A number of matches in the first and second rounds of qualification on the path to the next Men’s European Championship, the EHF EURO 2022, were played over the past week. The Men’s EHF EURO will be held in Hungary and Slovakia in January 2022. 

Rounds 1 and 2 of the final qualification stage for the continental championship saw the postponement of some games, but many were able to take place. 

After the opening rounds, Sweden, Denmark, North Macedonia, Portugal and Germany hold the maximum of four points following two victories. Russia are also undefeated, but count three points thanks to one win and a draw. However, the points situation between teams is not entirely indicative of the qualification stage leaders considering not all squads were able to play their two scheduled matches due to various reasons resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (travel restrictions, potential for lengthy quarantine periods, positive COVID-19 tests in the teams involved). 

Germany lead Group 2 with their four points, collected due to wins versus Bosnia and Herzegovina (25:21) and Estonia (35:23). Alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria played just one match, versus Estonia in Round 1, winning 31:28 to put their two points on the table.  

Russia’s three points make them the frontrunners in Group 3. Russia faced Ukraine in a double header played over the two rounds, where the first game ended in a draw (27:27) and Russia won the second 30:28. As the other teams in the group, Czech Republic and Faroe Islands, did not play any matches, Ukraine’s one point from the opening draw is enough to place them second on the group table at this stage. 

Courtesy of their wins over Israel (31:22) and Lithuania (34:26), Portugal lead Group 4 ahead of Iceland. Iceland count two points following a win in their only match, 36:20 versus Lithuania. With zero points so far, Israel and Lithuania round out the group standings in third and fourth. 

In Groups 5 and 6, only one match was able to be played. In Group 5, the Netherlands hosted Turkey in the first round, winning the match narrowly, 27:26. EHF EURO 2020 semi-finalists Slovenia and the other team vying for a place in the final tournament from Group 5, Poland, have yet to open their qualification campaigns. 

Slovenia’s EHF EURO 2020 bronze-medal match opponents, Norway, started their qualification phase with a Round 2 match versus Italy. The two-time World Championship finalists won the away game clearly, 39:24. As that game was the only one played in Group 6, the current standings see Norway on top with their two points; Belarus and Latvia in second and third, waiting to start their campaigns; and Italy fourth following their defeat. 

The only groups where all four teams played both matches as scheduled were Groups 7, home of current world champions Denmark, and 8. Both Denmark and North Macedonia took two wins in the opening rounds and lead the group with their resulting four points. Denmark beat Switzerland (31:26) while North Macedonia defeated Finland (33:24) in Round 1, before both sides also won their away games in Round 2: North Macedonia beating Switzerland (25:23) and Denmark earning a 40:22 victory against Finland.

In Group 8, EHF EURO 2018 runners-up Sweden defeated Romania (33:30) and Kosovo (30:16) to claim their place as group leaders, with four points so far. Romania recovered from their Round 1 loss to Sweden and beat Montenegro decisively (36:27) in Round 2. In Round 1, Montenegro defeated Kosovo 32:25. The opening rounds therefore conclude with Romania in second and Montenegro in third on the Group 8 table, both with two points, while Kosovo are fourth with zero. 

For the Group 1 teams, it was not possible for any of the scheduled matches to take place. Therefore, France, Serbia, Belgium and Greece await their first games in the EHF EURO 2022 qualification phase. 

Qualified teams start EHF EURO Cup 

While phase 2 of the EHF EURO 2022 qualification got underway over the past week, the EHF EURO Cup simultaneously opened. The EHF EURO Cup is contested by the teams directly qualified for the final tournament – Hungary and Slovakia as co-hosts, and defending champions Spain and 2020 silver medallists Croatia.

Two of the four matches scheduled in the EHF EURO Cup were postponed. In the opening round, Hungary beat Spain 32:29, before losing to Croatia (27:31) in the second. 

More information on the Men’s EHF EURO 2022 can be found on the official website of the EHF.

Photo: Federação de Andebol de Portugal