When Spain and Romania clash in the Germany 2017 Match of the Day on Tuesday in Group A in Trier, it will be something like a family gathering: Romania coach Ambros Martin and goalkeeper coach Jaume Fort are Spaniards. Martin, who currently also coaches three-time EHF Champions League winners Györ (Hungary), had been coach of the Spanish top club Itxako before – and will face four players on Tuesday, who had been part of his Itxako team in the 2011 Champions League final: Goalkeeper Silvia Navarro, right wing Carmen Martin and the backs Alexandrina Barbosa Cabral and Nerea Pena.

 

Thus, Martin knows everything about the Spanish tactic and style – on the other hand, his counterpart Carlos Viver and his players know how Martin will instruct his side. “Of course, it will be special to face a Spanish coach, and more special, when it was your coach before,” says Carmen Martin.

 

Both sides are the currently the only unbeaten teams in Group A with the optimum of four points on their account. Both have beaten the underdogs Paraguay before. Besides, Romania had a tough nut to crack against Slovenia, as well as Spain against Angola.

 

In history, Spain stood several times in the way of Romania, like at the 2014 EHF EURO in Hungary and Croatia, when Spain eventually took the silver medal. There, the Iberians beat Romania in the crucial main round duel 22:20. The same happened at the 2008 EHF EURO in Skopje, when Spain beat Romania 26:18 in the decisive match for the semi-final berth to later-on win their first ever medal at major tournaments. Two years ago, Spain beat Romania at the World Championship in Denmark clearly 26:18, but it was Romania who laughed last as they won the bronze medal, while Spain were eliminated in the eighth-final.

 

At Germany 2017, both sides still have to face Olympic silver medallists France in their remaining two group matches. Depending on the other results in their group, the winners of the Match of the Day can already clinch their eighth-final berth.

 

Group A:

 

While France are the clear favourites against Paraguay, Slovenia might have a higher hurdle to cross against Angola. But both European sides are certainly in the favourite role as they face teams without any points so far. France had beaten Angola after their opening defeat against Slovenia, while the latter lost a true thriller against Romania, but are clearly on course for the eighth-finals. Another Slovenian win would clearly limit the Angolan hopes for a top position.

 

Group B:

 

Hungary and Argentina, who face in Tuesday’s opener at Bietigheim, are both at zero points so far – although this result comes as no surprise for the South Americans after they faced defending world champions Norway and the Czech Republic, Hungary had at least hoped for more than a 22:25 against Sweden after the clear defeat against Norway – now the team of Danish-born coach Kim Rasmussen need a success to keep the fire of hope burning.

 

In the second encounter, Czech Republic can make their dream of making it to the eighth-finals already come true. After their victories against Argentina and Poland, another win against Sweden would secure them their ticket to the knock-out stage. Sweden surprisingly lost against Poland, but then beat Hungary and stand currently at two points. In match 3, Norway will not underestimate the Poland side, but after their dominant performance so far anything than a clear win would be a surprise against the rejuvenated Poles.

 

Group C:

 

With two points after the tough encounters against Denmark (win) and Russia (defeat) on their account, Montenegro’s outcome is quite impressive. The 2012 EURO champions are the favourites against Japan, but need to watch the fast pace of the Asian runners-up, who surprised Brazil (28:28) but were taught a lesson by Denmark (18:32).

 

The second match at Oldenburg will answer the question, whether Brazil have the power to stand the heat against the Olympic champions. The Brazilian performances against Japan and Tunisia (23:22) were weaker than expected, mainly in attack. Russia have a clean record after two rounds.

 

Against Tunisia, Denmark (2 points) hope for another easy-going win like the one against Japan on Sunday. After their surprisingly clear defeat against Montenegro, the record Olympic champions seemed to be back on track.

 

Group D:

 

Round 3 in Leipzig will be opened by the only all-Asian match of the preliminary round at Germany 2017. And the roles of Republic of Korea and China are clear: Asian champions Korea have sensationally beaten World and European Championship runners-up Netherlands and gave host Germany a tough fight, while China were chanceless against Serbia as well as the Netherlands.

 

Netherlands learnt their lesson from the defeat against Korea and now the Dutch express is on the run, proved by a 40:15 win against China. A similar result is expected on Tuesday against Cameroon.

 

Finally, the only unbeaten teams of Group D face in an all-European duel: Serbia, the goal machine of Germany 2017, with 77 goals from the first two matches against Cameroon and China, and hosts Germany, who had to fight for 60 minutes to defeat Korea after an easy task against Cameroon in their opener. If Cameroon and China lose their respective matches before, the winners of this encounter are already qualified for the eighth-finals.