Review: 2016 IHF Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament I – Metz, France
Teams: France, Japan, Netherlands, Tunisia

Netherlands and France qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from the IHF Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament I held at the Les Arenes in Metz, France.

For the host nation it went down to their final game – a winner-takes-all match against Japan – to confirm their ticket to Brazil, behind Netherland, who won the group with ease.

For full statistics, reports and pictures, visit the Metz mini-site HERE.

Match Day 1

Japan vs Tunisia 37:20 (19:8)
Japan’s offensive defence and counter attacks proved destructive for Tunisia from the beginning as the North Africans faced a 5-1 defensive system which limited their shooting options, resulting in counter attack after counter attack for the Asian team, who took full advantage with Shio Fujii top-scoring on eight goals for Japan and Amal Hamrouni with seven for Tunisia.

Best Player of the Match presented by adidas: Shio FUJII (JPN) – Right Back

To view a Facebook photo gallery from this match CLICK HERE.

Netherlands vs France 24:17 (9:7)
The low-scoring nature of the match reflected the exceptional defensive and goalkeeping battle in a match which Netherlands went in at the break two-up, but the 2015 IHF Women’s World Championship runners-up asserted their superiority in the final 10 minutes to stun the 4,000 capacity home crowd to take the win.

Laura van der Heijden struck five times for Netherlands with Siraba Dembele on the same amount for France to finish as top scorers.

Best Player of the Match presented by adidas: Tess WESTER (NED) - Goalkeeper

To view a Facebook photo gallery from this match CLICK HERE.

Match Day 2

Netherlands vs Japan 33:25 (15:16)
The Netherlands opened day two in Metz with a win against Japan to make it two wins from two and reach their ‘One Team, One Dream’ four-year Olympic dream.

In what was one of the shocks of all three  2016 IHF Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournaments, Japan led the second-placed team at Denmark 2015 by one goal at half-time thanks to five strikes from Shio Fujii and six from Aya Yokoshima – and if the game had ended like that Japan would have been on the plane to Rio.

Dutch coach Henk Groener worked his magic at the break and his side went on a 10:3 run over the next 19 minutes in a devastating attacking performance against a Japan side who ran out of gas as their opponents confirmed their Rio 2016 participation. Angela Malestein top scored on eight for Netherlands while Aya Yokoshima top-scored on seven for Japan.

Best Player of the Match presented by adidas: Yvette BROCH (NED) - Pivot

To view a Facebook photo gallery from this match CLICK HERE.

France vs Tunisia 33:15 (20:6)
With a 14-goal lead at half-time, this game was over after 30 minutes as the hosts set up a grand finale against Japan on match day three for the final ticket to Rio in Metz.

It was all plain sailing for the French as Tunisia did not record double figures from their attack in either half but bravely fought the impossible. However, the home team steadily increased their lead whilst at the other end, Laura Glaser, their only goalkeeper in the game ended with a 52% save rate.

Manon Houette with eight goals was France’s best finisher as Tunisia had three with three goals apiece in their best showing.

Best Player of the Match presented by adidas: Laura GLAUSER (FRA) - Goalkeeper

To view a Facebook photo gallery from this match CLICK HERE.

Match Day 3

Tunisia vs Netherlands 20:46 (10:27)
Neither team had anything much to play for in the opening game of the final day in Metz, except for pride and some on-court experiments, which Netherlands did, starting with a different seven than usual, playing a 5-1 defensive system.

Netherlands, with one eye on a good seeding for the Rio 2016 draw if they won the group, led throughout the match, 10 goals up at 14:4 in the 15th minute and 17-up at half time. The second half saw a dominant 7:0 run with Tunisia unable to score until the 40th minute, and with the score at 34:11, the last 20 minutes was a practice match.

Lois Abbingh top-scored with eight for the Dutch and Tunisia, again, could only manage three goals as their top score, with three players netting this total each.

Best Player of the Match presented by adidas: Lois ABBINGH (NED) – Left Back

France vs Japan 25:17 (11:7)
In front of 4,000 passionate home fans, France defeated Japan to confirm their Rio 2016 place in a winner-takes-all match.

Hoping to break the European dominance, Japan proved more than capable opponents, scoring first and just one goal down after 27 minutes (8:7). But a quick 3:0 run before the break was enough for a four-goal lead, a lead of which Japan never caught up with.

With 15 minutes remaining France held a six-goal lead at 18:12, and as the clock ticked on, their place in Rio became increasingly more secure and as their place for the Olympics was confirmed at the final buzzer, tears of joy and sadness were shed on court as France realised their dream and Japan wondered ‘what if?'

Best Player of the Match presented by adidas: Allison PINEAU (FRA) – Centre Back

Statistics – 2016 IHF Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament I – Metz, France

Best Attack (Goals Scored): 103 (NED)
Highest Amount of Shots: 154 (NED)
Best Defence (Goals Conceded): 56 (FRA)
Most Shots Faced: 166 (TUN)
Most Shots Saved: 40 (FRA)
Best Goalkeeper: Amandine LEYNAUD (FRA) 46% save ratio (22/48)
Top Scorer: Shio FUJII (JPN) – 19
Top Assists: Mayuko ISHITATE (JPN) – 9
Top Scorer + Assists: Shio FUJII (JPN) – 24

Photos: Stephane Pillaud