 7 5 1 1 168:150 +18 11:3 5th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 44 28 4 12 1156:943 +213 60:28Total EHF EURO 51 28 1 22 1245:1206 +39 57:45


61


FRANCE NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 16:42 (09:18) v Great Britain @ London GBR, 17.10.2009Biggest defeat: 27:19 (13:08) v Germany @ Wermelskirchen GER, 08.03.1996Longest winning run: 9 matches (03.06.2006 – 23.10.2011)Longest unbeaten run: 12 matches (08.04.2000 - 23.10.2011)Longest losing run: 4 matches (06.03.1996 – 06.04.1996)Longest run without win: 4 matches (15.06.1993 – 19.10.1993) 4 matches (06.03.1996 – 06.04.1996)Current run: W1 (15.06.2014)

Most goals: 42 v Great Britain 16:42W @ London GBR, 17.10.2009Most goals opponent: 30 v FYR Macedonia 30:27L @ Skopje MKD, 22.03.2012Most goals both teams: 65 v Lithuania 25:40W @ Alytus LTU, 23.10.2011Fewest goals: 14 v Norway 14:17L @ Lille FRA, 19.10.1993 14 v Germany 14:16L @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Finland 13:27W @ Vantaa – Vanda FIN, 27.10.2013 13 vs. Finland 36:13W @ Mouilleron-le-Captif FRA, 15.06.2014Fewest goals both teams: 30 v Germany 14:16L @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996

FRA VS GER06.03.1996 Liévin FRA FRA-GER ECh-Qual. – Group 2 14:16 (8:5)08.03.1996 Wermelskirchen GER GER-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 2 27:19 (13:8)10.12.2000 Râmnicu Vâlcea ROU FRA-GER ECh – Group A 25:19 (12:12)16.12.2004 Debrecen HUN GER-FRA ECh – MR-Group II 29:27 (13:16)12.12.2005 St. Petersburg RUS GER-FRA WCh – MR-Group II 32:26 (18:13)17.12.2006 Stockholm SWE FRA-GER ECh – Place 3/4 29:25 (14:11)10.12.2009 Wuxi CHN GER-FRA WCh – Group A 15:29 (10:10)16.12.2014 Zagreb CRO GER-FRA ECh – MR-Group II 24:24 (13:10)

FRA VS ISL30.10.1988 Dreux FRA FRA-ISL C-WCh – Group A 16:12 (7:4)14.10.2009 Besançon FRA FRA-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 3 32:23 (16:12)26.05.2010 Reykjavík ISL ISL-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 3 24:27 (11:13)26.03.2014 Reykjavík ISL ISL-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 2 21:27 (11:15)29.03.2014 Limoges FRA FRA-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 2 24:19 (10:13)

FRA VS SUI No previous encounters



62

GERMANY

The Germans have participated in all editions of the EHF EURO even making it to the semi-final three times and taking silver in 1994 on their home court. A more recent highlight is their bronze medal from the 2007 World Championship in France. Danish-born coach Jakob Vestergaard came up short in his first task as coach as they were defeated twice by Russia in the play-offs for the 2015 World Championship,

to be later awarded an IHF wild card. Vestergaard will be keeping the 2017 World Championship at home in focus as he prepares his team with a huge number of talents – like players from the 2014 silver squad of the U19 World Championships. Such young talents will be integrated into the squad alongside the more experienced Clara Woltering and Anja Althaus.

MEDIA CONTACTTIM OLIVER KALLE +49 231 [email protected]


1994 2000, 2008

OLYMPIC GAMES

1976 1980 (both GDR)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

1971, 1975, 1978 (all GDR), 1993 1965, 1990 (GDR), 1997, 2007 TEAM PROFILE

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 152:143 +9 10:4 Runners-up1996 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 134:118 +16 8:4 1st Group 21996 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 169:165 +4 8:6 4th Place1998 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 158:137 +21 9:3 2nd Group 21998 EHF EURO 6 4 0 2 140:145 -5 8:4 6th Place2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 45:42 +3 2:2 Won vs. CRO2000 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 139:155 –16 4:8 9th Place2002 Play-off 2 1 1 0 49:46 +3 3:1 Won vs. CRO2002 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 142:168 –26 2:10 11th Place2004 Play-off 2 1 0 1 51:47 +4 2:2 Won vs. MKD2004 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 183:173 +10 10:4 5th Place2006 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 228:208 +20 10:6 4th Place2008 EHF EURO 8 5 1 2 227:208 +19 11:5 4th Place2010 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 205:129 +76 12:0 1st Group 42010 EHF EURO 3 1 0 2 78:87 -9 2:4 13th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 178:125 +53 10:2 1st Group 12012 EHF EURO 6 3 1 2 136:132 +4 7:5 7th Place2014 Qualif. 4 3 0 1 114:93 +21 6:2 1st Group 72014 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 164:165 -1 5:7 10th Place -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 34 25 2 7 934:737 +197 52:16Total EHF EURO 70 37 3 30 1758:1749 +9 77:63


63



GERMANY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 45:19 (20:9) vs. Italy @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010Biggest defeat: 24:20 (13:11) vs. Croatia @ Zagreb CRO, 08.04.2000Longest winning run: 9 matches (05.06.2004 – 23.10.2011)Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (05.06.2004 – 23.10.2011)Longest losing run: 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (04.04.1996) 1 match (29.04.1998) 1 match (08.04.2000) 1 match (29.05.2004) 1 match (22.03.2012) 1 match (27.10.2013)Longest run without win: 3 matches (29.04.1998 – 08.04.2000)Current run: W2 (11.06.2014 – 14.06.2014)

Most goals: 45 vs. Italy 45:19W @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010Most goals opponent: 29 vs. Russia 29:28L @ Astrakhan RUS, 27.10.2013Most goals both teams: 64 vs. Italy 45:19W @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010Fewest goals: 16 vs. France 14:16W @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996Fewest goals opponent: 14 vs. France 14:16W @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996Fewest goals both teams: 30 vs. France 14:16W @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996

GER VS FRA06.03.1996 Liévin FRA FRA-GER ECh-Qual. – Group 2 14:16 (8:5)08.03.1996 Wermelskirchen GER GER-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 2 27:19 (13:8)10.12.2000 Râmnicu Vâlcea ROU FRA-GER ECh – Group A 25:19 (12:12)16.12.2004 Debrecen HUN GER-FRA ECh – MR-Group II 29:27 (13:16)12.12.2005 St. Petersburg RUS GER-FRA WCh – MR-Group II 32:26 (18:13)17.12.2006 Stockholm SWE FRA-GER ECh – Place 3/4 29:25 (14:11)10.12.2009 Wuxi CHN GER-FRA WCh – Group A 15:29 (10:10)16.12.2014 Zagreb CRO GER-FRA ECh – MR-Group II 24:24 (13:10)

GER VS ISL07.12.2011 Santos BRA ISL-GER WCh – Group A 26:20 (13:12)

GER VS SUI No previous encounters


64

ICELAND

The first two EHF European Championships in 2010 and 2012, were invaluable international experience for them. Ranking 15th on both occasions they are still waiting on their first win at an EHF EURO final tournament. After years of failing to make it through the pre-qualification, the national team has changed its course of action - many Icelandic players are now under contracts at

foreign clubs like in Denmark or Germany. In the quest to qualify for the Women’s EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia only one point was missing to clinch their berth. Now head coach August Johannsson will have to try hard against competitors like France and Germany - after his team failed to make it to the 2015 World Championship against Montenegro despite drawing on home court.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTEINAR THORVARDARSON +354 5 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 2 2 2 111:121 -10 6:6 2nd Group 21994 Runners-Up 2 0 0 2 37:65 –28 0:4 Lost vs. HUN1996 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 95:140 –45 0:12 4th Group 41998 Pre-Qualif. 2 0 0 2 44:63 –19 0:4 Lost vs. BUL2004 Qualif. 3 1 0 2 76:85 -9 2:4 3rd Group 22004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 44:51 -7 0:4 Lost vs. CZE2006 Qualif. 5 2 1 2 137:129 +8 5:5 4th Group 12006 Play-off 2 0 0 2 47:55 -8 0:4 Lost vs. MKD2008 Qualif. 5 4 0 1 151:131 +20 8:2 2nd Group 12008 Play-off 2 0 0 2 46:70 –24 0:4 Lost vs. ROU2010 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 166:146 +20 6:6 2nd Group 32010 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 69:91 –22 0:6 15th Place2012 Qualif. 2 6 3 0 3 140:123 +17 6:6 3rd Group 72012 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 56:78 –22 0:6 15th Place2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 151:136 +15 6:6 3rd Group 2 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 53 18 3 32 1245:1315 -70 39:67Total EHF EURO 6 0 0 6 125:169 -44 0:12


• PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE • PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE • PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE •

65



ICELAND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 40:20 (23:9) vs. Great Britain @ Reykjavík ISL, 03.04.2010Biggest defeat: 36:19 (21:9) vs. Bulgaria @ Sofia BUL, 01.11.1997Longest winning run: 4 matches (28.11.2007 – 02.12.2007)Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (28.11.2007 – 02.12.2007)Longest losing run: 10 matches (04.03.1994 – 02.11.1997)Longest run without win: 10 matches (04.03.1994 – 02.11.1997)Current run: W2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 40 vs. Greece 27:40W @ Panevėžys LTU, 30.11.2007 40 vs. Great Britain 40:20W @ Reykjavík ISL, 03.04.2010Most goals opponent: 37 vs. Romania 23:37L @ Reykjavík ISL, 01.06.2008Most goals both teams: 67 vs. Greece 27:40W @ Panevėžys LTU, 30.11.2007Fewest goals: 12 vs. Sweden 12:23L @ Vestmannaeyjar/Vestman-islands ISL, 09.03.1996Fewest goals opponent: 11 vs. Portugal 11:16W @ Porto POR, 13.06.1993Fewest goals both teams: 27 vs. Portugal 11:16W @ Porto POR, 13.06.1993

ISL VS FRA30.10.1988 Dreux FRA FRA-ISL C-WCh – Group A 16:12 (7:4)14.10.2009 Besançon FRA FRA-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 3 32:23 (16:12)26.05.2010 Reykjavík ISL ISL-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 3 24:27 (11:13)26.03.2014 Reykjavík ISL ISL-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 2 21:27 (11:15)29.03.2014 Limoges FRA FRA-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 2 24:19 (10:13)

ISL VS GER07.12.2011 Santos BRA ISL-GER WCh – Group A 26:20 (13:12)

ISL VS SUI17.12.1985 Hude FRG SUI-ISL B-WCh – Place 13-16 26:13 (17:10)01.11.1988 Chateau des Vaux FRA ISL-SUI C-WCh – Place 5/6 19:17 (6:10, 16:16)12.03.1997 Gossau SUI SUI-ISL WCh-Qual. – Group 4 30:23 (15:11)15.03.1997 Seltjarnarnes ISL ISL-SUI WCh-Qual. – Group 4 21:18 (12:11)25.11.2005 Mezzocorona ITA SUI-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 1 22:25 (12:10)27.11.2008 Dąbrowa Górnicza POL SUI-ISL WCh-Qual. – Group 3 30:41 (14:20)22.03.2012 St. Gallen SUI SUI-ISL ECh-Qual. 2 – Group 7 19:26 (12:15)25.03.2012 Hlíðarendi ISL ISL-SUI ECh-Qual. 2 – Group 7 31:16 (15:9


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SWITZERLAND

Jesper Holmris former British women’s coach, with Olympic Games experience, will try and climb the steep qualification ladder as Switzerland look for a major event berth. In their various past EHF EURO qualification attempts, the Swiss side only managed two victories against Portugal and one against Azerbaijan. Likewise in pre-qualification for the 2013 World Championship they beat Greece and Finland, managing to beat the Greek

side two years later. Four player of the current squad are signed at clubs abroad, three of them in Germany and Karin Weigelt in Norway. Top star Nicole Dinkel is contracted by EHF Cup debutants Metzingen - where she has four German internationals as teammates. With France having won 20 of the last 22 meetings and Germany 15 of the last 16 says all about tough task ahead.

TEAM PROFILE

MEDIA CONTACTMARCO ELLENBERGER +41 79 629 58 [email protected]

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK1994 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 145:129 +16 4:8 3rd Group 41996 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 73:74 -1 4:4 2nd Group C2000 Qualif. 2 0 0 2 44:47 -3 0:4 Lost vs. BUL2002 Qualif. 2 0 0 2 41:59 –18 0:4 Lost vs. LTU2004 Qualif. 3 1 0 2 84:86 -2 2:4 3rd Group 12004 Play Off 2 0 1 1 45:55 –10 1:3 Lost vs. SWE2006 Qualif. 5 2 0 3 137:136 +1 4:6 5th Group 12008 Qualif. 4 1 0 3 92:113 –21 2:6 4th Group 22010 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 143:184 –41 4:8 3rd Group 12012 Qualif. 2 6 0 0 6 119:173 –54 0:12 4th Group 72014 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 131:175 –44 0:12 4th Group 5 -------------------------------------Total Qualif. 46 10 1 35 1054:1231 -177 21:71


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SWITZERLAND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS


Biggest win: 38:13 (14:6) vs. Georgia @ St. Gallen SUI, 07.02.1993Biggest defeat: 18:39 (7:20) vs. Romania @ Zürich SUI, 17.10.2009Longest winning run: 2 matches (06.02.1993 – 07.02.1993) 2 matches (31.03.2010 – 03.04.2010)Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (06.02.1993 – 07.02.1993) 2 matches (31.03.2010 – 03.04.2010)Longest losing run: 14 matches (26.05.2010 – 15.06.2014)Longest run without win: 14 matches (26.05.2010 – 15.06.2014)Current run: L14 (26.05.2010 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 38 vs. Georgia 38:13W @ St. Gallen SUI, 07.02.1993Most goals opponent: 39 vs. Turkey 39:29L @ Mezzocorona ITA, 27.11.2005 39 vs. Romania 18:39L @ Zürich SUI, 17.10.2009Most goals both teams: 68 vs. Azerbaijan 35:33L @ Gabrovo BUL, 21.11.2003 68 vs. Turkey 39:29L @ Mezzocorona ITA, 27.11.2005Fewest goals: 13 vs. Poland 13:22L @ Ptuj SLO, 10.04.1993Fewest goals opponent: 12 vs. Belgium 12:29W @ Mezzocorona ITA, 22.11.2005Fewest goals both teams: 32 vs. Italy 17:15L @ Biella ITA, 29.10.1995

SUI VS FRA No previous encounters

SUI VS GER No previous encounters

SUI VS ISL17.12.1985 Hude FRG SUI-ISL B-WCh – Place 13-16 26:13 (17:10)01.11.1988 Chateau des Vaux FRA ISL-SUI C-WCh – Place 5/6 19:17 (6:10, 16:16)12.03.1997 Gossau SUI SUI-ISL WCh-Qual. – Group 4 30:23 (15:11)15.03.1997 Seltjarnarnes ISL ISL-SUI WCh-Qual. – Group 4 21:18 (12:11)25.11.2005 Mezzocorona ITA SUI-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 1 22:25 (12:10)27.11.2008 Dąbrowa Górnicza POL SUI-ISL WCh-Qual. – Group 3 30:41 (14:20)22.03.2012 St. Gallen SUI SUI-ISL ECh-Qual. 2 – Group 7 19:26 (12:15)25.03.2012 Hlíðarendi ISL ISL-SUI ECh-Qual. 2 – Group 7 31:16 (15:9)



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Bella Gulldén, Most Valuable Player at the Women’s EHF EURO 2014, explains why and how her first international championship on home court will be all about ‘Pure heart. All hands.’:

When Sweden hosted the Women’s EHF EURO 2006, Isabelle Gulldén was 17 years old. Now she is 25 and the captain of the Swedish national team.

“I watched many games in 2006. I remember that Sweden got their best result to date and that the players received well-deserved attention which made me work harder to play for the national team myself,” she says.

When the EHF EURO 2010 came around, she was one of the key players that steered Sweden to silver, the team’s first championship medal.

One explanation of the success was that the championship was held in the neighbouring countries of Norway and Denmark.

“The Norwegians, Danes and Swedes created an awesome atmosphere! It felt almost like home court and gave our team a big energy boost.

“I hope the Scandinavians can create that kind of atmosphere in Sweden 2016 as well,” says Gulldén.

Passion and skillShe has seen the logo, which is hand drawn from scratch with a brush and water colours. Every line, every splatter and every beautiful imperfection is made by hand.

“I think it is perfect. It shows the contrasts in handball. I’m not sure there is any other sport where you have to be so tough and so technical at the same time.

“To achieve something in handball you need to have both a passionate heart and a skillful hand.”

All different colours and textures mixing into each other in the logo stand for the nations coming together - on the court all are equal.

“That is so true. I have learned a lot by playing with players from loads of different countries.

“Every player has their own view on tactics, training and loves handball in their own way and we can all learn a lot from each other,” says Gulldén.

The slogan for Sweden 2016 is: “Pure heart. All hands.”

It describes that every sport involves more than mechanics and more than passion.

It takes both heart and hands to win, and both are what create an impact and excitement for fans and players alike.

Gulldén: “The best tournaments I have experieced, both as a youngster and senior, is when so much is happening off the court as there is on the court.

“That is what we are hoping to create at EHF EURO 2016, together with all the visitors.”

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The final tournament will take place in Sweden from 4 to 18 December 2016. The host cities and playing halls were carefully selected for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016 with the utmost care and consideration based on the bidding documents, with every city bringing its own speical energy and charm.

Further information regarding the host cities and on the venues themselves can be found on the offical Women’s EHF EURO 2016 website: swe2016.ehf-euro.com

EHF EURO VENUES

STOCKHOLM HOVET

KRISTIANSTAD KRISTIANSTAD ARENA

GOTHENBURG SCANDINAVIUM

MALMÖ MALMÖ ISSTADION

Will host Group A matches in the preliminary round. Capacity: 8,094

Will host Group B matches in the preliminary round. Capacity: 4,700

Will host matches in Main Round Group I and the final weekend. Capacity: 12,000

Will host Group C matches in the preliminary round. Capacity: 5,800

HELSINGBORG HELSINGBORGS ARENAWill host Group D matches in the preliminary round and in Main Round Group II. Capacity: 4,700

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EHF EURO 1994 Germany Denmark

EHF EURO 1996 Denmark Denmark

EHF EURO 1998 The Netherlands Norway

EHF EURO 2000 Romania Hungary

EHF EURO 2002 Denmark Denmark

EHF EURO 2004 Hungary Norway

EHF EURO 2006 Sweden Norway

EHF EURO 2008 FYR Macedonia Norway

EHF EURO 2010 Denmark & Norway Norway

EHF EURO 2012 Serbia Montenegro

EHF EURO 2014 Hungary & Croatia Norway

WOMEN’S EHF EURO HOST EHF EURO WINNERS

EHF MEDIATELEPHONE

+43 1 80 151 164

[email protected]

TWITTER@EHFEURO

FACEBOOKwww.facebook.com/EHFEURO

WEBSITEwww.ehf-euro.com

ADDRESSHoffingergasse 18

1120 Vienna, Austria

Documents

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