Three teams booked their places at
the Women’s EHF EURO 2018 when the qualification schedule up to Round 4 was
completed over the weekend: defending champions Norway, 2016 semi-finalists
Denmark and EHF EURO 2012 champions Montenegro. All three sides maintained a
perfect record of four wins in four qualification matches, securing their
tickets to the final tournament in France with the maximum eight points.
Qualification Rounds 3 and 4 saw
a series of double header clashes, with Norway taking two wins against Croatia
in Group 1, Montenegro beating 2015 World Championship semi-finalists Poland
twice in Group 2, and Denmark recording two victories over Czech Republic in
Group 5. The pressure is therefore already high in these playing groups, as only
the top two teams from each proceed.
In Group 3, Serbia and Sweden are
locked in a battle to top the table, after each recording three wins so far.
Both sides won their home match in the mutual double header clash, and sit on
six points ahead of FYR Macedonia on four and Faroe Islands – contesting this
stage of the qualification for the first time – on zero.
The points situation in Group 4
is the same, though the table leaders are somewhat unexpected, as 2015 World
Championship bronze medallists Romania are on six points alongside Austria.
After an impressive win against Romania (30:25) in Round 3 and a one-goal
defeat in Round 4 (25:26), 2016 Olympic champions Russia are in a precarious
position in third (four points). The team could face what would be a shock
elimination if they do not climb into the top two places or finish the
qualification phase as the best third-ranked side overall.
Though Denmark have booked one of
the available places, the rest of Groups 5 remains open. Slovenia sit on four
points behind Denmark, Czech Republic tally three and Iceland have accumulated
one after drawing with Slovenia at home in Round 3 then suffering a clear
defeat away in Round 4 (18:28).
In their Group 6 double header,
Spain and Germany each took a victory at home. Spain therefore finished Round 4
with six points, while Germany count five. Turkey and Lithuania drew in their
first double header clash, before Turkey recorded a clear win at home (30:24)
in the second. Turkey therefore rank third with three points and Lithuania are
on two.
Like Spain and Germany, the
Netherlands and Hungary each recorded a victory in their Group 7 double header
– but both enjoyed a stronger performance away. Netherlands beat Hungary 19:18
in Györ in Round 3, before Hungary won 23:22 in Eindhoven in Round 4. Also in
Group 7, Belarus recorded two victories against Kosovo, moving their points
tally to four, while Kosovo remain on zero.
Two rounds of qualification
remain, to be played from May 30 to June 3. More information can be found on
the official EHF EURO website.