19:50 | FULL-TIME
North Macedonia proved no match for Spain in their first meeting after 10 years. Mercedes Castellanos saved 13 shots (44.83 per cent) and Cabral Barbosa scored seven goals for the guests who are now top of group 5 with six points. North Macedonia follow in second with four points. In this group Azerbaijan beat Lithuania in Baku on Wednesday.
Italy enjoyed their first win in their group against an inferior Latvian side. Giulia Rossomando was Italy's top scorer with eight goals, while Bertolino stayed with 10 saves and a 66.67 per cent rate from the first period.
19:44
There was virtually nothing to separate the two teams in the second half, but in the end Montenegro showed more calmness and also ingenuity.
Matea Pletikosic enjoyed a terrific match for Montenegro scoring nine goals out of 10 attempts. Grbic and Marsenic added five goals each with Attingre and Rajcic saving seven shots in total.
Andjela Janjusevic topped the Serbia's scoring charts with eight goals. Jovana Jovovic scored seven, but gifted the ball in the final attack.
Montenegro remain on top of group 6 with six points. Serbia and Türkiye follow with three points apiece, while Bulgaria is bottom with no points.
On Sunday, Montenegro host Serbia in Podgorica.
19:40 | FULL-TIME
It's all over and Montenegro take two points! What a goal to win it. The Montenegrins completely tricked the Serbian defence from the free throw and Grbic scored from six meters.
Serbia' final attack failed to produce a shot since Jovovic dropped the ball with 10 seconds left.
19:35
Janjusevic converts the penalty shot and then takes full advantage of Risovic's save to level it at 30:30! Timeout Montenegro now. Two minutes remaining.
19:32
Despotovic puts Montenegro in front, 29:28! Four minutes left on the clock. Attingre saves and then Grbic scores for a two-goal lead! Timeout Serbia.
19:29 | FULL-TIME
What an impressive performance for Germany who record their second win in as many matches in group 2. Slovakia will surely be disappointed they failed to put up a better fight. Grijseels and Döll with eight goals each for the guests.
19:25
It's Pletikosic vs Jovovic right now! Pletikosic scored her eighth goal for 25:24, then Jovovic equalised with her seventh of the match. Nine minutes to go in Serbia.
19:21
The tensions are running high in Zrenjanin. You could just sense it on the court and in the stands as well. Huge game this one for Serbia, especially because they dropped a point against Türkiye in the previous round.
It's 23:23 with both teams with suspended players. Serbia with one, Montenegro with two! It's all happening right now.
19:17
All credit to Serbia who have just erased their four-goal deficit from the break! It's 22:22 following Jovovic's sixth goal of the night and now the Montenegro bench react with a timeout.
19:15
Just a quick glance at other courts. No trouble for Spain, Germany and Italy whatsoever.
Spain lead North Macedonia 24:14, Germany demolishing Slovakia 32:13, and Italy also having an easy match versus Latvia (25:9).
19:11
Indeed, Radosavljevic scores for 20:19, but immediately Brnovic reacts with a goal from six meters. Montenegro again with a two-goal advantage, 21:19.
19:10
Possibly crucial moments coming up in Zrenjanin. Montenegro lead 20:18, but Serbia with the attack. Sensing the importance, Serbia's head coach calls for a timeout.
19:06
Things are going downhill for North Macedonia and quickly. Spain score six goals without reply to make it 23:11. With Germany leading Slovakia 26:12 and Italy in front 21:5 against Latvia, the match in Zrenjanin is the only competitive one at the moment.
19:04
Serbia are fighting back! Janjusevic scores her second goal since the break (and fourth in the match) to bring Serbia to only a two-goal deficit, 18:16. The hosts even had a chance to further reduce the gap, but Armelle Attingre produced the first save in her Montenegro debut.
18:58
Meanwhile, action resumed in Zrenjanin, Skopje and Sala.
18:57 | FULL-TIME
Portugal celebrate their first win in group 3 having lost to Czechia and the Netherlands. It turned out to be a pretty straightforward win for the guests after Finland enjoyed a better start (5:2).
Beatriz Sousa and Mihaela Minciuna finished with five goals apiece, while Isabel Góis had a good performance as well, saving 11 shots for the winning team.
These two teams meet again this Sunday in Portugal.
Portugal have contested the Women's EHF EURO only once before (2008), while Finland have never made it to the final tournament.
18:49 | HALF-TIME
It's one-sided in Dobele as well where Italy are 14 goals ahead against Latvia at the break. Nila Bertolino with 10 saves and a 66.67 per cent rate for the Italians!
Remember, this is group 4 where France and Slovenia are the dominant figures. Latvia and Italy are each other's best chances for some points.
18:46
Similar to Montenegro, Spain also started the match in a brilliant way (6:2) and kept a comfortable lead until the break (17:11).
Slovakia were hoping for their first ever win against Germany, but they will have to wait a bit more. The Germans have played a perfect half winning it 20:8! Even without the injured Xenia Smits and Amelie Berger.
18:44
Montenegro have seized control early on with a lead of 8:3 and never looked back. Since then, they haven't let Serbia come closer than to three goals. It could've been worse for Serbia as Janjusevic scored in the final seconds of the half.
Marsenic, Mugoša and Pletikosic top the scoring charts for the guests with three goals each, which is the exact number of goals scored by Radosavljevic and Jovovic for Serbia.
18:41 | HALF-TIME
18:36
Montenegro still in control at 14:10 as we reach the final minutes of the first half.
There's a duel between Cabral Barbosa and Ristovska who are both on five goals in Skopje. Spain lead North Macedonia 13:10, while in Slovakia it's a one-way street right now with Germany already 19:7 in front!
Portugal are also looking comfortable in Finland. They have a seven-goal cushion, 22:15.
18:28 | FULL-TIME
Well, we did not see that coming after a very tight first half. In the second France completely outplayed the Slovenians by 22:9!
Flippes and Granier both scored five goals for France, while Glauser and Sako each saved nine shots. For Slovenia, Gros had six goals and Pandžic in goal saved 11 shots.
World and Olympic champions are now alone at the top of group 4 with the maximum six points. Slovenia follow with four. The two teams have the reverse fixture coming up this Sunday in Orleans.
18:23
Montenegro are looking very sharp. They lead 10:5 although Brnovic has now received a two-minute suspension.
Germany are also in fine form as they lead 13:5 in Slovakia. Already five goals from Grijseels and a 50 per cent save rate from Filter!
18:16
It's not looking good for Serbia at the moment. Their head coach is forced to call a timeout after Montenegro took a 7:3 lead after 10 minutes. To make it worse for Serbia, Montenegrin goalkeeper Rajcic still hasn't made a single save.
France with 29:19 advantage in Velenje. A phenomenal second half from the current world champions.
18:12
Slovenia's resistance is weakening, France have a commanding 27:18 lead and it seems the winner is decided in Velenje.
18:10
Serbia opened the scoring in Zrenjanin, but Montenegro responded with four straight goals. Now Janjusevic replies for the hosts. Montenegro lead 4:2.
Germany with a 4:0 lead in Slovakia, while Spain got off to a better start in Skopje against North Macedonia (3:1).
In Vantaa, Portugal in front against Finland 15:12 at the break.
18:03
Here we go, Serbia vs Montenegro! Slovakia vs Germany and North Macedonia vs Spain have also started.
18:00
Nice, free-flowing game by France who have now developed a five-goal lead (19:14) after an easy fast break goal by Valentini. Timeout Slovenia.
17:56
Bright start from the French. Flippes with two goals and Horacek with one and France enjoy their biggest lead of the match so far, 16:12. Now Foppa receives a two-minute suspension so there's a chance for Slovenia to recover.
17:51
Second half in Velenje has started. Meanwhile, Portugal have turned it around and now lead Finland 9:6.
17:50
Serbia and Montenegro clash in group 6. Montenegro collected the maximum four points, Serbia three, just like Türkiye who beat Bulgaria on Wednesday 30:24. Serbia dropped a point against Türkiye and they can't afford to slip up again.
Montenegro were the more successful team in their previous meetings, winning five of them. Serbia won only once, and one match ended with a draw. It's important to underline that the biggest margin in their seven previous meeting was only three goals, so expect a tight battle tonight in Zrenjanin as well.
17:45
Coming up at 18:00 CET three more matches start: North Macedonia - Spain, Slovakia - Germany and our Highlight Match of the day between Serbia and Montenegro in Zrenjanin.
At 18:10 we have Latvia vs Italy and finally at 20:30 Israel vs Ukraine.
17:40
Match between Finland and Portugal in group 3 has just started. Both teams aim to take their first points in the qualifiers following losses in the opening rounds against Czechia and the Netherlands, respectively.
After a little bit less than 10 minutes of play Finland lead 5:3.
Yesterday, in that group the Netherlands beat Czechia in Prague 30:29 in a terrific match which was our Highlight Match of the day. You can read all about it in our day review right here.
17:35 | HALF-TIME
It's a fairly even match so far in Velenje, with no team being able to lead by more than two goals. Finally, the current world champions and Olympic gold medallists France proceed to the break with a 13:11 lead thanks to a late goal by Grace Zaadi.
17:24
France regained the lead, but Slovenia continue to press and Maja Svetik equalises at 8:8 with a stunning shot, before Lucie Granier makes it 9:8 - this is still extremely tight.
17:17
The score remains low - 6:5 to Slovenia - with both goalkeepers on form. Check this one out from Amra Pandžic.
17:13
Through 10 minutes and Slovenia lead 5:4, and have a bit of momentum - and luck, with some of France's shots going wide or high.
17:07
There's a lively atmosphere in Velenje and the Slovenians are starting to find their feet against France. A couple of good saves by Amra Pandžic helped them draw level after France took a 3:1 lead, and the hosts have also stepped up in defence to support Pandžic.
17:00
Throw-off is about to happen!
Going into this game, France and Slovenia are level on points in group 4, having both won their opening games against Italy and Latvia respectively. World and Olympic champions France are certainly the favourites, but Slovenia have their star Ana Gros back and she knows all about French handball, having played for years at Metz and Brest Bretagne.
16:50
Welcome back to the live blog for today's round 3 games in the Women's EHF EURO 2024 Qualifiers - starting very soon with Slovenia vs France! Here's the starting seven for France.
Wednesday 28 February
23:07
That brings us to the end of the opening night of round 3 action in the Women's EHF EURO 2024 Qualifiers! Join us tomorrow for more. The full schedule for Thursday:
- 17:00 CET Slovenia vs France
- 17:30 CET Finland vs Portugal
- 18:00 CET Slovakia vs Germany
- 18:00 CET Serbia vs Montenegro — Highlight Match
- 18:00 CET North Macedonia vs Spain
- 18:10 CET Latvia vs Italy
- 20:30 CET Israel vs Ukraine
Read the preview for Thursday's games here.
See you tomorrow!
22:59
A quick recap on the key facts from today's qualifiers before we say goodbye for the night:
- Denmark are qualified for the EHF EURO 2024, which will be their 16th appearance at the event. They have never missed one and played the semi-finals nine times overall, including the last two editions
- Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, Türkiye, Slovakia and Greece took their first wins of the qualifiers. For Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan, they were the first victories ever in this phase
- Romania, Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark extended perfect runs in the qualifiers and maintain the maximum number of points, six, on top of their respective groups
- Croatia, Czechia and Iceland were defeated for the first time
- Romania, Netherlands and Sweden could book their places at the final tournament with wins in the return legs on the weekend
22:48
A big day of EHF EURO 2024 Qualifiers plus two EHF EURO Cup games — recap it all with the day review below.