While the Men’s 20 EHF EURO 2018 decided the continental champion in Celje, the lower-tier Men’s 20 EHF Championships were played simultaneously in FYR Macedonia and Montenegro. At the tournament in Skopje, it was hosts FYR Macedonia who celebrated the title after overcoming Belarus in the final. In Podgorica, Czech Republic won their final against Austria with a dominant performance.

 

Hosts celebrate title in Skopje

 

FYR Macedonia were undefeated in their campaign, topping preliminary Group B following three wins and one draw. The hosts defeated Great Britain, Switzerland and Ukraine, but drew with Italy. Unlike the EHF EURO, which follows a preliminary round then main round format, the EHF Championships proceed directly from the preliminary round to the semi-finals.

 

FYR Macedonia qualified for the semi-finals alongside Group B opponents Switzerland, as well as Group A winners Belarus and second-ranked Faroe Islands. The Group A teams played one more match each than the squads in Group B, as there were six nations in Group A and five in Group B. Silver medallists Belarus recorded wins over Greece, Estonia, Lithuania and Finland before suffering their first loss at the hands of Faroe Islands in the last preliminary match.

 

In the semi-finals, FYR Macedonia beat Faroe Islands 27:25, while Belarus won 33:27 versus Switzerland. Switzerland cruised to the bronze medal with a 32:17 victory against Faroe Islands in the 3/4 play-off. FYR Macedonia took the title with a 29:23 win over Belarus in the final.

 

Lithuania’s Karolis Antanavicius was the top scorer of the EHF Championship in Skopje, with 53 goals.

 

Czech Republic take title, hosts claim bronze

 

Playing in preliminary round Group A, with five opponents, Czech Republic finished with a near-perfect record of four wins and one loss. The title winners beat Netherlands, Kosovo, Moldova and Bulgaria, and were defeated by Austria – who they would face again in the final. Austria defeated all the Group A squads apart from the Netherlands, against whom they drew.

 

Hosts Montenegro won Group B, defeating Latvia, Turkey, Slovakia and Georgia to collect the maximum eight points and proceed to the knock-out round as the only side with a perfect record. Latvia, whose only loss was against Montenegro, were the other team to qualify for the semi-finals from Group B.

 

In the semi-finals, Czech Republic brought a sharp end to Montenegro’s undefeated run, as they enjoyed a dominant 25:13 win against the hosts. Austria also had a clear victory in their semi-final, beating Latvia 30:21. It seemed the stage was set for a thrilling final, but Czech Republic allowed their opponents no chance, racing to a 14:7 lead by half-time and finishing with a 27:17 result in their favour. Montenegro won the bronze medal thanks to a 29:23 victory against Latvia.

 

Roman Dodica scored 64 goals for Moldova to finish as the top scorer in this competition.

 

The final ranking of the Men’s 20 EHF Championships 2018 is as follows:

 

Skopje:

 

1. FYR Macedonia

2. Belarus

3. Switzerland

4. Faroe Islands

5. Ukraine

6. Lithuania

7. Estonia

8. Italy

9. Greece

10. Finland

11. Great Britain

 

Podgorica:

 

1. Czech Republic

2. Austria

3. Montenegro

4. Latvia

5. Netherlands

6. Turkey

7. Kosovo

8. Slovakia

9. Bulgaria

10. Moldova

11. Georgia

 

While the Men’s 20 EHF EURO is contested between the 16 top-ranked sides in the continent, the Men’s 20 EHF Championship is intended to help the lower-ranked nations develop their junior-age players. As such, participation in the EHF Championships was determined by seeding by the EHF.

 

More information on the EHF Championships can be found on the official website of the EHF.

Photos: Filip Viranowski; EHF