SUMMARY: Montenegro's late win, French and German brilliance
The race to the Women's EHF EURO 2024 continues this week with round 3 of the qualifiers. The round opened on Wednesday with nine qualifers and two EHF EURO Cup matches, which saw Denmark become the first to book a place at the final tournament in Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland through the qualifiers.
On Thursday, another seven qualifiers take place, including the Highlight Match Serbia vs Montenegro on at 18:00 CET.
It was a really good second half, but in the beginning we played lightly in defence. In the second half it was a good, strong defence and we need to repeat that, as well as have more focus in key moments.
We had a good opening of the game. We didn't allow their two key players, Janjusevic and Jovovic, to play how they usually play. In the second half they showed what they can do, but we knew that we had to play until the end. This is big two points for us. The next match in Podgorica will be harder, but we will be ready. The atmosphere will be nice. We can't wait.
We didn't have the opportunity to play in Poland with full stands for a long time, so from the morning we kept repeating to ourselves that we had to put on a good show and enjoy the match together with the fans. We will go to Denmark for the rematch with our heads held high. We will analyse today's match. It will probably be even more difficult away, but we will try to repel their attack.
We are extremely happy to take our first ever victory in the second qualification phase. We were the favourites, but we did not expect to win that clearly. We ran Luxembourg over, mainly after the break, when they got tired. This was a first step, but we still have a long road ahead of us.
20:12 RESULT | LUXEMBOURG VS FAROE ISLANDS 16:34
That's it! Faroe Islands have earned their first win ever in this stage of the Women's EHF EURO qualifiers. It's a commanding victory over Luxembourg that puts Faroe Islands' first points on the table, spearheaded by eight goals from Jana Mittún and 11 saves at a rate of 47.83 per cent from Annika Petersen.
20:03
Faroe Islands can really see a dream within reach now, as there is no doubt they will take the points now, and celebrate their first ever win in this phase. If they can do this away, the chances look very good for the home leg coming up on Sunday, when Luxembourg will visit Torshavn.
With not only the two top teams in each group proceeding to the final tournament but four of the best third-ranked teams, Faroe Islands could be looking at an historic year after the men made their EHF EURO debut in January.
In the other qualifiers, Denmark have the narrowest of edges over Poland as they chase their berth at the final tournament, while Greece and the Netherlands have strong leads over their hosts.
- 54th minute: Luxembourg vs Faroe Islands 15:28
- 43rd minute: Poland vs Denmark 17:18
- 39th minute: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Greece 12:16
- Half-time: Norway vs Austria 19:10 — EHF EURO Cup
- 15th minute: Czechia vs Netherlands 6:9 — Highlight Match
19:54
With 15 minutes to go in Luxembourg, Faroe Islands look very much on the way to an historic win, as they lead by eight goals. Poland, Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece are back for the second halves of their matches, while the Highlight Match of the night, Czechia vs Netherlands, has begun.
- 45th minute: Luxembourg vs Faroe Islands 12:23
- 34th minute: Poland vs Denmark 11:13
- 31st minute: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Greece 8:12
- Half-time: Norway vs Austria 19:10 — EHF EURO Cup
- 7th minute: Czechia vs Netherlands 3:6 — Highlight Match
19:51 HALF-TIME | NORWAY VS AUSTRIA 19:10
A clear lead for Norway at half-time in the second EHF EURO Cup game of the night, as the European title holders target their third win in three games.
The top scorer of the Cup after the first two rounds, Austria's Ines Ivancok, nets four goals for the visitors this half.
19:43 HALF-TIME | BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA VS GREECE 8:12
Greece aim for their first win of the qualifiers tonight and give themselves a strong chance as they take a four-goal lead into the break.
It's a night for the goalkeepers across Europe it seems, as both teams see a great performance in goal. For the home side, Anica Gudelj has saved at 44.44 per cent and for Greece Magdalini Kepesidou has recorded 50 per cent, with both stopping eight shots.
Fun fact: Kepesidou was the All-star Team goalkeeper at the 2018 Beach Handball World Championship, where she played a big role as Greece won the world title on debut at the event.
19:37 HALF-TIME | POLAND VS DENMARK 9:11
A quite level first half with Denmark occasionally a goal or two in front after the low score of 4:4 at the 18-minute mark. The Scandinavian side and EHF EURO 2022 finalists go to the break with a narrow edge.
In Denmark's goal, Althea Reinhardt produces a huge game with seven saves at 47.67 per cent.
19:33 RESULT | SLOVAKIA VS ISRAEL 31:22
Slovakia enjoy their first victory of the qualifiers with a clear result against Israel. It is Slovakia's fifth win in five games against Israel overall.
Barbora Lancz finishes as top scorer, with nine goals for Slovakia, while Mor Shaul scores seven for Israel. In goal, two keepers had superb matches: Aleksandra Ivanytsia saves 14 at 45.16 per cent for Slovakia and Agam Nisemzon saves six at 50 per cent for Israel.
19:29 HALF-TIME | LUXEMBOURG VS FAROE ISLANDS 9:16
Faroe Islands are on track to take their first win of the qualifiers, which would also be their first win ever in this phase. If Luxembourg come back and take the victory, it would be the same record for them — a first win in this stage. So it is a big game for the two relative newcomers to the qualifiers, who both participated for the first time less than 10 years ago — Faroe Islands in 2016 and Luxembourg in 2018.
It is also the first game ever between these sides.
19:21
One last look at Azerbaijan's special win with some of the best photos of the moment:
19:11
We are underway with one match to keep a special eye on tonight: Poland vs Denmark. Playing in the only three-team group in the qualifiers, Denmark have the chance to become the first side through to the final tournament from this phase tonight. With two wins so far, just one point will be enough to assure Denmark one of the two top positions in the group.
If they miss it tonight, they will have the opportunity again at home in round 4 on Saturday.
The game tonight is Poland's first of the qualifiers. They have not won against Denmark since 1990, with Denmark taking every victory since then across 10 mutual games.
Here's where we're at right now:
- 45th minute: Slovakia vs Israel 26:15
- 22nd minute: Luxembourg vs Faroe Islands 4:11
- 7th minute: Poland vs Denmark 1:1
- 6th minute: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Greece 1:2
- Throw-off at 19:15 CET: Norway vs Austria — EHF EURO Cup
Below, enjoy some photos from the matches played so far on this big day of EHF EURO qualifiers and EHF EURO Cup games.
We haven’t met in the national team since the end of the World Championship. It is good to be together again. Today part of our tactics was to run deeply behind the Swiss defence as many times as we could, and our teammates succeeded to give us passes, so the wing and line players had many opportunities. I am happy about it and it was very nice before the Olympic Qualification Tournament.
16:25
We are five minutes away from throw-off in Bistrita, where Romania host EHF EURO 2020 bronze medallists Croatia. But round 3 has already started earlier today, as Azerbaijan earned their first points of the qualifiers in a narrow 35:33 (18:18) win over Lithuania in group 5, which also includes Spain and North Macedonia.
16:18
No better to keep track of everything that is happening the reading the day preview for Wednesday written by EHF journalist Courtney Gahan:
