The path to the Women’s EHF EURO 2020 begins on Wednesday September 25, when 28 national teams from across Europe start the qualification phase for next year’s continental championship in Denmark and Norway. The Women’s EHF EURO 2020 will take place from December 3 to 20 next year. 

As the co-hosts, Denmark and Norway have an automatic berth for the event and will therefore not participate in the qualification stage – leaving 14 tickets to the final tournament available. 

The 28 teams have been drawn into seven qualification playing groups, which each feature four nations. Over the next nine months, the teams will play six rounds of qualification matches, featuring a series of home-and-away games against their respective group opponents. At the conclusion of round 6, in May 2020, the two top teams in each group will qualify for the EURO.

From September 25 to 29, the first two rounds will be played. The opening games will see Croatia host Iceland, Montenegro play Italy and Serbia meet Switzerland at 18:00 CET on Wednesday – the first of a total 28 matches that will take place from mid-week through Sunday. 

Current European and world champions France will start their campaign to defend their title in qualification Group 6, meeting Turkey and Iceland in rounds 1 and 2. EHF EURO 2018 and 2017 World Championship bronze medallists the Netherlands will start in Group 1, playing Austria at home, then travelling to Greece for round 2. 

The runners-up at last year’s European championship, and the current Olympic title holders, Russia, will play from Group 4. Russia will take on Slovakia and Switzerland in their first clashes. 

“This will be my debut as a coach of the Russian team! I want to win, two victories in the two starting matches with Slovakia and Switzerland,” new Russia coach Ambros Martin, who previously led Romania and won four Champions League titles as coach of Györ. 

“Our qualifying group is balanced, every game is important, because we have seen more than once how less experienced teams present surprises at the expense of will and inspiration. The first two matches will be especially difficult, because this is the beginning of the season. 
 
“We are starting a new chapter in the history of the Russian national team and should become better every day.”

All matches will be streamed live and free, with some geo-blocking restrictions, on ehfTV.com. More information on the Women’s EHF EURO 2020 can be found on the official website of the competition. 

Photo: EHF / Kolektiff Images