EHF EURO

Seven places still up for grabs in race to EHF EURO 2022

EHF / Adrian Costeiu

19 April 2022, 10:30

Powerhouses such as Hungary, Sweden and Spain will be hoping to secure their place at the Women’s EHF EURO 2022 this week in the fifth round of qualification phase 2 for the final tournament.

While nine of the 16 places have already been secured, seven more spots are still available. Some teams have a good chance of making sure of their places this week, but others might have to wait until the last round at the weekend.

In the EHF EURO Cup, Norway have already won the title and will give young players a chance. Meanwhile Slovenia and Montenegro lock horns to see where they are at before the EHF EURO throws off in November.

GROUP 1

Lithuania vs Poland
Wednesday 20 April, 18:00 CEST, live on EHFTV

Poland have already secured their tickets for the EHF EURO 2022, after winning their first two games, while Lithuania are out of contention
the guests are on a 10-game winning streak in EHF EURO qualification, their best-ever in the competition
with two wins in the last two games against Lithuania and Switzerland, Poland could finish the qualification phase of the EHF EURO with six wins in six games for the first time
in the first match between the two sides, Poland secured a convincing 36:22 win
Poland have won all four games played against Lithuania in the last 10 years, by an average margin of 18.75 goals per game

GROUP 2

Faroe Islands vs Romania
Wednesday 20 April, 20:00 CEST, live on EHFTV

Romania need two wins against the Faroe Islands and Austria on Sunday to avoid an embarrassing failure to qualify for the EHF EURO for the first time since 2006
after missing the last game of the group against Denmark, left back Cristina Neagu will be back into the fold for Romania
Romania’s left wing Alexandra Dindiligan is out of contention for the last two games, but SCM Ramnicu Valcea’s Corina Lupei will make her debut for the national team
the Faroe Islands have lost all 12 games played in qualification phase 2 of the EHF EURO, including the six they played at home in Torshavn
Romania won the two games played against the Faroe Islands, with the two sides also meeting in qualification phase 2 of the EHF EURO 2020, when the Faroe Islands led at half-time, 12:11, only for Romania to mount a comeback, sealing a 25:20 win

Austria vs Denmark
Wednesday 20 April, 20:25 CEST, live on EHFTV

unbeaten in three games, Austria will try and take advantage of Denmark already securing their EHF EURO 2022 berth
Denmark are the best attack in qualification phase 2 of the EHF EURO 2022, scoring an average of 33.25 goals per game in the four matches played until this point
in the last 18 years, Denmark won five of the six games they played against Austria, including the first leg between the two sides in group 2, 27:22
Austria are eyeing a comeback at the EHF EURO for the first time since 2008
the Scandinavian side are on a 12-game unbeaten streak in qualification for the EHF EURO, with their last loss coming against Russia, in March 2016

GROUP 3

Greece vs Germany
Thursday 21 April, 19:30 CEST, live on EHFTV

following the decision by the Executive Committee of the European Handball Federation to suspend Russia and Belarus from the Women’s EHF EURO 2022 qualifiers, group 4 will conclude in a triple-header in Almere
Germany’s new coach, Markus Gaugisch, who replaced Henk Groener, will lead the team for the first time against Greece
a win for Germany would see them through to the EHF EURO 2022, their 15th consecutive participation in the competition
captain Emily Bölk, who is out with the flu, and backs Alicia Stolle and Lena Degenhart, who are injured, will miss the game
in the first leg between the two sides, Germany took a convincing 36:10 win, one of their largest in history in the qualification phase of the EHF EURO

GROUP 4

Czech Republic vs France
Wednesday 20 April, 20:00 CEST, live on EHFTV

after qualifying for the final tournament of the EHF EURO three consecutive times, in 2016, 2018 and 2020, the Czech Republic are now last in the group, with two losses in two matches, and need a miraculous comeback to progress
France have already sealed their place in the tournament, after sweeping their opponents in the first four matches
due to a Covid-19 positive test, France’s captain, left wing Coralie Lassource, dropped out of contention and was replaced by Manon Houette
France are on a 19-game unbeaten streak in qualification for the EHF EURO, with 18 wins and a draw. Their last loss came in March 2012, against North Macedonia
in the first game between the two sides, France earned one of their largest-ever wins in the qualification phase of the EHF EURO, 38:22

Ukraine vs Croatia
Wednesday 20 April, 18:00 CEST, live on EHFTV

due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the game will be played in Graz, Austria, on neutral court
EHF EURO 2020 bronze medallists Croatia face a must-win game, after conceding three losses in their first four games, including a 22:23 home loss against Ukraine
goalkeeper Tea Pijevic will miss the game, due to an injury, while fellow goalkeeper Ivana Kapitanovic is doubtful, creating a shot-stopping conundrum for Croatia’s coach Nenad Sostaric
Ukraine have only played two games since Russia invaded their country, but they are in a good position, needing three wins in their last four matches, despite having to play their home games on neutral court
the two sides have met four times in the last 16 years and Ukraine have beaten Croatia twice in the last five years

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GROUP 5

Slovakia vs Spain
Wednesday 20 April, 20:00 CEST, live on EHFTV

after losing two games against Portugal on his debut as Slovakia’s women’s national team coach, Jorge Duenas will now face Spain, the team he coached between 2007 and 2017
‘Las Guerreras’ will qualify for the EHF EURO 2022 provided they beat Slovakia
Spain will welcome back pivotal players like Alexandrina Barbosa, Almudena Rodriguez, Carmen Campos and Kaba Gassama in the roster, after they missed the double-header against Hungary in March
left wing Jennifer Gutierrez will miss the last two games of qualification phase 2 and is replaced by Ona Vegue, who will make her debut for Spain
Spain are unbeaten against Slovakia since 2015, with five wins and a draw, including friendly matches and the 33:28 win in the first leg between the two sides

Portugal vs Hungary
Thursday, 21 April, 20:00 CEST, live on EHFTV

provided they do not lose to Portugal, Hungary will be through to the EHF EURO 2022
it would be Hungary’s 15th consecutive participation at the EHF EURO
Portugal have not qualified for the final tournament of the EHF EURO since 2008, when they finished last, in 16th place
Hungary have won the last 10 away games played in EHF EURO qualification, with their last loss coming against Germany in March 2012
the two sides have met only once in recent years, when Hungary took a 34:24 win against Portugal in October 2021

GROUP 6

Turkey vs Serbia
Wednesday, 20 April, 20:00 CEST, live on EHFTV

after their home win against Iceland, Turkey are in with a chance to qualify for the first time, but face a must-win home game against Serbia
Serbia have lost two matches in the first four games of the qualification phase for the first time since 2010, when they were beaten by Spain twice, but qualified after sealing two wins against Turkey, including 32:30 away
Turkey have never won more than a game in the EHF EURO qualification phase since 2014, when they beat Italy twice
two wins against Turkey and Iceland would hand Serbia their 12th consecutive berth at the EHF EURO. They last failed to qualify for the final tournament in 1998
in the first leg between the two sides, played in Serbia, Turkey stood little chance and conceded a 27:36 loss

Iceland vs Sweden
Wednesday, 20 April, 21:45 CEST, live on EHFTV

after losing a crucial game against Turkey, Iceland will hope to get back to their winning ways against Sweden
if they win, Sweden will progress to the final tournament of the EHF EURO for the 11th time in a row
Wilma Kroon Andersson and Sofie Borjesson will miss the two games against Iceland and Turkey, while goalkeeper Nora Persson makes her debut for Sweden
after scoring 19 goals in the first four games of qualification phase 2, Sweden’s right wing Nathalie Hagman needs 19 more to tie Linnea Torstenson with 655 goals as the fourth top scorer in the history of the Scandinavian team
the two teams know each other well, having met almost yearly in friendly matches: Sweden have won the last seven games in a row, including a 30:17 drubbing in the first leg