Qualification Media Guide Media Guide Contents

QUALIFICATION MEDIA GUIDE MEDIA GUIDE CONTENTS

Foreword 3 GROUP 5 OVERVIEW 41

Qualification information 4 Hungary 42

GROUP 1 OVERVIEW 5 Poland 44

Norway 6 Slovakia 46

Romania 8 Finland 48

Belarus 10 GROUP 6 OVERVIEW 50

Lithuania 12 Denmark 51

GROUP 2 OVERVIEW 14 Russia 53

Serbia 15 Turkey 55

Czech Republic 17 Portugal 57

Ukraine 19 GROUP 7 OVERVIEW 59

Italy 21 France 60

GROUP 3 OVERVIEW 23 Germany 62

Spain 24 Iceland 64

Netherlands 26 Switzerland 66

Austria 28 Pure heart. All hands. 68

Bulgaria 30 EHF EURO 2016 venues 69

GROUP 4 OVERVIEW 32 Previous hosts & winners 70

Montenegro 33

Croatia 35

FYR Macedonia 37

Slovenia 39

2 FOREWORD

Dear Media Representative,

The 12th edition of the Women’s EHF European Handball Championship, the EURO 2016, will take place in Sweden from 4 to 18 December 2016.

However, the road to the final tournament is a long one, and 32 national teams registered to take part in the qualification for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016. Based on the EHF’s national team ranking, six of these teams were placed into two groups in Qualification Phase 1 and the winners of these groups – Bulgaria and Finland respectively – progressed to Qualification Phase 2 along with the remaining 26 teams.

The teams will be split into seven groups for Qualification Phase 2 playing in a round-robin system (home and away). The teams that finish in first, second and best ranked third position in their group will proceed to the final tournament in Sweden. The organising federation Sweden has already qualified directly.

Handball stakeholders and fans can expect to witness a lot of exciting qualification matches with thrills and passion we have come to love from EHF EURO events over the past two decades. Once again the European Handball Federation is excited to be working with our longstanding media partner: Infront Sports & Media AG. This established cooperation dates back to the men’s inaugural event in 1994 in Portugal.

It is of the utmost importance for the EHF to present handball to an ever-growing audience in the correct fashion therefore we will continue to use the harmonised advertising set-up in all hosting arenas designed for the optimal handball experience.

I welcome you all to the Women’s EHF EURO 2016 Qualification Phase 2 group matches, enjoy!

JEAN BRIHAULT EHF President

3 QUALIFICATION INFORMATION

Besides organiser Sweden, who are directly qualified for the final tournament, 32 national teams registered to take part in the qualification for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016.

Based on the EHF’s national team ranking, six of these 32 - Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Finland, Israel and Faroe Islands - had to play the first qualification phase in June 2015. They had been drawn to two groups of three, and at the end of the two qualification tournaments Bulgaria and Finland made it through to the second and final qualification phase.

There they joined the 26 teams that had been already drawn to seven groups of four teams each. This second qualification phase will be played in three periods of two matches each with a home and an away match against each of the other teams in the respective group. These groups are:

GROUP 1: NORWAY, ROMANIA, BELARUS LITHUANIA

GROUP 2: SERBIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, UKRAINE, ITALY

GROUP 3: SPAIN, NETHERLANDS, AUSTRIA, BULGARIA

GROUP 4: MONTENEGRO, CROATIA, FYR MACEDONIA, SLOVENIA

GROUP 5: HUNGARY, POLAND, SLOVAKIA, FINLAND

GROUP 6: DENMARK, RUSSIA, TURKEY, PORTUGAL

GROUP 7: FRANCE, GERMANY, ICELAND, SWITZERLAND

The two top ranked teams from each of the seven qualification groups will qualify for the final tournament in Sweden. The best ranked third team overall will also qualify for the final tournament in Sweden. THE BEST THIRD RANKED TEAM IS DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS: After the conclusion of the qualification, a ranking of those teams ranked third in each group (a total of seven teams) will be established. This ranking will include only the results of those four matches of the third ranked teams against the two teams ranked first and second in the group. The results of the two matches against the teams ranked fourth in the group will not be considered. The best team from this ranking of the third ranked teams will qualify for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016.

4 QUALIFICATION GROUP 1

NORWAY ROMANIA BELARUS LITHUANIA

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 19:00 Norway vs Belarus 08.10.2015 19:00 Romania vs Lithuania 11.10.2015 13:00 Lithuania vs Norway 11.10.2015 15:00 Belarus vs Romania Romania vs Norway Lithuania vs Belarus Norway vs Romania Belarus vs Lithuania Belarus vs Norway Lithuania vs Romania Norway vs Lithuania

Romania vs Belarus

5 NORWAY

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 1998, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014 1996, 2002, 2012 1994 OLYMPIC GAMES 2008, 2012 1988, 1992 2000 TEAM PROFILE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Norway have been a leading force in Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth-Koren (maternity) 1999, 2011 women’s handball for the last decade, and Caroline Breivang (retired). Goalkeeper 1997, 2001, 2007 despite not lifting trophies at the Women’s Katrine Lunde, however, is back in the 1986, 1993, 2009 EHF EURO 2012 and the 2013 World side after giving birth. Left wing Camilla Championship. In Budapest the team of Herrem, right back Nora Mörk and line MEDIA CONTACT Thorir Hergeirsson struck back, and won player Heidi Löke will be the driving force their sixth EHF EURO title by beating for the team. As European champions, HALVOR LEA Spain in 2014. The 2008 and 2012 Olympic Norway have already qualified for the +47 419 00 021 and 2011 World Champions can count on 2016 Olympic Games. In qualification for [email protected] their experience - though both five-time the EHF EURO 2014 they won all four www.handball.no EHF EURO champions are out of action: matches against Romania and Belarus.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 147:98 +49 10:2 1st Group 5 1994 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 134:130 +4 8:6 3rd Place 1996 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 134:121 +13 10:2 1st Group 1 1996 EHF EURO 7 4 2 1 179:151 +28 10:4 Runners-up 1998 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 144:116 +28 10:2 1st Group 3 1998 EHF EURO 7 7 0 0 189:132 +57 14:0 Winners 2000 EHF EURO 6 2 2 2 151:149 +2 6:6 6th Place 2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 70:35 +35 4:0 Won vs. LTU 2002 EHF EURO 8 6 1 1 203:169 +34 13:3 Runners-up 2004 EHF EURO 8 8 0 0 259:191 +68 16:0 Winners 2006 EHF EURO 8 8 0 0 258:179 +79 16:0 Winners 2008 EHF EURO 8 7 1 0 248:169 +79 15:1 Winners 2010 EHF EURO 8 7 0 1 239:146 +93 14:2 Winners 2012 EHF EURO 8 6 0 2 219:194 +25 12:4 Runner-up 2014 Qualif. 4 4 0 0 120:94 +26 8:0 1st Group 6 2014 EHF EURO 8 7 0 1 225:192 +33 14:2 Winners ------Total Qualif. 24 21 0 3 615:464 +151 42:6 Total EHF EURO 83 66 6 11 2304:1802 +502 138:28

6 NORWAY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 34:13 (15:6) vs. Latvia @ Trondheim NOR, 06.06.1993 13:34 (07:16) vs. Latvia @ Bauska LAT, 05.08.1993 Biggest defeat: 29:18 (14:6) vs. Lithuania @ Kaunas LTU, 04.02.1996 Longest winning run: 9 matches (15.03.1998 – 30.03.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (15.03.1998 – 30.03.2014) Longest losing run: 1 match (08.08.1993) 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (12.03.1998) Longest run without win: 1 match (08.08.1993) 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (12.03.1998) Current run: W9 (15.03.1998 – 30.03.2014) Most goals: 38 vs. Lithuania 38:18W @ Orkanger NOR, 31.05.2002 Most goals opponent: 29 vs. Lithuania 29:18L @ Kaunas LTU, 04.02.1996 29 vs. Belarus 33:29W @ Stavanger NOR, 26.03.2014 Most goals both teams: 62 vs. Belarus 33:29W @ Stavanger NOR, 26.03.2014 Fewest goals: 17 vs. France 14:17W @ Lille FRA, 19.10.1993 Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Latvia 34:13W @ Trondheim NOR, 06.06.1993 13 vs. Latvia 13:34W @ Bauska LAT, 05.08.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 31 vs. France 14:17W @ Lille FRA, 19.10.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS*

NOR VS BLR 02.12.1997 Saarbrücken GER NOR-BLR WCh – Group B 34:21 (14:12) 29.11.1999 Oslo NOR NOR-BLR WCh – Group A 29:13 (13:9) 09.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU BLR-NOR ECh – Group B 26:26 (13:12) 26.03.2014 Stavanger NOR NOR-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 33:29 (16:13) 30.03.2014 Mogilev BLR BLR-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 24:32 (12:16) NOR VS LTU 03.07.1993 Kragerø NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 5 18:17 (8:10) 08.08.1993 Vilnius LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 5 22:21 (11:11) 01.02.1996 Stavanger NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 1 32:16 (14:11) 04.02.1996 Kaunas LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 1 29:18 (14:6) 06.12.1996 Vejle DEN NOR-LTU ECh – Group B 36:18 (17:9) 12.02.1998 Trondheim NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 3 30:14 (12:7) 15.02.1998 Vilnius LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 3 26:30 (13:12) 31.05.2002 Orkanger NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Playoff 38:18 (17:10) 01.06.2002 Kristiansund NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Playoff 32:17 (17:9) NOR VS ROU 12.12.1971 Rotterdam NED NOR-ROU A-WCh – Group B 6:8 (3:4) 10.12.1973 Zavidovići YUG ROU-NOR A-WCh – Group B 10:5 (6:2) 04.12.1975 Vilnius URS ROU-NOR A-WCh – Group A 13:10 (6:3) 11.12.1982 Budapest HUN NOR-ROU A-WCh – Place 7-12 16:16 (8:8) 12.12.1986 Arnhem NED NOR-ROU A-WCh – MR-Group II 23:23 (10:11) 27.11.1990 Seoul KOR NOR-ROU A-WCh – Group D 13:12 (7:8) 05.12.1993 Oslo NOR NOR-ROU WCh – Place 3/4 20:19 (11:9) 14.12.1995 Wiener Neustadt AUT NOR-ROU WCh – 1/4-final 21:19 (10:12) 11.12.1996 Fredericia DEN NOR-ROU ECh – Group B 26:26 (12:16) 28.09.2000 Sydney AUS NOR-ROU OG – 1/4-final 28:16 (12:8) 10.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU ROU-NOR ECh – Group B 26:22 (14:12) 07.12.2003 Karlovac CRO NOR-ROU WCh – Group C 29:21 (13:9) 17.08.2008 Beijing CHN NOR-ROU OG – Group A 24:23 (12:11) 11.12.2008 Ohrid MKD ROU-NOR ECh – MR-Group I 31:37 (14:19) 10.12.2009 Suzhou CHN NOR-ROU WCh – Group C 25:24 (14:12) 23.10.2013 Oradea ROU ROU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 23:25 (10:11) 27.10.2013 Bergen NOR NOR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 6 30:18 (14:9) 07.12.2014 Debrecen HUN NOR-ROU ECh – Group B 27:19 (16:7)

Legend ECh – European Championship; WCh – World Championship; A-WCh – A-World Championship; B-WCh – B-World Championship; C-WCh – C-World Championship; OG – Olympic Games; MR – Main Round; Qual. – Qualification; Pre-Qual. – Pre-Qualification; MP – Matches Played; W – Wins; D – Draws; L – Losses

*(competitive matches) 7 ROMANIA

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 1962 1973, 2005

TEAM PROFILE Though they arrive as one of the Some experienced players have resigned main contenders at nearly every major from the national team, but the pool of tournament, Romania continually miss skilled players is huge, which is proved the podium at EHF EURO’s, with one by them being crowned U18 World MEDIA CONTACT exception: in 2010 they took home bronze Champions in 2014 and more top results - their first, and, so far, only medal on this in the past decade at younger age category LORAND BALINT BOTOND European stage. Despite losing to Sweden events. But Neagu remains at the core of +40 0 21 2016100 / in the semi-final, the team, led by the Swedish born Tomas Ryde’s team. (mob) +40 0 751 751315 EHF EURO top scorer of that year [email protected] Cristina Neagu, secured third spot by www.frh.ro beating Denmark.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 122:83 +39 10:2 1st Group 4 1994 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 112:124 –12 4:8 10th Place 1996 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 137:126 +11 7:5 2nd Group 3 1996 EHF EURO 6 4 1 1 155:139 +16 9:3 5th Place 1998 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 164:157 +7 8:4 2nd Group 4 1998 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 148:168 –20 2:10 11th Place 2000 EHF EURO 7 3 1 3 168:164 +4 7:7 4th Place 2002 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 169:166 +3 8:6 7th Place 2004 Play-off 2 1 1 0 58:55 +3 3:1 Won vs. NED 2004 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 206:187 +19 10:4 7th Place 2006 Play-off 2 0 1 1 47:51 -4 1:3 Lost vs. SCG 2008 Play-off 2 2 0 0 70:46 +24 4:0 Won vs. ISL 2008 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 209:199 +10 10:4 5th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 219:153 +66 9:3 2nd Group 1 2010 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 205:197 +8 10:6 3rd Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 187:128 +59 10:2 1st Group 2 2012 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 136:139 -3 5:7 10th Place 2014 Qualif. 4 2 0 2 103:103 0 4:4 2nd Group 6 2014 EHF EURO 6 3 1 2 136:137 -1 7:5 9th Place ------Total Qualif. 40 26 4 10 1107:902 +205 56:24 Total EHF EURO 66 34 4 28 1644:1620 +24 72:60 8 ROMANIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 18:39 (7:20) vs. Switzerland @ Zürich SUI, 17.10.2009 23:44 (12:20) vs. Portugal @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010 Biggest defeat: 30:18 (14:9) vs. Norway @ Bergen NOR, 27.10.12013 Longest winning run: 4 matches (01.06.2008 – 17.10.2009) 4 matches (26.05.2010 – 22.10.2011) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (03.06.2006 – 31.03.2010) Longest losing run: 2 matches (23.10.2013 - 27.10.2013) Longest run without win: 3 matches (06.06.2004 – 03.06.2006) Current run: W2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 44 vs. Portugal 23:44W @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010 Most goals opponent: 36 vs. Ukraine 35:36L @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010 Most goals both teams: 71 vs. Ukraine 35:36L @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010 Fewest goals: 17 vs. Yugoslavia 21:17L @ Kruševac SCG, 03.02.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 14 vs. Greece 31:14W @ Piatra Neamț ROU, 02.06.2012 Fewest goals both teams: 38 vs. Yugoslavia 21:17L @ Kruševac SCG, 03.02.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* ROU VS BLR 11.02.1998 Ploieşti ROU ROU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 4 30:26 (10:12) 15.02.1998 Minsk BLR BLR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 4 31:21 (15:12) 08.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU ROU-BLR ECh – Group B 29:28 (15:15) 06.06.2009 Mogilev BLR BLR-ROU WCh-Playoff 31:32 (14:18) 13.06.2009 Bucureşti ROU ROU-BLR WCh-Playoff 38:32 (22:16) 11.06.2014 Mogilev BLR BLR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 6 28:30 (13:14) 15.06.2014 Baia Mare ROU ROU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 32:20 (15:6) ROU VS LTU 08.12.1996 Vejle DEN ROU-LTU ECh – Group B 32:26 (16:12) ROU VS NOR 12.12.1971 Rotterdam NED NOR-ROU A-WCh – Group B 6:8 (3:4) 10.12.1973 Zavidovići YUG ROU-NOR A-WCh – Group B 10:5 (6:2) 04.12.1975 Vilnius URS ROU-NOR A-WCh – Group A 13:10 (6:3) 11.12.1982 Budapest HUN NOR-ROU A-WCh – Place 7-12 16:16 (8:8) 12.12.1986 Arnhem NED NOR-ROU A-WCh – MR-Group II 23:23 (10:11) 27.11.1990 Seoul KOR NOR-ROU A-WCh – Group D 13:12 (7:8) 05.12.1993 Oslo NOR NOR-ROU WCh – Place 3/4 20:19 (11:9) 14.12.1995 Wiener Neustadt AUT NOR-ROU WCh – 1/4-final 21:19 (10:12) 11.12.1996 Fredericia DEN NOR-ROU ECh – Group B 26:26 (12:16) 28.09.2000 Sydney AUS NOR-ROU OG – 1/4-final 28:16 (12:8) 10.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU ROU-NOR ECh – Group B 26:22 (14:12) 07.12.2003 Karlovac CRO NOR-ROU WCh – Group C 29:21 (13:9) 17.08.2008 Beijing CHN NOR-ROU OG – Group A 24:23 (12:11) 11.12.2008 Ohrid MKD ROU-NOR ECh – MR-Group I 31:37 (14:19) 10.12.2009 Suzhou CHN NOR-ROU WCh – Group C 25:24 (14:12) 23.10.2013 Oradea ROU ROU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 23:25 (10:11) 27.10.2013 Bergen NOR NOR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 6 30:18 (14:9) 07.12.2014 Debrecen HUN NOR-ROU ECh – Group B 27:19 (16:7)

*(competitive matches) Legend ECh – European Championship; WCh – World Championship; A-WCh – A-World Championship; B-WCh – B-World Championship; C-WCh – C-World Championship; OG – Olympic Games; MR – Main Round; Qual. – Qualification; Pre-Qual. – Pre-Qualification; MP – Matches Played; W – Wins; D – Draws; L – Losses

9 BELARUS

MEDIA CONTACT TATIANA PUSTOKHOD +375 17 2909 653 [email protected] www.handball.by

TEAM PROFILE Since 2008 the Belarusian women Several Belarusian players have transferred have not qualified for any major event, to clubs in Hungary, Russia, Poland or though they were part of three EHF Slovenia to play at the top level, partly EURO tournaments and two World in the Champions League like Liliya Championships before. The team of coach Artsivkhovich (Minsk) or Alesia Mihdalieva Tomas Chater consists of tall shooters, but (Lublin). Their best ever EHF EURO result they lack international experience. One of was eleventh in 2000. However, being in the most experienced Belarusian players is the same group Norway and Romania line player Anastasia Lobach. make it difficult for them. They lost all their qualification matches on route to the EHF EURO 2014.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 2 1 3 158:154 +4 5:7 3rd Group 3 1996 Pre-Qualif. 2 1 0 1 43:46 -3 2:2 Lost vs. POL 1998 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 142:158 –16 4:8 3rd Group 4 2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 59:50 +9 2:2 Won vs. TUR 2000 EHF EURO 6 1 3 2 161:165 -4 5:7 11th Place 2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 62:38 +24 4:0 Won vs. GRE 2002 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 65:86 –21 0:6 16th Place 2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 49:41 +8 4:0 Won vs. AZE 2004 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 70:87 –17 0:6 16th Place 2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 51:56 -5 2:2 Lost vs. NED 2008 Qualif. 5 3 1 1 171:122 +49 7:3 3rd Group 1 2008 Play-off 2 1 1 0 54:50 +4 3:1 Won vs. SLO 2008 EHF EURO 6 1 2 3 164:171 -7 4:8 12th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 166:176 –10 6:6 3rd Group 4 2012 Qualif. 2 6 2 0 4 155:162 -7 4:8 3rd Group 1 2014 Qualif. 4 0 0 4 101:127 –26 0:8 3rd Group 6 ------Total Qualif. 45 20 3 22 1211:1180 +31 43:47 Total EHF EURO 18 2 5 11 460:509 -49 9:27

10 BELARUS NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 12:40 (8:20) vs. Israel @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.11.2007 Biggest defeat: 32:20 (15:6) vs. Romania @ Baia Mare ROU, 15.06.2014 Longest winning run: 5 matches (16.04.2000 – 05.06.2004) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (16.04.2000 – 05.06.2004) 5 matches (03.06.2006 – 01.12.2007) Longest losing run: 6 matches (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014) Longest run without win: 6 matches (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014) Current run: L6 (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 40 vs. Israel 12:40W @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.11.2007 Most goals opponent: 35 vs. Austria 35:27L @ Sankt Pölten AUT, 18.06.1993 35 vs. Germany 35:24L @ Dessau GER, 04.04.2010 Most goals both teams: 64 vs. Bosnia Herzegovina 29:35W @ Panevėžys LTU, 28.11.2007 Fewest goals: 17 vs. Slovakia 28:17L @ Šaľa SVK, 29.04.1998 Fewest goals opponent: 12 vs. Israel 12:40W @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.11.2007 Fewest goals both teams: 42 vs. Poland 24:18W @ Minsk BLR, 25.10.1995

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* BLR VS LTU 29.01.1997 Vilnius LTU LTU-BLR WCh-Qual. – Group 8 18:22 (10:11) 01.02.1997 Minsk BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 8 21:24 (13:9) 03.12.2006 Mogilev BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 2 27:24 (16:12) 30.11.2007 Panevėžys LTU LTU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 1 27:27 (12:16) 03.10.2012 Mogilev BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 3 42:22 (22:13) 28.11.2012 Kaunas LTU LTU-BLR WCh-Qual. – Group 3 26:47 (12:22) BLR VS NOR 02.12.1997 Saarbrücken GER NOR-BLR WCh – Group B 34:21 (14:12) 29.11.1999 Oslo NOR NOR-BLR WCh – Group A 29:13 (13:9) 09.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU BLR-NOR ECh – Group B 26:26 (13:12) 26.03.2014 Stavanger NOR NOR-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 33:29 (16:13) 30.03.2014 Mogilev BLR BLR-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 24:32 (12:16) BLR VS ROU 11.02.1998 Ploieşti ROU ROU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 4 30:26 (10:12) 15.02.1998 Minsk BLR BLR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 4 31:21 (15:12) 08.12.2000 Bucureşti ROU ROU-BLR ECh – Group B 29:28 (15:15) 06.06.2009 Mogilev BLR BLR-ROU WCh-Playoff 31:32 (14:18) 13.06.2009 Bucureşti ROU ROU-BLR WCh-Playoff 38:32 (22:16) 11.06.2014 Mogilev BLR BLR-ROU ECh-Qual. – Group 6 28:30 (13:14) 15.06.2014 Baia Mare ROU ROU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 6 32:20 (15:6)

11 LITHUANIA

MEDIA CONTACT LAURYNAS SUOPYS +370 624 05824 [email protected] www.rankinis.it

TEAM PROFILE Since the 1995 World Championship, the qualification with 52 goals in six matches, Lithuanian women have not qualified despite her team not picking up a single for a major tournament. Their most point. Beating Azerbaijan in the first experienced player in the current squad is qualification stage for the 2015 World Birute Stellbrink, who plays in Germany. Championship was their only win in the A Lithuanian player who did make an last few years. And having two European impression in the qualification for the EHF powerhouses in their current qualification EURO 2014 was Laima Bernataviciute. group - Norway and Romania - the road to Bernataviciute was the top scorer of the Sweden seems too steep.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 150:115 +35 9:3 2nd Group 5 1994 Runners-Up 2 1 0 1 37:38 -1 2:2 Lost vs. SWE 1996 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 129:125 +4 6:6 2nd Group 1 1996 EHF EURO 6 0 0 6 124:183 –59 0:12 12th Place 1998 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 113:164 –51 0:12 4th Group 3 2000 Qualif. 2 0 0 2 38:45 -7 0:4 Lost vs. TUR 2002 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 59:41 +18 4:0 Won vs. SUI 2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 35:70 –35 0:4 Lost vs. NOR 2004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 60:63 -3 0:4 Lost vs. AUT 2006 Qualif. 5 3 0 2 151:143 +8 6:4 3rd Group 2 2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 44:53 -9 2:2 Lost vs. POL 2008 Qualif. 5 4 1 0 161:107 +54 9:1 1st Group 1 2008 Play-off 2 0 1 1 49:54 -5 1:3 Lost vs. ESP 2010 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 131:203 –72 0:12 4th Group 7 2012 Qualif. 2 6 1 0 5 166:211 –45 2:10 4th Group 4 2014 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 160:202 –42 0:12 4th Group 1 ------Total Qualif. 60 19 3 38 1483:1634 -151 41:79 Total EHF EURO 6 0 0 6 124:183 -59 0:12

12 LITHUANIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 34:11 (16:6) vs. Latvia @ Panevėžys LTU, 17.11.1993 Biggest defeat: 38:18 (17:10) vs. Norway @ Orkanger NOR, 31.05.2002 Longest winning run: 3 matches (08.08.1993 – 18.11.1993) 3 matches (03.06.2006 – 28.11.2007) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (03.06.2006 – 02.12.2007) Longest losing run: 9 matches (25.03.2012 – 15.06.2014) Longest run without win: 10 matches (31.05.2008 - 23.10.2011) Current run: L9 (25.03.2012 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Finland 21:37W @ Lagos POR, 22.11.2005 Most goals opponent: 42 vs. Croatia 24:42L @ Panevėžys LTU, 18.10.2009 Most goals both teams: 69 vs. Denmark 31:38L @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.10.2013 Fewest goals: 14 vs. Norway 30:14L @ Trondheim NOR, 12.02.1998 14 vs. Spain 31:14L @ Guadalajara ESP, 30.04.1998 Fewest goals opponent: 11 vs. Latvia 34:11W @ Panevėžys LTU, 17.11.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 35 vs. Norway 18:17L @ Kragerø NOR, 03.07.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* LTU VS BLR 29.01.1997 Vilnius LTU LTU-BLR WCh-Qual. – Group 8 18:22 (10:11) 01.02.1997 Minsk BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 8 21:24 (13:9) 03.12.2006 Mogilev BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 2 27:24 (16:12) 30.11.2007 Panevėžys LTU LTU-BLR ECh-Qual. – Group 1 27:27 (12:16) 03.10.2012 Mogilev BLR BLR-LTU WCh-Qual. – Group 3 42:22 (22:13) 28.11.2012 Kaunas LTU LTU-BLR WCh-Qual. – Group 3 26:47 (12:22) LTU VS NOR 03.07.1993 Kragerø NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 5 18:17 (8:10) 08.08.1993 Vilnius LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 5 22:21 (11:11) 01.02.1996 Stavanger NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 1 32:16 (14:11) 04.02.1996 Kaunas LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 1 29:18 (14:6) 06.12.1996 Vejle DEN NOR-LTU ECh – Group B 36:18 (17:9) 12.02.1998 Trondheim NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Qual. – Group 3 30:14 (12:7) 15.02.1998 Vilnius LTU LTU-NOR ECh-Qual. – Group 3 26:30 (13:12) 31.05.2002 Orkanger NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Playoff 38:18 (17:10) 01.06.2002 Kristiansund NOR NOR-LTU ECh-Playoff 32:17 (17:9) LTU VS ROU 08.12.1996 Vejle DEN ROU-LTU ECh – Group B 32:26 (16:12)

13 QUALIFICATION GROUP 2

SERBIA CZECH REPUBLIC UKRAINE ITALY

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 16:05 Czech Rep. vs Italy 08.10.2015 18:00 Serbia vs Ukraine 11.10.2015 18:00 Ukraine vs Czech Rep. 11.10.2015 19:00 Italy vs Serbia Czech Rep. vs Serbia Italy vs Ukraine Serbia vs Czech Rep. Ukraine vs Italy Ukraine vs Serbia Italy vs Czech Rep. Serbia vs Italy Czech Rep. vs Ukraine

14 SERBIA

ACHIEVEMENTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013

MEDIA CONTACT ZIKA BOGDANOVIC +381 600 643 477 [email protected] www.rss.org.rs TEAM PROFILE After becoming silver medallists at the Their players are spread all over Europe, 2013 World Championship on home court, mainly signed by top clubs. Women’s only one year later and the team of head handball had an enormous boost thanks to coach Sasa Boskovic was eliminated in the the EHF EURO 2012 and the 2013 World preliminary round of the EHF EURO 2014 Championship, where the spectator world in Hungary and Croatia. Some key players records for women’s handball matches such as Andrea Lekic and Dragana Cvijic were broken three times in a week in the have retired from international handball. Kombank Arena Belgrade - with 19,000 The Serbs originally failed to qualify for the fans cheering them on in a (unsuccessful) 2015 World Championship, but were later final against Brazil. awarded by a wild card.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 2006 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 77:92 –15 0:6 14th Place 2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 54:52 +2 2:2 Won vs. NED 2008 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 87:93 -6 0:6 13th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 179:142 +37 8:4 2nd Group 5 2010 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 71:91 –20 0:6 14th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 179:131 +48 10:2 2nd Group 2 2012 EHF EURO 8 4 1 3 213:209 +4 9:7 4th Place 2014 Qualif. 6 3 2 1 156:140 +16 8:4 2nd Group 5 2014 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 68:89 –21 0:6 15th Place ------Total Qualif. 20 13 2 5 568:465 +103 28:12 Total EHF EURO 20 4 1 15 516:574 -58 9:31

15 SERBIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 45:18 (25:10) vs. Greece @ Zrenjanin SRB, 14.10.2009 Biggest defeat: 31:26 (16:12) vs. Slovenia @ Ljubljana SLO, 27.10.2013 Longest winning run: 5 matches (26.05.2010 – 22.03.2012) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (26.05.2010 – 22.03.2012) Longest losing run: 2 matches (31.03.2010 – 04.04.2010) Longest run without win: 3 matches (27.10.2013 – 30.03.2014) Current run: W2 (12.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 45 vs. Greece 45:18W @ Zrenjanin SRB, 14.10.2009 Most goals opponent: 31 vs. Slovenia 31:26L @ Ljubljana SLO, 27.10.2013 Most goals both teams: 63 vs. Greece 45:18W @ Zrenjanin SRB, 14.10.2009 Fewest goals: 18 vs. Sweden 18:18D @ Kristianstad SWE, 30.03.2014 Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs. Greece 17:29W @ Patras GRE, 26.05.2010 Fewest goals both teams: 36 vs. Sweden 18:18D @ Kristianstad SWE, 30.03.2014

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* SRB VS CZE 08.12.2012 Beograd SRB SRB-CZE ECh – Group A 28:24 (12:15)

SRB VS ITA No previous encounters SRB VS UKR 06.12.2012 Beograd SRB SRB-UKR ECh – Group A 25:23 (14:10)

16 CZECH REPUBLIC

MEDIA CONTACT VÍT CHALUPA +420 608 079 961 [email protected] www.chf.cz

TEAM PROFILE From the highs like qualifying for major Championship events, a huge number of events like the EHF EURO 2012 or the the national team players made it abroad, 2013 World Championship to lows like mainly to Germany, Hungary and Poland. failing to qualify for the EHF EURO In terms of qualifying for Sweden, the 2014 and the 2015 World Championship, Czechs seem to have a good chance of women’s handball in the Czech Republic turning the tide. Current top player is Iveta has been on a quite the roller coaster Luzumova from German champions and ride. After the Czech federation started Champions League participant Thüringer to focus on their youth programmes, HC, but the Czechs also can count on a including hosting YAC EURO and World strong goalkeeper in Barbora Ranikova.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 142:115 +27 11:1 1st Group 7 1994 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 118:122 -4 4:8 8th Place 1996 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 107:119 –12 4:8 3rd Group 1 1998 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 127:143 –16 2:10 3rd Group 2 2000 Play-off 2 0 0 2 45:59 –14 0:4 Lost vs. HUN 2002 Play-off 2 1 0 1 58:56 +2 2:2 Won vs. MKD 2002 EHF EURO 7 3 0 4 162:167 -5 6:8 8th Place 2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 51:44 +7 4:0 Won vs. ISL 2004 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 60:74 –14 0:6 15th Place 2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 49:51 -2 2:2 Lost vs. ESP 2008 Qualif. 4 4 0 0 143:89 +54 8:0 1st Group 3 2008 Play-off 2 0 0 2 44:54 –10 0:4 Lost vs. SWE 2010 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 152:158 -6 4:8 3rd Group 2 2012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 169:152 +17 8:4 2nd Group 5 2012 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 146:163 –17 2:10 12th Place 2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 157:136 +21 6:6 3rd Group 3 ------Total Qualif. 50 25 1 24 1244:1176 +68 51:49 Total EHF EURO 22 6 0 16 486:526 -40 12:32

17 CZECH REPUBLIC NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 42:20 (19:12) vs. Bulgaria @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 Biggest defeat: 33:20 (15:10) vs. Hungary @ Nyíregyháza HUN, 16.04.2000 Longest winning run: 6 matches (20.06.1993 – 31.01.1996) Longest unbeaten run: 7 matches (21.04.1993 – 31.01.1996) Longest losing run: 7 matches (04.04.1996 – 29.04.1998) Longest run without win: 7 matches (04.04.1996 – 29.04.1998) Current run: L1 (14.06.2014)

Most goals: 42 vs. Bulgaria 42:20W @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 Most goals opponent: 34 vs. Sweden 34:24L @ Kristianstad SWE, 02.06.2012 Most goals both teams: 62 vs. FYR Macedonia 32:30L @ Kumanovo MKD, 08.06.2002 62 vs. Bulgaria 42:20W @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 62 vs. Azerbaijan 37:25W @ Brno CZE, 04.04.2010 62 vs. Austria 26:36W @ Maria Enzersdorf AUT, 19.10.2011 Fewest goals: 10 vs. Spain 13:10L @ Leganes ESP, 04.02.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Spain 13:10L @ Leganes ESP, 04.02.1996 Fewest goals both teams: 23 vs. Spain 13:10L @ Leganes ESP, 04.02.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* CZE VS ITA 28.11.2007 Plzeň CZE CZE-ITA ECh-Qual. – Group 3 32:24 (18:14) 03.12.2010 Oderzo ITA ITA-CZE WCh-Qual. – Group 4 22:38 (8:19) CZE VS SRB 08.12.2012 Beograd SRB SRB-CZE ECh – Group A 28:24 (12:15) CZE VS UKR 11.12.2004 Debrecen HUN UKR-CZE ECh – Group A 25:20 (13:8) 04.12.2012 Beograd SRB UKR-CZE ECh – Group A 22:25 (7:12)

18 UKRAINE

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES 2004

TEAM PROFILE Ukraine has participated in every edition winning bronze medal under Leonid of the Women’s EHF EURO since its Ratner (80) who is still at the helm of the inauguration in 1994. However, success Ukrainians. Ratner & Co. failed to qualify MEDIA CONTACT continues to evade the team. With the for the 2015 World Championship after exception of a silver performance in two clear defeats against Poland. As some VASILI YUMASHEV Romania (2002), the team has never ranked players have retired playing for the national +380 44 2397360 in the top five. At their last EHF EURO, team and the pool of talent is not that large [email protected] they finished in a disappointing 16th place in Ukraine - the future and the task ahead [email protected] in Hungary and Croatia. The other success for Methusalem Ratner does not look easy. www.handball.net.ua story was their surprising performance at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 147:111 +36 10:2 1st Group 1 1994 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 126:135 -9 4:8 11th Place 1996 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 108:116 -8 6:6 3rd Group 2 1996 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 141:144 -3 4:8 9th Place 1998 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 156:147 +9 7:5 1st Group 5 1998 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 163:148 +15 6:6 7th Place 2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 54:50 +4 2:2 Won vs. POL 2000 EHF EURO 7 3 3 1 188:176 +12 9:5 Runners-up 2002 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 132:167 –35 2:10 12th Place 2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 54:49 +5 4:0 Won vs. POR 2004 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 173:172 +1 8:6 6th Place 2006 Play-off 2 2 0 0 54:46 +8 4:0 Won vs. SVK 2006 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 73:86 –13 0:6 13th Place 2008 Play-off 2 2 0 0 58:51 +7 4:0 Won vs. SVK 2008 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 168:172 -4 5:7 10th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 197:160 +37 11:1 1st Group 1 2010 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 134:170 –36 2:10 12th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 151:135 +16 10:2 1st Group 7 2012 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 62:68 -6 0:6 14th Place 2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 177:166 +11 6:6 2nd Group 1 2014 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 68:89 –21 0:6 16th Place ------Total Qualif. 44 31 2 11 1156:1031 +125 64:24 Total EHF EURO 59 18 4 37 1428:1527 -99 40:78 19 UKRAINE NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 31:15 (17:5) vs. Slovenia @ Kyiv UKR, 20.10.1993 Biggest defeat: 29:18 (14:7) vs. Poland @ Głogów POL, 15.04.2000 Longest winning run: 8 matches (29.05.2004 – 17.10.2009) Longest unbeaten run: 14 matches (29.05.2004 – 23.10.2011) Longest losing run: 3 matches (27.10.2013 – 04.06.2014) Longest run without win: 3 matches (27.10.2013 – 04.06.2014) Current run: W2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 36 vs. Poland 36:21W @ Kyiv UKR, 08.04.2000 36 vs. Portugal 31:36W @ Lagos POR, 17.10.2009 36 vs. Romania 35:36W @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010 36 vs. Lithuania 25:36W @ Kaunas LTU, 11.06.2014 Most goals opponent: 35 vs. Romania 35:36W @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010 Most goals both teams: 71 vs. Romania 35:36W @ Buzău ROU, 03.04.2010 Fewest goals: 14 vs. France 21:14L @ Maubeuge FRA, 03.02.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 15 vs. Slovenia 31:15W @ Kyiv UKR, 20.10.1993 15 vs. Poland 18:15W @ Zaporozhye UKR, 09.03.1996 Fewest goals both teams: 33 vs. Poland 18:15W @ Zaporozhye UKR, 09.03.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* UKR VS CZE 11.12.2004 Debrecen HUN UKR-CZE ECh – Group A 25:20 (13:8) 04.12.2012 Beograd SRB UKR-CZE ECh – Group A 22:25 (7:12)

UKR VS ITA No previous encounters UKR VS SRB 06.12.2012 Beograd SRB SRB-UKR ECh – Group A 25:23 (14:10)

20 ITALY

MEDIA CONTACT MATTEO ALDAMONTE +39 06 87975927 [email protected] www.figh.it

TEAM PROFILE We have to go back to 2001 to find were part of the squad for the EHF an Italian women’s team at a major EURO 2014 qualification, and despite tournament. As hosts of the event they the Italians not picking up a single point finished in 16th position. Up until now serious improvement could be seen, and a common pattern is: successful pre- during the qualification for the 2015 World qualification followed by elimination in Championship in Denmark, Italy beat FYR the qualification tournaments. However, Macedonia twice. Most of the top players the Italian federation has started a new are contracted by Southern Tyrolian clubs “Olympic Games” project which is based - the heart of Italian handball - such as on talented youth players getting extra the youngster Annika Niederwieser and training and games. Some of these players Christina Gheorghe.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 0 3 3 97:138 -41 3:9 4th Group 2 1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 67:73 -6 4:4 3rd Group C 1998 Pre-Qualif. 4 0 0 4 57:123 –66 0:8 3rd Group C 2000 Qualif. 2 0 0 2 40:70 –30 0:4 Lost vs. SLO 2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 34:74 –40 0:4 Lost vs. AUT 2004 Qualif. 3 1 0 2 80:88 -8 2:4 3rd Group 2 2006 Qualif. 5 3 0 2 151:140 +11 6:4 2nd Group 1 2006 Play-off 2 0 0 2 46:74 –28 0:4 Lost vs. AUT 2008 Qualif. 4 2 0 2 127:114 +13 4:4 3rd Group 3 2008 Play-off 2 0 0 2 53:65 –12 0:4 Lost vs. AUT 2010 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 137:204 –67 0:12 4th Group 4 2012 Qualif. 2 6 0 0 6 104:187 –83 0:12 4th Group 6 2014 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 105:151 –46 0:12 4th Group 4 ------Total Qualif. 52 8 3 41 1098:1501 -403 19:85

21 ITALY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 18:37 (6:16) vs. Latvia @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 Biggest defeat: 45:19 (20:9) vs. Germany @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010 Longest winning run: 3 matches (23.11.2003 – 23.11.2005) Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches (23.11.2003 – 23.11.2005) Longest losing run: 21 matches (01.12.2007 – 14.06.2014) Longest run without win: 21 matches (01.12.2007 – 14.06.2014) Current run: L21 (01.12.2007 – 14.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Latvia 18:37W @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 37 vs. Bulgaria 28:37W @ Plzeň CZE, 30.11.2007 Most goals opponent: 45 vs. Germany 45:19L @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010 Most goals both teams: 68 vs. Bulgaria 31:37L @ Mezzocorona ITA, 25.11.2005 Fewest goals: 10 vs. Russia 10:31L @ Enna ITA, 15.06.1993 10 vs. Spain 10:22L @ Aosta ITA, 29.10.1997 Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. The Netherlands 17:13W @ Cassano Magnago ITA, 22.11.1995 Fewest goals both teams: 28 vs. Portugal 14:14D @ Palermo ITA, 10.10.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* ITA VS CZE 28.11.2007 Plzeň CZE CZE-ITA ECh-Qual. – Group 3 32:24 (18:14) 03.12.2010 Oderzo ITA ITA-CZE WCh-Qual. – Group 4 22:38 (8:19)

ITA VS SRB No previous encounters

ITA VS UKR No previous encounters

22 QUALIFICATION GROUP 3

SPAIN NETHERLANDS AUSTRIA BULGARIA

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 19:30 Netherlands vs Bulgaria 07.10.2015 20:45 Spain vs Austria 11.10.2015 17:00 Bulgaria vs Spain 11.10.2015 18:15 Austria vs Netherlands Netherlands vs Spain Bulgaria vs Austria Spain vs Netherlands 12.03.2016 20:25 Austria vs Bulgaria Bulgaria vs Netherlands 01.06.2016 20:25 Austria vs Spain Spain vs Bulgaria Netherlands vs Austria

23 SPAIN

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 2008, 2014 OLYMPIC GAMES 2012 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011

TEAM PROFILE The ‘guerreras’ were the big surprise of the Duenas has brought in youth players EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia into the team especially on the line after as they made it to the final (losing to Begona Fernandez and Veronica Cuadrado Norway). In the semi-final they dethroned both retired. Despite the loss, they can still the defending champions Montenergo, count on Alexandrina Barbosa Cabral who MEDIA CONTACT which was like a sort of revenge for the was third top scorer in the EHF EURO semi-final defeat in the Olympic Games 2014 qualification. Furthermore, Lara JAVIER FERNANDEZ in 2012. Jorge Duenas and his team have Gonzalez, goalkeeper Silvia Navarro and +34 91 5481355 shown in past events that their willpower is centre back Macarena Aguilar are among [email protected] one of their stronger assets. the best players in their positions in Europe. www.rfebm.com

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 96:111 –15 6:6 3rd Group 6 1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 4 0 0 111:67 +44 8:0 1st Group A 1996 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 100:105 -5 4:8 4th Group 1 1998 Pre-Qualif. 4 4 0 0 105:59 +46 8:0 1st Group C 1998 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 141:118 +23 8:4 2nd Group 3 1998 EHF EURO 6 0 1 5 132:154 –22 1:11 12th Place 2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 53:53 0 2:2 Lost vs. RUS 2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 60:42 +18 4:0 Won vs. TUR 2002 EHF EURO 3 0 2 1 76:80 -4 2:4 13th Place 2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 62:57 +5 4:0 Won vs. POL 2004 EHF EURO 7 3 0 4 185:193 -8 6:8 8th Place 2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 51:49 +2 2:2 Won vs. CZE 2006 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 150:149 +1 6:6 9th Place 2008 Play-off 2 1 1 0 54:49 +5 3:1 Won vs. LTU 2008 EHF EURO 8 4 2 2 199:197 +2 10:6 Runners-up 2010 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 181:128 +53 12:0 1st Group 5 2010 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 143:142 +1 4:8 11th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 153:132 +21 8:4 2nd Group 7 2012 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 153:156 -3 5:7 11th Place 2014 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 160:106 +54 10:2 1st Group 4 2014 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 200:191 +9 10:6 Runners-up ------Total Qualif. 54 39 1 14 1327:1076 +251 79:29 Total EHF EURO 50 19 6 25 1238:1262 -24 44:56

24 SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 39:16 (16:5) vs. Greece @ Utebo ESP, 30.05.2010 Biggest defeat: 37:17 (18:9) vs. Denmark @ Århus DEN, 20.10.1993 Longest winning run: 9 matches (14.10.2009 – 21.03.2012) Longest unbeaten run: 11 matches (31.05.2008 - 21.03.2012) Longest losing run: 3 matches (15.09.1993 – 14.11.1993) Longest run without win: 3 matches (15.09.1993 – 14.11.1993) Current run: W3 (30.03.2014 – 14.06.2014)

Most goals: 39 vs. Greece 39:16W @ Utebo ESP, 30.05.2010 Most goals opponent: 37 vs. Denmark 37:17L @ Århus DEN, 20.10.1993 Most goals both teams: 62 vs. Russia 33:29W @ Lucena ESP, 08.04.2000 Fewest goals: 11 vs. Croatia 23:11L @ Rijeka CRO, 14.11.1993 Fewest goals opponent: 10 vs. Czech Republic 13:10W @ Leganés ESP, 04.02.1996 10 vs. Italy 10:22W @ Aosta ITA, 29.10.1997 Fewest goals both teams: 23 vs. Czech Republic 13:10W @ Leganés ESP, 04.02.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* ESP VS AUT 05.12.1981 Viborg DEN AUT-ESP B-WCh – Place 11/12 24:22 (11:11, 20:20) 08.11.1986 Sagunto ESP ESP-AUT C-WCh – Place 1-4 16:21 (8:12) 30.07.1992 Barcelona ESP ESP-AUT OG – Group B 16:30 (4:9) 09.12.2003 Zagreb CRO ESP-AUT WCh – MR-Group I 27:26 (19:14) ESP VS BUL 04.12.1981 Taars DEN BUL-ESP B-WCh – Group B 23:10 (11:4) 08.12.1983 Chorzów POL BUL-ESP B-WCh – Group A 29:11 (13:3) 05.12.1992 Kaunas LTU BUL-ESP B-WCh – Place 5/6 24:25 (9:10, 22:22) ESP VS NED 04.12.1977 Berlin FRG NED-ESP B-WCh – Group A 15:9 (8:5) 29.11.1981 Højslev DEN NED-ESP B-WCh – Group B 17:16 (8:10) 14.12.1983 Chorzów POL ESP-NED B-WCh – Place 11/12 24:23 (11:11, 21:21) 14.12.1987 Veliko Tarnovo BUL ESP-NED B-WCh – Place 13-16 21:25 (11:13) 01.11.1988 Dreux FRA ESP-NED C-WCh – Place 3/4 19:17 (9:10) 30.11.1992 Kaunas LTU NED-ESP B-WCh – Group B 11:17 (5:10) 11.06.2005 ‘s-Hertogenbosch NED NED-ESP WCh-Playoff 24:25 (14:12) 18.06.2005 Ciudad Real ESP ESP-NED WCh-Playoff 30:31 (14:14) 07.12.2006 Malmö SWE ESP-NED ECh – Group D 26:16 (11:9) 03.12.2011 Barueri BRA NED-ESP WCh – Group B 27:34 (15:18) 26.05.2012 Guadalajara ESP ESP-NED OG – Qual. Tournament 2 28:24 (14:13) 26.03.2014 Rotterdam NED NED-ESP ECh-Qual. – Group 4 27:22 (17:12) 30.03.2014 Logroño ESP ESP-NED ECh-Qual. – Group 4 29:22 (16:14)

25 NETHERLANDS

MEDIA CONTACT ANNEMIEK SCHOUTEN +31 26 707 1440 [email protected] www.handbal.nl

TEAM PROFILE The Netherlands were always on the brink Danick Snelder (Thüringer HC). of being a top team, but still their best result Their two top stars have made huge steps is 5th at the 2005 World Championship. in their career, with centre back Nycke The young guns like Laura van der Heijden Groot and line player Yvette Broch signing have proved their ability at the EHF EURO for two-time Champions League winners 2014, when they were close to reaching Györ. Coach Henk Groener will be hoping their first ever semi-final, but finally were to qualify for the Olympic Games for beaten by Montenegro (finishing th7 ). the first time, since in 2012 when exactly Most of their top players are contracted one goal was missing at the qualification by German or Danish clubs like Van der tournament. Heijden, Lois Abbingh (Baia Mare) or

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 119:125 -6 4:8 3rd Group 7 1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 80:73 +7 4:4 1st Group C 1996 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 119:135 –16 4:8 3rd Group 4 1998 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 126:153 –27 2:10 10th Place 2000 Play-off 2 0 1 1 52:54 -2 1:3 Lost vs. YUG 2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 58:49 +9 4:0 Won vs. POR 2002 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 73:80 -7 0:6 14th Place 2004 Play-off 2 0 1 1 55:58 -3 1:3 Lost vs. ROU 2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 56:51 +5 2:2 Won vs. BLR 2006 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 65:84 –19 0:6 15th Place 2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 52:54 -2 2:2 Lost vs. SRB 2010 Qualif. 6 3 2 1 161:146 +15 8:4 2nd Group 7 2010 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 131:145 –14 4:8 8th Place 2014 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 170:122 +48 10:2 2nd Group 4 2014 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 161:158 +3 5:7 7th Place ------Total Qualif. 38 18 4 16 922:867 +55 40:36 Total EHF EURO 24 5 1 18 556:620 -64 11:37

26 NETHERLANDS NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 37:21 (18:12) vs. Turkey @ Rotterdam NED, 15.06.2014 Biggest defeat: 26:16 (13:8) vs. Sweden @ Märsta SWE, 31.01.1996 Longest winning run: 3 matches (31.03.2010 – 26.05.2010) 3 matches (23.10.2013 – 26.03.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 8 matches (18.10.2009 – 26.03.2014) Longest losing run: 5 matches (17.12.1995 – 09.03.1996) Longest run without win: 5 matches (17.12.1995 – 09.03.1996) Current run: W2 (12.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Turkey 37:21W @ Rotterdam NED, 15.06.2014 Most goals opponent: 32 vs. Croatia 32:23L @ Rijeka CRO, 15.10.2009 Most goals both teams: 60 vs. Portugal 34:26W @ Eindhoven NED, 08.06.2002 Fewest goals: 13 vs. Italy 17:13L @ Cassano Magnago ITA, 22.11.1995 Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Italy 28:13W @ Rotterdam NED, 23.10.2013 Fewest goals both teams: 30 vs. Italy 17:13L @ Cassano Magnago ITA, 22.11.1995

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* NED VS AUT 13.12.1983 Katowice POL NED-AUT B-WCh – Group B 18:20 (10:9) 10.12.1986 Amsterdam NED NED-AUT A-WCh – MR-Group I 22:17 (9:9) 06.12.1989 Ribe DEN NED-AUT B-WCh – MR-Group I 17:21 (7:9) 17.12.1998 Amsterdam NED NED-AUT ECh – Group A 24:28 (9:13) 02.12.2012 Apeldoorn NED NED-AUT WCh-Qual. – Group 2 30:18 (16:9) NED VS BUL 28.11.1981 Skørping DEN NED-BUL B-WCh – Group B 17:24 (6:11) 10.12.1987 Burgas BUL BUL-NED B-WCh – Group C 23:18 (14:5) 25.05.1993 Nieuwegein NED NED-BUL ECh-Qual. – Group 7 19:22 (11:14) 24.10.1993 Gabrovo BUL BUL-NED ECh-Qual. – Group 7 21:19 (12:7) NED VS ESP 04.12.1977 Berlin FRG NED-ESP B-WCh – Group A 15:9 (8:5) 29.11.1981 Højslev DEN NED-ESP B-WCh – Group B 17:16 (8:10) 14.12.1983 Chorzów POL ESP-NED B-WCh – Place 11/12 24:23 (11:11, 21:21) 14.12.1987 Veliko Tarnovo BUL ESP-NED B-WCh – Place 13-16 21:25 (11:13) 01.11.1988 Dreux FRA ESP-NED C-WCh – Place 3/4 19:17 (9:10) 30.11.1992 Kaunas LTU NED-ESP B-WCh – Group B 11:17 (5:10) 11.06.2005 ‘s-Hertogenbosch NED NED-ESP WCh-Playoff 24:25 (14:12) 18.06.2005 Ciudad Real ESP ESP-NED WCh-Playoff 30:31 (14:14) 07.12.2006 Malmö SWE ESP-NED ECh – Group D 26:16 (11:9) 03.12.2011 Barueri BRA NED-ESP WCh – Group B 27:34 (15:18) 26.05.2012 Guadalajara ESP ESP-NED OG – Qual. Tournament 2 28:24 (14:13) 26.03.2014 Rotterdam NED NED-ESP ECh-Qual. – Group 4 27:22 (17:12) 30.03.2014 Logroño ESP ESP-NED ECh-Qual. – Group 4 29:22 (16:14)

27 AUSTRIA

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 1996 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2001

TEAM PROFILE During the 90’s and the early 00’s Austria The most experienced players of the current were one of the powerhouses of women’s squad are Gorica Acimovic and Kathrin handball winning bronze medals in 1996 Engel, but young guns like Sonja Frey or and 1999 on European and world levels Beate Scheffknecht (second top scorer in the MEDIA CONTACT respectively. Since 2009, however, they 2014 EHF EURO qualification), bring fresh have not qualified for any European or blood to the team. Two years ago, they were MARKUS RIEDLMAYER World Championships. Herbert Müller has close to qualifying for the EHF EURO, and +43 664 184 69 60 now put his focus on his youth players and in 2015 they were defeated clearly twice by [email protected] in contrast to previous years on players not Hungary in the qualification for the World www.oehb.at solely contracted by Hypo. Championship in Denmark.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 163:114 +49 12:0 1st Group 3 1994 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 120:122 -2 4:8 9th Place 1996 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 155:113 +42 9:3 2nd Group 5 1996 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 175:150 +25 10:4 3rd Place 1998 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 164:140 +24 8:4 1st Group 1 1998 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 182:183 -1 8:6 4th Place 2000 Play-off 2 2 0 0 62:54 +8 4:0 Won vs. SWE 2000 EHF EURO 6 0 0 6 111:179 –68 0:12 12th Place 2002 Play-off 2 2 0 0 74:34 +40 4:0 Won vs. ITA 2002 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 159:150 +9 6:6 9th Place 2004 Play-off 2 2 0 0 63:60 +3 4:0 Won vs. LTU 2004 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 164:170 -6 4:8 10th Place 2006 Play-off 2 2 0 0 74:46 +28 4:0 Won vs. ITA 2006 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 153:200 –47 4:8 10th Place 2008 Play-off 2 2 0 0 65:53 +12 4:0 Won vs. ITA 2008 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 53:86 -33 0:6 15th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 150:145 +5 6:6 3rd Group 3 2012 Qualif. 2 6 1 1 4 148:184 –36 3:9 3rd Group 5 2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 177:186 -9 6:6 3rd Group 1 ------Total Qualif. 46 31 2 13 1295:1129 +166 64:28 Total EHF EURO 47 18 0 29 1117:1240 -123 36:58

28 AUSTRIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 38:15 (22:8) vs. Italy @ Villach AUT, 06.06.2002 Biggest defeat: 39:17 (16:10) vs. Sweden @ Norrköping SWE, 24.03.2012 Longest winning run: 12 matches (02.05.1998 – 14.10.2009) Longest unbeaten run: 12 matches (02.05.1998 – 14.10.2009) Longest losing run: 3 matches (18.10.2009 – 04.04.2010) Longest run without win: 5 matches (19.10.2011 – 30.05.2012) Current run: L2 (07.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 41 vs. Italy 41:23W @ Feldkirchen AUT, 28.05.2006 Most goals opponent: 42 vs. Denmark 42:27L @ Roskilde DEN, 24.10.2013 Most goals both teams: 69 vs. Denmark 42:27L @ Roskilde DEN, 24.10.2013 Fewest goals: 17 vs. Hungary 17:17D @ Wiener Neustadt AUT, 05.04.1996 17 vs. Sweden 39:17L @ Norrköping SWE, 24.03.2012 Fewest goals opponent: 15 vs. Turkey 15:28W @ Ankara TUR, 17.10.1993 15 vs. Azerbaijan 35:15W @ Frohnleiten AUT, 31.01.1996 15 vs. Yugoslavia 29:15W @ Wien AUT, 14.03.1998 15 vs. Italy 38:15W @ Villach AUT, 06.06.2002 Fewest goals both teams: 34 vs. Hungary 17:17D @ Wiener Neustadt AUT, 05.04.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* AUT VS BUL 16.12.1985 Celle FRG AUT-BUL B-WCh – MR-Group II 16:17 (9:7) 14.12.1987 Burgas BUL BUL-AUT B-WCh – MR-Group II 17:24 (5:7) AUT VS ESP 05.12.1981 Viborg DEN AUT-ESP B-WCh – Place 11/12 24:22 (11:11, 20:20) 08.11.1986 Sagunto ESP ESP-AUT C-WCh – Place 1-4 16:21 (8:12) 30.07.1992 Barcelona ESP ESP-AUT OG – Group B 16:30 (4:9) 09.12.2003 Zagreb CRO ESP-AUT WCh – MR-Group I 27:26 (19:14) AUT VS NED 13.12.1983 Katowice POL NED-AUT B-WCh – Group B 18:20 (10:9) 10.12.1986 Amsterdam NED NED-AUT A-WCh – MR-Group I 22:17 (9:9) 06.12.1989 Ribe DEN NED-AUT B-WCh – MR-Group I 17:21 (7:9) 17.12.1998 Amsterdam NED NED-AUT ECh – Group A 24:28 (9:13) 02.12.2012 Apeldoorn NED NED-AUT WCh-Qual. – Group 2 30:18 (16:9)

29 BULGARIA

MEDIA CONTACT NO NAME PROVIDED +359 2 980 3452 [email protected] www.bulgarianhandball.eu

TEAM PROFILE In the early 2000’s they managed to keep Omoregie impressed so much in the up with other European strongholds but national team, that she was signed by then a downward swing started. However, Champions League participant Krim they have marched step by step, from the Mercator (Slovenia). Being part of this EHF/IHF Challenge Trophy tournaments, qualification and facing experienced teams which they won in 2012 and 2014 to the first like Spain, Austria or Netherlands, will be a stage of the EHF EURO 2016 qualification, perfect lesson for further improvement. when they beat Faroe Islands and The opportunity has been a long time Azerbaijan on home soil to book their ticket coming as it has been nine years since for the second stage of qualification. Bulgaria beat Slovenia in the EHF EURO And the Bulgarian top star Elizabeth 2006 qualification.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 3 2 1 121:118 +3 8:4 2nd Group 7 1994 Runners-Up 2 0 0 2 36:46 –10 0:4 Lost vs. DEN 1996 Qualif. 6 0 2 4 127:150 –23 2:10 4th Group 3 1998 Pre-Qualif. 2 2 0 0 63:44 +19 4:0 Won vs. ISL 1998 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 130:155 –25 2:10 4th Group 2 2000 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 47:44 +3 4:0 Won vs. SUI 2000 Play-off 2 0 0 2 50:69 –19 0:4 Lost vs. MKD 2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 44:57 –13 0:4 Lost vs. SWE 2004 Qualif. 3 3 0 0 76:65 +11 6:0 1st Group 1 2004 Play-off 2 1 0 1 47:50 -3 2:2 Lost vs. CRO 2006 Qualif. 5 4 1 0 161:138 +23 9:1 1st Group 1 2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 52:60 -8 2:2 Lost vs. SLO 2008 Qualif. 4 1 0 3 100:135 –35 2:6 4th Group 3 2016 Qualif. 1 2 2 0 0 63:50 +13 4:0 1st Group A ------Total Qualif. 46 20 5 21 1117:1181 -64 45:47

30 BULGARIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 36:19 (21:9) vs. Iceland @ Sofia BUL, 01.11.1997 Biggest defeat: 42:20 (19:12) vs. Czech Republic @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 Longest winning run: 4 matches (21.11.2003 – 29.05.2004) 4 matches (22.11.2005 – 26.11.2005) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (22.11.2005 – 27.11.2005) Longest losing run: 4 matches (02.03.1994 - 04.02.1996) 4 matches (11.02.1998 – 15.03.1998) 4 matches (09.04.2000 – 08.06.2002) Longest run without win: 9 matches (19.12.1993 – 07.04.1996) Current run: W3 (02.12.2007 – 14.06.2015)

Most goals: 37 vs. Italy 31:37W @ Mezzocorona ITA, 25.11.2005 Most goals opponent: 42 vs. Czech Republic 42:20L @ Plzeň CZE, 27.11.2007 Most goals both teams: 68 vs. Italy 31:37W @ Mezzocorona ITA, 25.11.2005 Fewest goals: 16 vs. Croatia 28:16L @ Ivanec CRO, 31.01.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 16 vs. Azerbaijan 17:16W @ Sofia BUL, 18.12.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 33 vs. Azerbaijan 17:16W @ Sofia BUL, 18.12.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* BUL VS AUT 16.12.1985 Celle FRG AUT-BUL B-WCh – MR-Group II 16:17 (9:7) 14.12.1987 Burgas BUL BUL-AUT B-WCh – MR-Group II 17:24 (5:7) BUL VS ESP 04.12.1981 Taars DEN BUL-ESP B-WCh – Group B 23:10 (11:4) 08.12.1983 Chorzów POL BUL-ESP B-WCh – Group A 29:11 (13:3) 05.12.1992 Kaunas LTU BUL-ESP B-WCh – Place 5/6 24:25 (9:10, 22:22) BUL VS NED 28.11.1981 Skørping DEN NED-BUL B-WCh – Group B 17:24 (6:11) 10.12.1987 Burgas BUL BUL-NED B-WCh – Group C 23:18 (14:5) 25.05.1993 Nieuwegein NED NED-BUL ECh-Qual. – Group 7 19:22 (11:14) 24.10.1993 Gabrovo BUL BUL-NED ECh-Qual. – Group 7 21:19 (12:7)

31 QUALIFICATION GROUP 4

MONTENEGRO CROATIA FYR MACEDONIA SLOVENIA

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 19:00 Croatia vs Slovenia 07.10.2015 19:30 Montenegro vs FYR Macedonia 10.10.2015 20:15 FYR Macedonia vs Croatia 11.10.2015 16:00 Slovenia vs Montenegro Croatia vs Montenegro Slovenia vs FYR Macedonia Montenegro vs Croatia FYR Macedonia vs Slovenia FYR Macedonia vs Montenegro Slovenia vs Croatia Montenegro vs Slovenia Croatia vs FYR Macedonia

32 MONTENEGRO

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 2012

TEAM PROFILE In Montenegro, 2012 was the year the team of head coach Dragan Adzic were of women’s handball: first Buducnost back on track again at the EHF EURO Podgorica won the Women’s EHF 2014, making it to the semi-finals. With Champions League; then they qualified for world class players like Katarina Bulatovic the 2012 Olympic Games and went almost or the brilliant wings Jovanka Radicevic MEDIA CONTACT all the way, only losing to Norway in the and Majda Mehmedovic in the squad, they NO NAME PROVIDED final. The icing on the cake became the are the favourites to top the group. Adzic EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia when the team has managed to add players like defence ace +382 20 664277 beat Norway in a thrilling final. Suzana Lazovic or W19 EHF EURO top [email protected] After the disappointing Last 16 elimination scorer Djurdjina Jaukovic. www.rscg.co.me at the 2013 World Championship in Serbia,

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 2008 Qualif. 4 3 0 1 128:107 +21 6:2 2nd Group 2 2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 63:66 -3 2:2 Lost vs. CRO 2010 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 196:160 +36 11:1 1st Group 6 2010 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 170:169 +1 8:6 6th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 180:136 +44 10:2 1st Group 3 2012 EHF EURO 8 7 0 1 215:196 +19 14:2 Winner 2014 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 150:134 +16 11:1 1st Group 3 2014 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 199:187 +12 10:6 4th Place ------Total Qualif. 24 19 2 3 717:603 +114 40:8 Total EHF EURO 23 16 0 7 584:552 +32 32:14

33 MONTENEGRO NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 34:18 (21:6) vs. Great Britain @ Herceg Novi MNE, 19.10.2011 Biggest defeat: 31:23 (16:10) vs. Croatia @ Kutina CRO, 07.06.2008 Longest winning run: 7 matches (31.03.2010 – 21.03.2012) 7 matches (30.05.2012 – 11.06.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (14.10.2009 – 21.03.2012) Longest losing run: 1 match (01.12.2007) 1 match (07.06.2008) 1 match (25.03.2012) Longest run without win: 1 match (01.12.2007) 1 match (07.06.2008) 1 match (17.10.2009) 1 match (25.03.2012) 1 match (15.06.2014) Current run: D1 (15.06.2014)

Most goals: 40 vs. Croatia 40:35W @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008 Most goals opponent: 35 vs. Croatia 40:35W @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008 Most goals both teams: 75 vs. Croatia 40:35W @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008 Fewest goals: 22 vs. Portugal 22:22D @ Nikšić MNE, 15.06.2014 Fewest goals opponent: 18 vs. Great Britain 34:18W @ Herceg Novi MNE, 19.10.2011 Fewest goals both teams: 44 vs. Portugal 22:22D @ Nikšić MNE, 15.06.2014

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* MNE VS CRO 31.05.2008 Podgorica MNE MNE-CRO ECh-Playoff 40:35 (21:13) 07.06.2008 Kutina CRO CRO-MNE ECh-Playoff 31:23 (16:10) 11.12.2010 Århus DEN MNE-CRO ECh – Group B 28:29 (12:13) 03.08.2012 London GBR CRO-MNE OG – Group A 27:26 (12:12)

MNE VS MKD No previous encounters MNE VS SLO 25.11.2008 Pljevlja MNE MNE-SLO WCh-Qual. – Group 2 32:22 (16:14)

34 CROATIA

MEDIA CONTACT LJERKA VRESK +385 95 9999 123 [email protected] www.hrs.hr

TEAM PROFILE After failing to reach the main round of a huge number of talents like tall shooter the EHF EURO 2014, the national team Micicevic were included. Their best result coach Vladimir Canjuga resigned, which to date at an EHF EURO was 6th in 2008. was followed by elimination from the 2015 But they reached the quarter-final at the World Championship in the play-offs World Championship 2011 and at the 2012 against Sweden. At that stage Goran Mrden Olympic Games losing to eventual bronze was in charge, but despite the results, these medallists, Spain. Missing out on the matches marked a point of transition for qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games this side. Experienced players such as team means the team are eager to impress at captain Andrea Penezic or goalkeeper every major tournament. Marta Zderic remained in the squad, but

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 189:116 +73 9:3 1st Group 6 1994 EHF EURO 6 4 0 2 115:118 -3 8:4 5th Place 1996 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 148:118 +30 10:2 1st Group 3 1996 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 138:143 -5 6:6 6th Place 1998 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 128:139 –11 6:6 3rd Group 5 2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 42:45 -3 2:2 Lost vs. GER 2002 Play-off 2 0 1 1 46:49 -3 1:3 Lost vs. GER 2004 Play-off 2 1 0 1 50:47 +3 2:2 Won vs. BUL 2004 EHF EURO 3 1 0 2 82:89 -7 2:4 13th Place 2006 Play-off 2 2 0 0 51:48 +3 4:0 Won vs. POR 2006 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 141:143 -2 6:6 7th Place 2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 66:63 +3 2:2 Won vs. MNE 2008 EHF EURO 7 3 0 4 212:208 +4 6:8 6th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 191:138 +53 10:2 1st Group 7 2010 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 152:167 –15 6:6 9th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 6 0 0 186:116 +70 12:0 1st Group 6 2012 EHF EURO 3 1 0 2 65:69 -4 2:4 13th Place 2014 EHF EURO 3 1 0 2 83:83 0 2:4 13th Place ------Total Qualif. 40 28 2 10 1097:879 +218 58:22 Total EHF EURO 37 18 0 19 905:937 -32 36:38

35 CROATIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 55:14 (26:6) vs. Moldova @ Zagreb CRO, 20.10.1993 Biggest defeat: 34:27 (16:14) vs. Ukraine @ Kyiv UKR, 12.03.1998 25:18 (10:8) vs. Germany @ Sindelfingen GER, 15.04.2000 Longest winning run: 7 matches (29.05.2010 – 03.06.2012) Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (26.05.1993 – 07.03.1996) Longest losing run: 2 matches (14.02.1998 – 12.03.1998) 2 matches (09.06.2002 – 29.05.2004) Longest run without win: 4 matches (15.04.2000 - 29.05.2004) Current run: W7 (29.05.2010 – 03.06.2012)

Most goals: 55 vs. Moldova 55:14W @ Zagreb CRO, 20.10.1993 Most goals opponent: 40 vs. Montenegro 40:35L @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008 Most goals both teams: 75 vs. Montenegro 40:35L @ Podgorica MNE, 31.05.2008 Fewest goals: 18 vs. Romania 22:18L @ Arad ROU, 04.04.1996 18 vs. Germany 25:18L @ Sindelfingen GER, 15.04.2000 Fewest goals opponent: 11 vs. Spain 23:11W @ Rijeka CRO, 14.11.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 34 vs. Spain 23:11W @ Rijeka CRO, 14.11.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* CRO VS MKD 29.04.1998 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh-Qual. – Group 5 28:22 (14:11) 03.05.1998 Osijek CRO CRO-MKD ECh-Qual. – Group 5 21:17 (8:7) 11.12.2007 Metz FRA MKD-CRO WCh – MR-Group I 29:29 (13:15) 04.12.2008 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh – Group D 31:29 (15:13) 31.03.2010 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh-Qual. – Group 7 21:26 (12:13) 03.04.2010 Cakovec CRO CRO-MKD ECh-Qual. – Group 7 36:23 (18:10) CRO VS MNE 31.05.2008 Podgorica MNE MNE-CRO ECh-Playoff 40:35 (21:13) 07.06.2008 Kutina CRO CRO-MNE ECh-Playoff 31:23 (16:10) 11.12.2010 Århus DEN MNE-CRO ECh – Group B 28:29 (12:13) 03.08.2012 London GBR CRO-MNE OG – Group A 27:26 (12:12) CRO VS SLO 12.12.2004 Zalaegerszeg HUN SLO-CRO ECh – Group B 29:30 (16:17)

36 FYR MACEDONIA

MEDIA CONTACT IVAN IVANOVIKJ +389 22 464 444 [email protected] www.macedoniahandball.com.mk

TEAM PROFILE Their top club Vardar Skopje were two- A number of players have transferred to time MVM EHF FINAL4 participants the German Bundesliga because of lack of in 2014 and 2015, but the Macedonian real competition in the Macedonian league. national team are suffering from a barren The women’s national team has been in the run: They missed the qualifications for all shadow of the men’s national team for many major tournaments after the EHF EURO years. The organisation of the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia, where the Macedonians 2008, women’s handball experienced a finished 16th. Former top star Julija Nikolic revival; however, finishing in 7th at the has resigned from the national team, 1997 World Championship is still the best leaving coach Emil Ugrinovski with a ever result at EHF EURO events. tough task.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 1 1 2 95:101 -6 3:5 2nd Group B 1998 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 140:130 +10 6:6 2nd Group 5 1998 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 132:171 –39 4:8 8th Place 2000 Play Off 2 2 0 0 69:50 +19 4:0 Won vs. BUL 2000 EHF EURO 6 1 2 3 151:162 –11 4:8 8th Place 2002 Play Off 2 1 0 1 56:58 -2 2:2 Lost vs. CZE 2004 Qualif. 3 3 0 0 91:73 +18 6:0 1st Group 2 2004 Play Off 2 1 0 1 47:51 -4 2:2 Lost vs. GER 2006 Play Off 2 2 0 0 55:47 +8 4:0 Won vs. ISL 2006 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 138:167 –29 2:10 12th Place 2008 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 160:175 -15 6:6 7th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 2 2 2 157:153 +4 6:6 3rd Group 7 2012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 170:176 -6 8:4 2nd Group 4 2012 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 61:92 –31 0:6 16th Place 2014 Qualif. 4 0 0 4 84:121 –37 0:8 3rd Group 7 ------Total Qualif. 37 19 3 15 964:960 +4 41:33 Total EHF EURO 27 7 2 18 642:767 -125 16:38

37 FYR MACEDONIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 37:23 (19:12) vs. Bulgaria @ Skopje MKD, 15.04.2000 19:33 (9:18) vs. Lithuania @ Kaunas LTU, 26.05.2010 Biggest defeat: 40:20 (19:12) vs. France @ Clermont-Ferrand FRA, 25.03.2012 Longest winning run: 5 matches (08.06.2002 – 29.05.2004) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (08.06.2002 – 29.05.2004) Longest losing run: 4 matches (26.03.2014 – 14.06.2014) Longest run without win: 4 matches (26.03.2014 – 14.06.2014) Current run: L4 (26.03.2014 – 14.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Bulgaria 37:23W @ Skopje MKD, 15.04.2000 Most goals opponent: 40 vs. France 40:20L @ Clermont-Ferrand FRA, 25.03.2012 Most goals both teams: 64 vs. Turkey 36:28L @ Antalya TUR, 23.10.2011 Fewest goals: 16 vs. France 25:16L @ Valence FRA, 25.10.1995 16 vs. Germany 31:16L @ Magdeburg GER, 14.06.2014 Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs. Sweden 20:17W @ Skopje MKD, 15.03.1998 Fewest goals both teams: 37 vs. Sweden 20:17W @ Skopje MKD, 15.03.1998

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* MKD VS CRO 29.04.1998 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh-Qual. – Group 5 28:22 (14:11) 03.05.1998 Osijek CRO CRO-MKD ECh-Qual. – Group 5 21:17 (8:7) 11.12.2007 Metz FRA MKD-CRO WCh – MR-Group I 29:29 (13:15) 04.12.2008 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh – Group D 31:29 (15:13) 31.03.2010 Skopje MKD MKD-CRO ECh-Qual. – Group 7 21:26 (12:13) 03.04.2010 Cakovec CRO CRO-MKD ECh-Qual. – Group 7 36:23 (18:10)

MKD VS MNE No previous encounters MKD VS SLO 22.11.1995 Prilep MKD MKD-SLO ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group B 31:24 (13:13) 25.11.1995 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group B 27:23 (13:10) 02.12.1997 Neubrandenburg GER MKD-SLO WCh – Group D 26:22 (11:11) 17.03.1999 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD WCh-Qual. – Group 2 26:23 (14:14) 21.03.1999 Skopje MKD MKD-SLO WCh-Qual. – Group 2 21:17 (12:7) 19.05.2001 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD WCh-Playoff 29:22 (12:13) 26.05.2001 Niš YUG MKD-SLO WCh-Playoff 28:28 (11:13)

38 SLOVENIA

MEDIA CONTACT ANJA FREŠER +386 1 5476638 [email protected] www.rokometna-zveza.si

TEAM PROFILE On club level, Slovenia have one of the best when they finished last. The best result on teams in Europe - Krim Ljubljana, but the a EURO level was 9th in 2004. Now it is national team has never been able to match the job of former Krim coach Marta Bon that success. They have qualified for four to rebuild a team with only a small number previous World Championships and EHF of experienced players such as goalkeeper EURO events, but failed to make it to the Sergeja Stefanisin. Young guns like Barbara EHF EURO 2014 and the 2015 World Lazovic-Varlec, Tamara Mavsar or Ana Championship. The last time, Slovenia Gros will try to reach the heights of their were part of a major event was at the EHF forerunners. EURO 2010 in Denmark and Norway,

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 0 1 5 109:159 -50 1:11 4th Group 1 1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 1 0 3 100:111 –11 2:6 3rd Group B 1998 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 149:184 –35 0:12 4th Group 1 2000 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 70:40 +30 4:0 Won vs. ITA 2000 Play Off 2 0 0 2 42:48 -6 0:4 Lost vs. FRA 2002 Play Off 2 2 0 0 48:45 +3 4:0 Won vs. SVK 2002 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 151:166 –15 4:8 10th Place 2004 Play Off 2 2 0 0 79:68 +11 4:0 Won vs. TUR 2004 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 164:181 –17 4:8 9th Place 2006 Play Off 2 1 0 1 60:52 +8 2:2 Won vs. BUL 2006 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 80:108 –28 0:6 16th Place 2008 Play Off 2 0 1 1 50:54 -4 1:3 Lost vs. BLR 2010 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 166:176 –10 6:6 2nd Group 4 2010 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 54:89 –35 0:6 16th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 1 0 5 138:170 –32 2:10 4th Group 5 2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 162:173 –11 6:6 3rd Group 5 ------Total Qualif. 46 15 2 29 1173:1280 -107 32:60 Total EHF EURO 18 4 0 14 449:544 -95 8:28

39 SLOVENIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 38:19 (21:11) vs. Italy @ Koper SLO, 20.11.1999 Biggest defeat: 30:14 (18:9) vs. Poland @ Ciechanów POL, 13.10.1993 31:15 (17:5) vs. Ukraine @ Kyiv UKR, 20.10.1993 Longest winning run: 5 matches (01.06.2002 – 28.05.2006) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (01.06.2002 – 28.05.2006) Longest losing run: 8 matches (13.12.1995 – 03.05.1998) Longest run without win: 8 matches (13.12.1995 – 03.05.1998) Current run: L2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 41 vs. Turkey 41:34W @ Ilirska Bistrica SLO, 06.06.2004 Most goals opponent: 38 vs. Russia 26:38L @ Trebnje SLO, 11.03.1998 Most goals both teams: 75 vs. Turkey 41:34W @ Ilirska Bistrica SLO, 06.06.2004 Fewest goals: 13 vs. Poland 13:22L @ Ptuj SLO, 10.04.1993 Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs. Greece 17:29W @ Patras GRE, 26.05.2010 Fewest goals both teams: 35 vs. Poland 13:22L @ Ptuj SLO, 10.04.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* SLO VS CRO 12.12.2004 Zalaegerszeg HUN SLO-CRO ECh – Group B 29:30 (16:17) SLO VS MKD 22.11.1995 Prilep MKD MKD-SLO ECh-Pre-Qual. – Gp B 31:24 (13:13) 25.11.1995 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD ECh-Pre-Qual. – Gp B 27:23 (13:10) 02.12.1997 Neubrandenburg GER MKD-SLO WCh – Group D 26:22 (11:11) 17.03.1999 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD WCh-Qual. – Group 2 26:23 (14:14) 21.03.1999 Skopje MKD MKD-SLO WCh-Qual. – Group 2 21:17 (12:7) 19.05.2001 Ljubljana SLO SLO-MKD WCh-Playoff 29:22 (12:13) 26.05.2001 Niš YUG MKD-SLO WCh-Playoff 28:28 (11:13) SLO VS MNE 25.11.2008 Pljevlja MNE MNE-SLO WCh-Qual. – Group 2 32:22 (16:14)

40 QUALIFICATION GROUP 5

HUNGARY POLAND SLOVAKIA FINLAND

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 20:00 Poland vs Finland 08.10.2015 18:00 Hungary vs Slovakia 10.10.2015 18:00 Slovakia vs Poland 11.10.2015 14:00 Finland vs Hungary Poland vs Hungary Finland vs Slovakia Hungary vs Poland Slovakia vs Finland Slovakia vs Hungary Finland vs Poland Hungary vs Finland Poland vs Slovakia

41 HUNGARY

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 2000 1998, 2004, 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 2000 1976, 1996 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 1965 1957, 1982, 1995, 2003 TEAM PROFILE 1971, 1975, 1978, 2005 Hungary are only one of two teams in sixth, two years after Böhn had led the (Montenegro) who were able to end the team to a sensational bronze medal at Norwegian/Danish dominance at EURO the 2012 EHF EURO. Their playmaker, events. Hungary took gold in 2000 and two-time Champions League winner and MEDIA CONTACT added later bronze to their tally (98, 04, former IHF World Player of the Year Anita 12). The team’s most recent history was Görbicz and could be back on court after LISZKAY GÁBOR tragically marked by the death of Karl Erik giving birth. Besides Görbicz and Zsuzsana +36 306 813460 Böhn (coach) who passed away in February Tomori, Nemeth started a big transition by [email protected] 2014. Andras Nemeth has since been in including a big number of younger players. www.keziszovetseg.hu charge, but they disappointingly finished

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 127:128 -1 7:5 2nd Group 1 1994 Runners-Up 2 2 0 0 65:37 +28 4:0 Won vs. ISL 1994 EHF EURO 7 3 1 3 163:160 +3 7:7 4th Place 1996 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 149:115 +34 9:3 1st Group 5 1996 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 131:154 –23 2:10 10th Place 1998 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 154:134 +20 11:1 1st Group 2 1998 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 175:161 +14 10:4 3rd Place 2000 Play-off 2 2 0 0 59:45 +14 4:0 Won vs. CZE 2000 EHF EURO 7 6 1 0 216:169 +47 13:1 Winner 2002 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 223:204 +19 10:4 5th Place 2004 EHF EURO 8 6 0 2 236:217 +19 12:4 3rd Place 2006 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 234:186 +48 10:4 5th Place 2008 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 143:160 -17 5:7 8th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 174:134 +40 12:0 1st Group 2 2010 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 126:147 –21 6:6 10th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 174:138 +36 10:2 2nd Group 1 2012 EHF EURO 8 4 0 4 219:226 -7 8:8 3rd Place 2014 EHF EURO 7 3 1 3 178:172 +6 7:7 6th Place ------Total Qualif. 34 27 3 4 902:731 +171 57:11 Total EHF EURO 76 43 4 29 2044:1956 +88 90:62

42 HUNGARY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 41:19 (20:7) vs. Azerbaijan @ Szombathely HUN, 19.10.2011 Biggest defeat: 26:18 (13:9) vs. Germany @ Trier GER, 25.03.2012 Longest winning run: 11 matches (08.04.2000 - 22.03.2012) Longest unbeaten run: 21 matches (06.03.1996 – 22.03.2012) Longest losing run: 1 match (13.06.1993) 1 match (16.10.1993) 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (25.03.2012) Longest run without win: 1 match (30.05.1993) 1 match (13.06.1993) 1 match (16.10.1993) 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (05.04.1996) 1 match (03.05.1998) 1 match (25.03.2012) Current run: W2 (30.05.2012 – 03.06.2012)

Most goals: 41 vs. Azerbaijan 41:19W @ Szombathely HUN, 19.10.2011 Most goals opponent: 28 vs. Germany 28:28D @ Sindelfingen GER, 03.05.1998 Most goals both teams: 61 vs. Azerbaijan 35:26W @ Nyíregyháza HUN, 30.05.2010 Fewest goals: 15 vs. Slovakia 17:15L @ Púchov SVK, 04.02.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 15 vs. Azerbaijan 15:31W @ Baku AZE, 18.10.2009 Fewest goals both teams: 32 vs. Slovakia 17:15L @ Púchov SVK, 04.02.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS*

HUN VS FIN No previous encounters HUN VS POL 11.11.1965 Ludwigshafen FRG POL-HUN A-WCh – Group B 5:15 (0:0) 03.12.1978 Cheb TCH HUN-POL A-WCh – Group C 21:14 (12:9) 10.12.1987 Veliko Tarnovo BUL POL-HUN B-WCh – Group A 24:26 (11:11) 06.06.1993 Debrecen HUN HUN-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 1 23:19 (13:7) 16.10.1993 Ciechanów POL POL-HUN ECh-Qual. – Group 1 21:18 (13:8) 26.11.1993 Østre Toten NOR HUN-POL WCh – Group A 25:25 (13:12) 06.12.1996 Brøndby/Sjælland DEN HUN-POL ECh – Group A 21:19 (10:10) 13.12.2006 Göteborg SWE HUN-POL ECh –MR-Group I 37:21 (16:9) 06.12.2007 Dijon FRA POL-HUN WCh – MR-Group II 26:28 (13:11) 28.03.2008 Bucureşti ROU HUN-POL OG – Qual. Tournament 2 39:30 (17:18) 09.12.2014 Győr HUN HUN-POL ECh – Group A 29:23 (14:7) HUN VS SVK 18.09.1994 Oldenburg GER SVK-HUN ECh – Group B 23:23 (17:9) 31.01.1996 Százhalombatta HUN HUN-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 5 30:22 (17:8) 04.02.1996 Púchov SVK SVK-HUN ECh-Qual. – Group 5 17:15 (11:6) 06.06.2009 Partizanske SVK SVK-HUN WCh-Playoff 21:22 (9:11) 14.06.2009 Nyíregyháza HUN HUN-SVK WCh-Playoff 33:22 (18:11)

43 POLAND

MEDIA CONTACT JAN KORCZAK-MLECZKO +48 22 8929011 [email protected] www.zprp.pl

TEAM PROFILE Poland has always been among the top a signal of change in Polish women’s teams ranked 5 to 23 in Europe and at handball. Rasmussen’s team can count on World Championships, but from 2006 playmaker Karolina Kudlacz (Leipzig), to 2014 they didn’t qualify for any EHF Alina Wojtas (Larvik) or Kinga Byzdra EURO event. But beating Sweden in the (Buducnost) to come up with the goods. The 2013 World Championship qualification 11th place finish at the 2014 EHF EURO they have put themselves back on the map. was a certain setback, but like ten years ago, Going through the event beating Romania Poland again belong to the top of Europe. and France they made it to the semi-final, By beating Ukraine twice, they qualified for but left empty-handed. This success under the 2015 World Championship. Danish born coach Kim Rasmussen was

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 128:113 +15 6:6 3rd Group 1 1996 Pre-Qualif. 2 1 0 1 46:43 +3 2:2 Won vs. BLR 1996 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 133:132 +1 8:4 2nd Group 2 1996 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 137:159 –22 2:10 11th Place 1998 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 157:136 +21 10:2 1st Group 4 1998 EHF EURO 6 4 0 2 138:133 +5 8:4 5th Place 2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 50:54 -4 2:2 Lost vs. UKR 2002 Play-off 2 1 0 1 55:56 -1 2:2 Lost vs. YUG 2004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 57:62 -5 0:4 Lost vs. ESP 2006 Play-off 2 1 0 1 53:44 +9 2:2 Won vs. LTU 2006 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 164:186 –22 6:6 8th Place 2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 61:63 -2 2:2 Lost vs. POR 2010 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 151:191 –40 2:10 4th Group 6 2012 Qualif. 2 6 3 0 3 163:157 +6 6:6 3rd Group 3 2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 140:132 +8 6:6 2nd Group 3 2014 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 136:162 -26 2:10 11th Place ------Total Qualif. 48 24 0 24 1194:1183 +11 48:48 Total EHF EURO 24 9 0 15 575:640 -65 18:30

44 POLAND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 30:14 (18:9) vs. Slovenia @ Ciechanów POL, 13.10.1993 Biggest defeat: 36:21 (18:10) vs. Ukraine @ Kyiv UKR, 08.04.2000 35:20 (17:11) vs. Russia @ Chekhov RUS, 04.04.2010 Longest winning run: 7 matches (03.04.1996 – 29.04.1998) Longest unbeaten run: 7 matches (03.04.1996 – 29.04.1998) Longest losing run: 6 matches (08.06.2008 – 26.05.2010) Longest run without win: 6 matches (08.06.2008 – 26.05.2010) Current run: W1 (14.06.2014)

Most goals: 37 vs. Portugal 37:28W @ Elbląg POL, 31.05.2008 Most goals opponent: 36 vs. Ukraine 36:21L @ Kyiv UKR, 08.04.2000 Most goals both teams: 67 vs. Montenegro 35:32L @ Pljevlja MNE, 26.05.2010 Fewest goals: 15 vs. Ukraine 18:15L @ Zaporozhye UKR, 09.03.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Slovenia 13:22W @ Ptuj SLO, 10.04.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 33 vs. Ukraine 18:15L @ Zaporozhye UKR, 09.03.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS*

POL VS FIN No previous encounters POL VS HUN 11.11.1965 Ludwigshafen FRG POL-HUN A-WCh – Group B 5:15 (0:0) 03.12.1978 Cheb TCH HUN-POL A-WCh – Group C 21:14 (12:9) 10.12.1987 Veliko Tarnovo BUL POL-HUN B-WCh – Group A 24:26 (11:11) 06.06.1993 Debrecen HUN HUN-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 1 23:19 (13:7) 16.10.1993 Ciechanów POL POL-HUN ECh-Qual. – Group 1 21:18 (13:8) 26.11.1993 Østre Toten NOR HUN-POL WCh – Group A 25:25 (13:12) 06.12.1996 Brøndby/Sjælland DEN HUN-POL ECh – Group A 21:19 (10:10) 13.12.2006 Göteborg SWE HUN-POL ECh –MR-Group I 37:21 (16:9) 06.12.2007 Dijon FRA POL-HUN WCh – MR-Group II 26:28 (13:11) 28.03.2008 Bucureşti ROU HUN-POL OG – Qual. Tournament 2 39:30 (17:18) 09.12.2014 Győr HUN HUN-POL ECh – Group A 29:23 (14:7) POL VS SVK 23.04.1997 Partizanske SVK SVK-POL WCh-Qual. – Group 7 16:23 (6:9) 26.04.1997 Chorzów POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 7 19:19 (9:8) 12.02.1998 Chorzów POL POL-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 4 24:19 (12:8) 14.02.1998 Púchov SVK SVK-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 4 20:23 (9:13) 26.11.2004 Kielce POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 2 29:24 (14:13) 26.11.2008 Dąbrowa Górnicza POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 3 26:31 (11:17) 18.10.2009 Hlohovec SVK SVK-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 6 32:28 (16:14) 30.05.2010 Piotrków Trybunalski POL POL-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 6 24:23 (11:13) 03.12.2010 Lublin POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 1 31:28 (12:12)

45 SLOVAKIA

MEDIA CONTACT TOMÁŠ HÚSKA +421 915 498 564 [email protected] www.slovakhandball.sk

TEAM PROFILE After a 20-year-long wait, the Slovak including former Challenge Cup winner women’s team qualified again for an EHF Petra Benuskova (DHK Banik Most), and EURO event in 2014. And there they others play for German sides like Jakubisova ended the hopes of, at the time World for Champions League participant Championship silver medallist, Serbia. One Thüringer HC. In the meantime, some key to this success was the arrival of coach experienced players like Petra Popluharova Dusan Poloz, he managed to qualify for and Denisa Glankovicova have resigned the EHF EURO by eliminating Iceland from the national team, but some young including a draw against France. guns have stepped who recently failed to Most of the current national team players qualify for the 2015 World Championship play for Slovakian champions HK Slovan in the play-offs against Spain. Duslo Sala, some from Czech clubs EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 143:126 +17 7:5 2nd Group 3 1994 EHF EURO 6 0 1 5 111:148 –37 1:11 12th Place 1996 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 124:146 –22 4:8 3rd Group 5 1998 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 103:83 +20 4:4 2nd Group C 1998 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 136:148 –12 2:10 4th Group 4 2000 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 66:34 +32 4:0 Won vs. GRE 2000 Play-off 2 0 0 2 40:63 –23 0:4 Lost vs. DEN 2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 45:48 -3 0:4 Lost vs. SLO 2004 Play-off 2 1 0 1 46:47 -1 2:2 Lost vs. SCG 2006 Qualif. 5 4 1 0 187:113 +74 9:1 1st Group 2 2006 Play-off 2 0 0 2 46:54 -8 0:4 Lost vs. UKR 2008 Qualif. 4 3 1 0 132:100 +32 7:1 1st Group 2 2008 Play-off 2 0 0 2 51:58 -7 0:4 Lost vs. UKR 2010 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 156:193 –37 2:10 3rd Group 6 2012 Qualif. 2 6 2 0 4 133:154 –21 4:8 3rd Group 6 2014 Qualif. 6 3 1 2 154:139 +15 7:5 2nd Group 2 2014 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 129:167 -38 2:10 12th Place ------Total Qualif. 61 24 4 33 1562:1506 +56 52:70 Total EHF EURO 12 1 1 10 240:315 -75 3:21

46 SLOVAKIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 10:40 (4:19) vs. Finland @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005 Biggest defeat: 37:20 (15:8) vs. Denmark @ Kolding DEN, 16.04.2000 Longest winning run: 4 matches (23.11.2005 – 27.11.2005) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (22.11.2005 – 27.11.2005) Longest losing run: 6 matches (26.11.1997 – 15.03.1998) 6 matches (31.03.2010 – 22.10.2011) Longest run without win: 6 matches (26.11.1997 – 15.03.1998) 6 matches (31.03.2010 – 22.10.2011) Current run: L1 (15.06.2014)

Most goals: 45 vs. Azerbaijan 28:45W @ Lagos POR, 26.11.2005 Most goals opponent: 39 vs. Montenegro 39:24L @ Pljevlja MNE, 31.03.2010 Most goals both teams: 73 vs. Azerbaijan 28:45W @ Lagos POR, 26.11.2005 Fewest goals: 14 vs. Spain 30:14L @ Algemesi ESP, 26.11.1997 Fewest goals opponent: 10 vs. Finland 10:40W @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005 Fewest goals both teams: 32 vs. Hungary 17:15W @ Púchov SVK, 04.02.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* SVK VS FIN 25.11.2005 Lagos POR SVK-FIN ECh-Qual. – Group 2 40:10 (19:4) 01.12.2012 Partizánske SVK SVK-FIN WCh-Qual. – Group 1 38:18 (20:8) 26.03.2014 Vantaa – Vanda FIN FIN-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 2 25:27 (14:12) 29.03.2014 Michalovce SVK SVK-FIN ECh-Qual. – Group 2 38:17 (17:7) SVK VS HUN 18.09.1994 Oldenburg GER SVK-HUN ECh – Group B 23:23 (17:9) 31.01.1996 Százhalombatta HUN HUN-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 5 30:22 (17:8) 04.02.1996 Púchov SVK SVK-HUN ECh-Qual. – Group 5 17:15 (11:6) 06.06.2009 Partizanske SVK SVK-HUN WCh-Playoff 21:22 (9:11) 14.06.2009 Nyíregyháza HUN HUN-SVK WCh-Playoff 33:22 (18:11) SVK VS POL 23.04.1997 Partizanske SVK SVK-POL WCh-Qual. – Group 7 16:23 (6:9) 26.04.1997 Chorzów POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 7 19:19 (9:8) 12.02.1998 Chorzów POL POL-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 4 24:19 (12:8) 14.02.1998 Púchov SVK SVK-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 4 20:23 (9:13) 26.11.2004 Kielce POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 2 29:24 (14:13) 26.11.2008 Dąbrowa Górnicza POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 3 26:31 (11:17) 18.10.2009 Hlohovec SVK SVK-POL ECh-Qual. – Group 6 32:28 (16:14) 30.05.2010 Piotrków Trybunalski POL POL-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 6 24:23 (11:13) 03.12.2010 Lublin POL POL-SVK WCh-Qual. – Group 1 31:28 (12:12)

47 FINLAND

MEDIA CONTACT MARKUS ERHOVAARA +358 400 464111 [email protected] www.finnhandball.net

TEAM PROFILE In contrast to their Scandinavian stage for the first time. Though the amateur neighbours Sweden and Norway, handball squad of national team coach Jan Hagman has no long and successful tradition in lost all their respective matches against Finland. But in the past years, the women’s Iceland, France and Slovakia, their will team have made progress. After winning to improve did not stop. In June, Finland the IHF/EHF Challenge Trophy twice in finished on top of their qualification group 2008 and 2010, the door to EHF EURO after beating Kosovo and Israel. Key qualification was open. In 2013, on the way players are Alexandra Roos (playing for to the EHF EURO 2014, the Finnish team Swedish club Skara HK) and Madeleine then made it to the group qualification Lindholm.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 2006 Qualif. 5 0 0 5 100:176 -76 0:10 6th Group 2 2010 Pre-Qualif. 2 0 0 2 37:41 -4 0:4 Lost vs. GBR 2012 Qualif. 1 2 0 0 2 42:58 –16 0:4 Lost vs. GBR 2014 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 106:191 –85 0:12 4th Group 2 2016 Qualif. 1 2 2 0 0 53:42 +11 4:0 1st Group B ------Total Qualif. 17 2 0 15 338:508 -170 4:30

48 FINLAND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 27:19 (12:6) vs. Kosovo @ Karjaa – Karis FIN, 12.06.2015 Biggest defeat: 40:10 (19:4) vs. Slovakia @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005 Longest winning run: 2 matches (12.06.2015 – 14.06.2015) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (12.06.2015 – 14.06.2015) Longest losing run: 15 matches (22.11.2005 – 15.06.2014) Longest run without win: 15 matches (22.11.2005 – 15.06.2014) Current run: W2 (12.06.2015 – 14.06.2015)

Most goals: 27 vs. Greece 29:27L @ Lagos POR, 27.11.2005 27 vs. Kosovo 27:19W @ Karjaa - Karis FIN, 12.06.2015 Most goals opponent: 40 vs. Slovakia 40:10L @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005 Most goals both teams: 59 vs. Azerbaijan 35:24L @ Lagos POR, 23.11.2005 Fewest goals: 10 vs. Slovakia 40:10L @ Lagos POR, 25.11.2005 Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs. Great Britain 14:17L @ Helsinki – Helsingfors FIN, 23.09.2009 Fewest goals both teams: 31 vs. Great Britain 14:17L @ Helsinki – Helsingfors FIN, 23.09.2009

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS*

FIN VS HUN No previous encounters

FIN VS POL No previous encounters FIN VS SVK 25.11.2005 Lagos POR SVK-FIN ECh-Qual. – Group 2 40:10 (19:4) 01.12.2012 Partizánske SVK SVK-FIN WCh-Qual. – Group 1 38:18 (20:8) 26.03.2014 Vantaa – Vanda FIN FIN-SVK ECh-Qual. – Group 2 25:27 (14:12) 29.03.2014 Michalovce SVK SVK-FIN ECh-Qual. – Group 2 38:17 (17:7)

49 QUALIFICATION GROUP 6

DENMARK RUSSIA TURKEY PORTUGAL

DATE TIME FIXTURE

08.10.2015 19:00 Russia vs Portugal 08.10.2015 20:15 Denmark vs Turkey 11.10.2015 16:10 Portugal vs Denmark 11.10.2015 17:00 Turkey vs Russia Russia vs Denmark Portugal vs Turkey Turkey vs Portugal 12.03.2016 17:10 Denmark vs Russia Turkey vs Denmark Portugal vs Russia Russia vs Turkey 05.06.2016 17:10 Denmark vs Portugal

50 DENMARK

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 1994, 1996, 2002 1998, 2004

OLYMPIC GAMES 1996, 2000, 2004

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 1997 1962, 1993 TEAM PROFILE 2013 Hosting the World Championship in bronze at the World Championship. December this qualification is one of From U17 to U20 the Danes are on top MEDIA CONTACTS the first stepping stones in their journey. with gold to their name in the 2015 summer BODIL KJAERGAARD From 1994 to 2004 the Danish national events and they will hope to build on +45 4326 2409 team were very successful being crowned this youth success in the coming major [email protected] Olympic champions (96, 00, 04), world tournaments. In the EHF EURO 2014 they champions (97) and European champions disappointingly finished in 8th. The result ALEXANDER ELVERLUND (94, 96, 02). However, this success was of this was that Jan Pytlick was replaced by followed by an 11-year medal drought, former Danish international coach Klavs +45 4326 2401 which finally ended in 2013 as they won Bruun Jörgensen. [email protected] www.dhf.dk

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 188:117 +71 9:3 2nd Group 6 1994 Runners Up 2 2 0 0 46:36 +10 4:0 Won vs. BUL 1994 EHF EURO 7 7 0 0 186:151 +35 14:0 Winner 1996 EHF EURO 7 7 0 0 197:146 +51 14:0 Winner 1998 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 189:163 +26 10:4 Runners-up 2000 Play-off 2 2 0 0 63:40 +23 4:0 Won vs. SVK 2000 EHF EURO 6 1 1 4 151:159 -8 3:9 10th Place 2002 EHF EURO 8 8 0 0 200:171 +29 16:0 Winner 2004 EHF EURO 8 6 0 2 202:189 +13 12:4 Runners-up 2006 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 148:156 -8 4:8 11th Place 2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 45:44 +1 2:2 Won vs. TUR 2008 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 145:160 -15 5:7 11th Place 2010 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 192:175 +17 10:6 4th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 171:137 +34 8:4 2nd Group 6 2012 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 217:206 +11 10:4 5th Place 2014 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 204:164 +40 12:0 1st Group 1 2014 EHF EURO 6 3 1 2 155:147 +8 7:5 8th Place ------Total Qualif. 24 19 1 4 717:538 +179 39:9 Total EHF EURO 76 51 3 22 1982:1823 +159 105:47

51 DENMARK NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 41:13 (14:8) vs. Moldova @ Kalundborg DEN, 07.10.1993 Biggest defeat: 31:25 (12:10) vs. Croatia @ Zagreb CRO, 12.06.1993 Longest winning run: 8 matches (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (15.09.1993 – 16.04.2000) Longest losing run: 2 matches (21.03.2012 – 24.03.2012) Longest run without win: 2 matches (21.03.2012 – 24.03.2012) Current run: W8 (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 42 vs. Austria 42:27W @ Roskilde DEN, 24.10.2013 Most goals opponent: 31 vs. Croatia 31:25L @ Zagreb CRO, 12.06.1993 31 vs. Croatia 27:31L @ Randers DEN, 24.03.2012 31 vs. Lithuania 31:38W @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.10.2013 Most goals both teams: 69 vs. Austria 42:27W @ Roskilde DEN, 24.10.2013 69 vs. Lithuania 31:38W @ Panevėžys LTU, 27.10.2013 Fewest goals: 19 vs. Croatia 19:19D @ Ikast DEN, 12.10.1993 19 vs. Croatia 21:19L @ Rijeka CRO, 21.03.2012 Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Moldova 41:13W @ Kalundborg DEN, 07.10.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 38 vs. Croatia 19:19D @ Ikast DEN, 12.10.1993 38 vs. Bulgaria 18:20W @ Gabrovo BUL, 02.03.1994

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* DEN VS POR 04.11.1986 València ESP POR-DEN C-WCh – Group A 18:33 (6:17) 06.06.2009 In Peso da Regua POR POR-DEN WCh-Playoff 21:38 (8:18) 13.06.2009 Århus DEN DEN-POR WCh-Playoff 41:22 (17:7) DEN VS RUS 28.11.1993 Sandefjord NOR RUS-DEN WCh – Group B 21:24 (10:12) 07.12.1997 Neubrandenburg GER DEN-RUS WCh – Group D 22:22 (12:12) 13.12.1997 Berlin GER DEN-RUS WCh – 1/2-final 32:22 (19:12) 14.12.1998 ‘s-Hertogenbosch NED DEN-RUS ECh – Group B 27:22 (14:10) 15.12.2001 Trento ITA DEN-RUS WCh – 1/2-final 20:26 (12:11) 14.12.2002 Århus DEN DEN-RUS ECh – 1/2-final 22:18 (8:11) 18.12.2004 Budapest HUN RUS-DEN ECh – 1/2-final 27:31 (11:11) 17.12.2005 St. Petersburg RUS RUS-DEN WCh – 1/2-final 31:24 (16:9) 13.12.2006 Stockholm SWE RUS-DEN ECh –MR-Group II 32:27 (17:13) 15.12.2009 Yangzhou CHN DEN-RUS WCh – MR-Group I 25:30 (12:13) 13.12.2010 Herning DEN DEN-RUS ECh – MR-Group I 26:20 (11:10) 27.05.2012 Aalborg DEN DEN-RUS OG – Qual. Tourn. 3 20:27 (9:9) 15.12.2012 Beograd SRB DEN-RUS ECh – Place 5/6 32:30 (15:15) DEN VS TUR 01.06.2008 Ankara TUR TUR-DEN ECh-Playoff 25:24 (14:11) 06.06.2008 Ǻrhus DEN DEN-TUR ECh-Playoff 21:19 (12:5) 02.06.2013 Çankaya, Ankara TUR TUR-DEN WCh-Playoff 24:42 (13:18) 08.06.2013 Aarhus DEN DEN-TUR WCh-Playoff 31:26 (13:15)

52 RUSSIA

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 2006 2000, 2008

OLYMPIC GAMES 2008

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008 TEAM PROFILE Alongside Norway, from 2001 to 2009, to qualify for a World Championship in Russia were the dominant team in the 2013, one year later they didn’t make it to world of women’s handball. They won the main round at the EHF EURO 2014. four World Championship titles (2001, Even Evgeny Trefilov did not bring success, MEDIA CONTACT 2005, 2007 and 2009) and an Olympic but they kept their faith in him, and the silver medal in 2008. But at the European Russians eliminated Germany on route to IVAN VORONTSOV Championships, Russia never secured a the 2015 World Championship. Trefilov has +7 916 736 86 14 title; the biggest EHF EURO success came started a huge transition in his team, giving [email protected] in 2006 when the team won silver. But for the responsibility to young players from www.rushandball.ru the first time in their history, they failed their successful youth programmes.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 179:88 +91 12:0 1st Group 2 1994 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 143:116 +27 6:6 6th Place 1996 Qualif. 6 5 0 1 151:119 +32 10:2 1st Group 4 1996 EHF EURO 6 3 1 2 164:147 +17 7:5 7th Place 1998 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 160:149 +11 8:4 2nd Group 1 1998 EHF EURO 6 1 1 4 144:147 -3 3:9 9th Place 2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 53:53 0 2:2 Won vs. ESP 2000 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 163:148 +15 10:4 3rd Place 2002 EHF EURO 8 4 1 3 202:189 +13 9:7 4th Place 2004 EHF EURO 8 4 0 4 226:215 +11 8:8 4th Place 2006 EHF EURO 8 7 0 1 242:200 +42 14:2 Runners-up 2008 EHF EURO 8 5 1 2 210:183 +27 11:5 3rd Place 2010 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 196:155 +41 9:3 2nd Group 6 2010 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 159:145 +14 6:6 7th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 4 0 2 155:135 +20 8:4 2nd Group 3 2012 EHF EURO 7 2 3 2 190:180 +10 7:7 6th Place 2014 Qualif. 4 3 0 1 123:107 +16 6:2 2nd Group 7 2014 EHF EURO 3 0 1 2 79:83 -4 1:5 14th Place ------Total Qualif. 36 27 1 8 1017:806 +211 55:17 Total EHF EURO 73 37 8 28 1922:1753 +169 82:64

53 RUSSIA NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 10:31 (3:15) vs. Italy @ Enna ITA, 15.06.1993 17:38 (7:19) vs. Portugal @ Lagoa POR, 30.12.1993 Biggest defeat: 27:19 (12:10) vs. Austria @ Stockerau AUT, 02.05.1998 30:22 (15:14) vs. Poland @ Kwidzyn POL, 30.05.2012 Longest winning run: 11 matches (14.06.1993 – 03.04.1996) Longest unbeaten run: 11 matches (14.06.1993 – 03.04.1996) Longest losing run: 2 matches (02.05.1998 – 08.04.2000) Longest run without win: 2 matches (02.05.1998 – 08.04.2000) Current run: W3 (27.10.2013 – 29.03.2014)

Most goals: 38 vs. Portugal 17:38W @ Lagoa POR, 30.12.1993 38 vs. Slovenia 26:38W @ Trebnje SLO, 11.03.1998 Most goals opponent: 33 vs. Spain 33:29L @ Lucena ESP, 08.04.2000 Most goals both teams: 64 vs. Slovenia 26:38W @ Trebnje SLO, 11.03.1998 Fewest goals: 19 vs. Austria 27:19L @ Stockerau AUT, 02.05.1998 Fewest goals opponent: 10 vs. Italy 10:31W @ Enna ITA, 15.06.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 38 vs. Iceland 14:24W @ Reykjavík ISL, 10.10.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* RUS VS DEN 28.11.1993 Sandefjord NOR RUS-DEN WCh – Group B 21:24 (10:12) 07.12.1997 Neubrandenburg GER DEN-RUS WCh – Group D 22:22 (12:12) 13.12.1997 Berlin GER DEN-RUS WCh – 1/2-final 32:22 (19:12) 14.12.1998 ‘s-Hertogenbosch NED DEN-RUS ECh – Group B 27:22 (14:10) 15.12.2001 Trento ITA DEN-RUS WCh – 1/2-final 20:26 (12:11) 14.12.2002 Århus DEN DEN-RUS ECh – 1/2-final 22:18 (8:11) 18.12.2004 Budapest HUN RUS-DEN ECh – 1/2-final 27:31 (11:11) 17.12.2005 St. Petersburg RUS RUS-DEN WCh – 1/2-final 31:24 (16:9) 13.12.2006 Stockholm SWE RUS-DEN ECh –MR-Group II 32:27 (17:13) 15.12.2009 Yangzhou CHN DEN-RUS WCh – MR-Group I 25:30 (12:13) 13.12.2010 Herning DEN DEN-RUS ECh – MR-Group I 26:20 (11:10) 27.05.2012 Aalborg DEN DEN-RUS OG – Qual. Tourn. 3 20:27 (9:9) 15.12.2012 Beograd SRB DEN-RUS ECh – Place 5/6 32:30 (15:15) RUS VS POR 28.12.1993 Lagoa POR POR-RUS ECh-Qual. – Group 2 15:26 (7:14) 30.12.1993 Lagoa POR POR-RUS ECh-Qual. – Group 2 17:38 (7:19)

RUS VS TUR No previous encounters

54 TURKEY

MEDIA CONTACT EKREM ÖZSOY +90 530 660 5089 [email protected] www.thf.gov.tr

TEAM PROFILE Beach handball is where you see Turkey’s Two years later, in the EHF EURO 2014 name on a podium most, but the Turkish qualification Spain and Netherlands were women’s team have never made it to a too much for them. Their biggest name major indoor tournament. Hikmet Vurgun is Yeliz Özel who played for Kometal & Co. have shown huge improvement in the Skopje and Oltchim Valcea and was a previous years, however. In 2012/13, they Champions League finalist twice. She has won their pre-qualification group for the returned to Turkey, joining Champions 2013 World Championship, but then had League qualification participant Ankara. to face the mighty Denmark after they had All the players of the current squad play for beaten FYR Macedonia and Lithuania in domestic sides, mostly in Muratpasa, Izmir EHF EURO 2012 qualification. or Ankara.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 112:182 –70 0:12 4th Group 3 1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 88:87 +1 4:4 2nd Group A 1998 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 109:117 -8 4:4 2nd Group A 2000 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 45:38 +7 4:0 Won vs. LTU 2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 50:59 -9 2:2 Lost vs. BLR 2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 42:60 –18 0:4 Lost vs. ESP 2004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 68:79 –11 0:4 Lost vs. SLO 2006 Qualif. 5 3 0 2 164:145 +19 6:4 3rd Group 1 2006 Play-off 2 0 1 1 53:64 –11 1:3 Lost vs. FRA 2008 Qualif. 4 3 0 1 132:88 +44 6:2 2nd Group 3 2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 44:45 -1 2:2 Lost vs. DEN 2010 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 167:156 +11 4:8 3rd Group 5 2012 Qualif. 2 6 2 0 4 175:190 –15 4:8 3rd Group 4 2014 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 110:166 –56 4:8 3rd Group 4 ------Total Qualif. 53 20 1 32 1359:1476 -117 41:65

55 TURKEY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 13:37 (5:21) vs. Latvia @ Plzeň CZE, 30.11.2007 Biggest defeat: 28:11 (15:5) vs. Spain @ León ESP, 24.10.2013 Longest winning run: 3 matches (13.11.1999 – 09.04.2000) 3 matches (25.11.2005 – 27.11.2005) 3 matches (28.11.2007 – 01.12.2007) Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (25.11.2005 – 26.05.2006) Longest losing run: 7 matches (16.04.2000 – 23.11.2005) Longest run without win: 7 matches (16.04.2000 – 23.11.2005) Current run: L2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 39 vs. Switzerland 29:39W @ Mezzocorona ITA, 27.11.2005 Most goals opponent: 41 vs. Slovenia 41:34L @ Ilirska Bistrica SLO, 06.06.2004 Most goals both teams: 75 vs. Slovenia 41:34L @ Ilirska Bistrica SLO, 06.06.2004 Fewest goals: 11 vs. Spain 28:11L @ León ESP, 24.10.2013 Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Latvia 13:37W @ Plzeň CZE, 30.11.2007 Fewest goals both teams: 39 vs. Spain 28:11L @ León ESP, 24.10.2013

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* TUR VS DEN 01.06.2008 Ankara TUR TUR-DEN ECh-Playoff 25:24 (14:11) 06.06.2008 Ǻrhus DEN DEN-TUR ECh-Playoff 21:19 (12:5) 02.06.2013 Çankaya, Ankara TUR TUR-DEN WCh-Playoff 24:42 (13:18) 08.06.2013 Aarhus DEN DEN-TUR WCh-Playoff 31:26 (13:15) TUR VS POR 22.03.1991 Mortara ITA POR-TUR C-WCh – Place 9/10 16:14 (6:6) 29.10.1997 Moura POR POR-TUR ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group A 26:28 (13:13) 02.11.1997 Rize TUR TUR-POR ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group A 28:25 (15:13) 04.12.2010 Funchal/Madeira POR POR-TUR WCh-Qual. – Group 3 18:31 (9:13) 06.10.2012 Anadia POR POR-TUR WCh-Qual. – Group 4 38:36 (20:17) 01.12.2012 Çankaya, Ankara TUR TUR-POR WCh-Qual. – Group 4 35:26 (21:12) 04.12.2014 Stockerau AUT TUR-POR ECh-Qual. 1 – Group 2 28:27 (14:14)

TUR VS RUS No previous encounters

56 PORTUGAL

MEDIA CONTACT CLAUDIA TEIXEIRA +351 21 3611900 [email protected] www.fpa

TEAM PROFILE Ulysses Miguel was appointed new head tough opponents in their group. In the coach of the women’s team this summer, pre-qualification for the 2013 World and his mission is anything but easy with Championship, they beat Azerbaijan him losing Alexandrina Barbosa who (now and Turkey. In qualification for the EHF playing for French side Fleury) took on EURO 2012 the won against Greece and Spanish citizenship. So coach Miguel will two years later - on the road to the EHF continue to build a team based on young EURO in Croatia and Hungary - they had players, from top club and record champion a tough group with defending champions Madeira. In their only appearance at Montenegro, Poland and the Czech an EHF EURO final tournament in Republic, but caused a sensation drawing 2008, Portugal were beaten by all three with the Montenegrins.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 1 1 4 96:136 –40 3:9 3rd Group 2 1996 Pre-Qualif. 6 2 1 3 129:144 –15 5:7 3rd Group E 1998 Pre-Qualif. 4 0 0 4 100:132 –32 0:8 4rd Group A 2000 Qualif. 2 1 0 1 49:54 -5 2:2 Lost vs. SWE 2002 Qualif. 2 2 0 0 55:44 +11 4:0 Won vs. BIH 2002 Play-off 2 0 0 2 49:58 -9 0:4 Lost vs. NED 2004 Qualif. 3 1 0 2 80:81 -1 2:4 2nd Group 2 2004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 49:54 -5 0:4 Lost vs. UKR 2006 Qualif. 5 4 1 0 154:117 +37 9:1 2nd Group 2 2006 Play-off 2 0 0 2 48:51 -3 0:4 Lost vs. CRO 2008 Qualif. 4 2 1 1 119:115 +4 5:3 3rd Group 2 2008 Play-off 2 1 0 1 63:61 +2 2:2 Won vs. POL 2008 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 67:101 -34 0:6 6th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 142:204 –62 0:12 4th Group 1 2012 Qualif. 2 6 2 0 4 151:180 –29 4:8 3rd Group 2 2014 Qualif. 6 0 1 5 127:172 –45 1:11 4th Group 3 ------Total Qualif. 58 16 5 37 1411:1603 -192 37:79 Total EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 67:101 -34 0:6

57 PORTUGAL NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 35:18 (17:11) vs. Finland @ Lagos POR, 26.11.2005 Biggest defeat: 17:38 (7:19) vs. Russia @ Lagoa POR, 30.12.1993 23:44 (12:20) vs. Romania @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010 Longest winning run: 4 matches (23.11.2005 – 27.11.2005) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (22.11.2005 – 27.11.2005) Longest losing run: 8 matches (14.10.2009 – 23.10.2011) Longest run without win: 8 matches (14.10.2009 – 23.10.2011) 8 matches (30.05.2012 – 15.06.2014) Current run: D1 (15.06.2014)

Most goals: 35 vs. Finland 35:18W @ Lagos POR, 26.11.2005 35 vs. Poland 35:24W @ Vila Nova de Gaia POR, 08.06.2008 Most goals opponent: 44 vs. Romania 23:44L @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010 Most goals both teams: 67 vs. Yugoslavia 41:26L @ Kučevo SCG, 25.09.1997 67 vs. Ukraine 31:36L @ Lagos POR, 17.10.2009 67 vs. Romania 23:44L @ Leiria POR, 26.05.2010 Fewest goals: 11 vs. Iceland 11:16L @ Porto POR, 13.06.1993 Fewest goals opponent: 14 vs. Italy 14:14D @ Palermo ITA, 10.10.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 27 vs. Iceland 11:16L @ Porto POR, 13.06.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* POR VS DEN 04.11.1986 València ESP POR-DEN C-WCh – Group A 18:33 (6:17) 06.06.2009 In Peso da Regua POR POR-DEN WCh-Playoff 21:38 (8:18) 13.06.2009 Århus DEN DEN-POR WCh-Playoff 41:22 (17:7) POR VS RUS 28.12.1993 Lagoa POR POR-RUS ECh-Qual. – Group 2 15:26 (7:14) 30.12.1993 Lagoa POR POR-RUS ECh-Qual. – Group 2 17:38 (7:19) POR VS TUR 22.03.1991 Mortara ITA POR-TUR C-WCh – Place 9/10 16:14 (6:6) 29.10.1997 Moura POR POR-TUR ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group A 26:28 (13:13) 02.11.1997 Rize TUR TUR-POR ECh-Pre-Qual. – Group A 28:25 (15:13) 04.12.2010 Funchal/Madeira POR POR-TUR WCh-Qual. – Group 3 18:31 (9:13) 06.10.2012 Anadia POR POR-TUR WCh-Qual. – Group 4 38:36 (20:17) 01.12.2012 Çankaya, Ankara TUR TUR-POR WCh-Qual. – Group 4 35:26 (21:12) 04.12.2014 Stockerau AUT TUR-POR ECh-Qual. 1 – Group 2 28:27 (14:14)

58 QUALIFICATION GROUP 7

FRANCE GERMANY ICELAND SWITZERLAND

DATE TIME FIXTURE

07.10.2015 19:30 Germany vs Switzerland 08.10.2015 19:00 France vs Iceland 11.10.2015 15:00 Switzerland vs France 11.10.2015 16:00 Iceland vs Germany Germany vs France Switzerland vs Iceland France vs Germany Iceland vs Switzerland Iceland vs France Switzerland vs Germany France vs Switzerland Germany vs Iceland

59 FRANCE

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 2002, 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2003 1999, 2009, 2011

TEAM PROFILE The women’s French national team against Montenegro or in the 2013 World seems to have more success at World Championship quarter-final against Poland. Championships than EHF EURO events, With the EHF EURO 2018 taking place in with one gold and three silver versus just France for the first time the side of Alain two bronze. This title from 2003 was a Portes will be looking to take advantage MEDIA CONTACT final win over Hungary in Zagreb, the of their physically strong and back court last final performance was the appearance scorers like Alexandra Lacrabere, brilliant NADEGE COULET in China in 2009 as they were beaten by game technicians like Allison Pineau and +33 1 46 15 03 66 Russia. When it comes down to crunch- swift wings such as Siraba Dembele or [email protected] time the French seem to come up short goalkeepers like Amandine Leynaud. www.ff-handball.org like in the 2012 Olympic quarter-final

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 2 1 3 125:125 0 5:7 3rd Group 5 1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 3 1 0 107:90 +17 7:1 1st Group B 1996 Qualif. 6 1 0 5 116:125 -9 2:10 4th Group 2 1998 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 127:127 0 6:6 3rd Group 3 2000 Play-off 2 2 0 0 48:42 +6 4:0 Won vs. SLO 2000 EHF EURO 6 4 0 2 150:125 +25 8:4 5th Place 2002 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 189:191 -2 10:6 3rd Place 2004 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 153:177 –24 2:10 11th Place 2006 Play-off 2 1 1 0 64:53 +11 3:1 Won vs. TUR 2006 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 203:196 +7 10:6 3rd Place 2008 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 74:83 -9 0:6 14th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 191:124 +67 12:0 1st Group 3 2010 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 168:153 +15 10:4 5th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 215:149 +66 10:2 1st Group 4 2012 EHF EURO 6 3 0 3 140:131 +9 6:6 9th Place 2014 Qualif. 6 5 1 0 163:108 +55 11:1 1st Group 2 2014 EHF EURO 7 5 1 1 168:150 +18 11:3 5th Place ------Total Qualif. 44 28 4 12 1156:943 +213 60:28 Total EHF EURO 51 28 1 22 1245:1206 +39 57:45

60 FRANCE NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 16:42 (09:18) v Great Britain @ London GBR, 17.10.2009 Biggest defeat: 27:19 (13:08) v Germany @ Wermelskirchen GER, 08.03.1996 Longest winning run: 9 matches (03.06.2006 – 23.10.2011) Longest unbeaten run: 12 matches (08.04.2000 - 23.10.2011) Longest losing run: 4 matches (06.03.1996 – 06.04.1996) Longest run without win: 4 matches (15.06.1993 – 19.10.1993) 4 matches (06.03.1996 – 06.04.1996) Current run: W1 (15.06.2014)

Most goals: 42 v Great Britain 16:42W @ London GBR, 17.10.2009 Most goals opponent: 30 v FYR Macedonia 30:27L @ Skopje MKD, 22.03.2012 Most goals both teams: 65 v Lithuania 25:40W @ Alytus LTU, 23.10.2011 Fewest goals: 14 v Norway 14:17L @ Lille FRA, 19.10.1993 14 v Germany 14:16L @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 13 vs. Finland 13:27W @ Vantaa – Vanda FIN, 27.10.2013 13 vs. Finland 36:13W @ Mouilleron-le-Captif FRA, 15.06.2014 Fewest goals both teams: 30 v Germany 14:16L @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* FRA VS GER 06.03.1996 Liévin FRA FRA-GER ECh-Qual. – Group 2 14:16 (8:5) 08.03.1996 Wermelskirchen GER GER-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 2 27:19 (13:8) 10.12.2000 Râmnicu Vâlcea ROU FRA-GER ECh – Group A 25:19 (12:12) 16.12.2004 Debrecen HUN GER-FRA ECh – MR-Group II 29:27 (13:16) 12.12.2005 St. Petersburg RUS GER-FRA WCh – MR-Group II 32:26 (18:13) 17.12.2006 Stockholm SWE FRA-GER ECh – Place 3/4 29:25 (14:11) 10.12.2009 Wuxi CHN GER-FRA WCh – Group A 15:29 (10:10) 16.12.2014 Zagreb CRO GER-FRA ECh – MR-Group II 24:24 (13:10) FRA VS ISL 30.10.1988 Dreux FRA FRA-ISL C-WCh – Group A 16:12 (7:4) 14.10.2009 Besançon FRA FRA-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 3 32:23 (16:12) 26.05.2010 Reykjavík ISL ISL-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 3 24:27 (11:13) 26.03.2014 Reykjavík ISL ISL-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 2 21:27 (11:15) 29.03.2014 Limoges FRA FRA-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 2 24:19 (10:13)

FRA VS SUI No previous encounters

61 GERMANY

ACHIEVEMENTS EHF EURO 1994 2000, 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES 1976 1980 (both GDR) WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 1971, 1975, 1978 (all GDR), 1993 1965, 1990 (GDR), 1997, 2007 TEAM PROFILE The Germans have participated in all to be later awarded an IHF wild card. editions of the EHF EURO even making Vestergaard will be keeping the 2017 World it to the semi-final three times and taking Championship at home in focus as he silver in 1994 on their home court. A more prepares his team with a huge number of MEDIA CONTACT recent highlight is their bronze medal from talents – like players from the 2014 silver the 2007 World Championship in France. squad of the U19 World Championships. TIM OLIVER KALLE Danish-born coach Jakob Vestergaard Such young talents will be integrated into +49 231 9119134 came up short in his first task as coach as the squad alongside the more experienced [email protected] they were defeated twice by Russia in the Clara Woltering and Anja Althaus. www.dhb.de play-offs for the 2015 World Championship,

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 152:143 +9 10:4 Runners-up 1996 Qualif. 6 4 0 2 134:118 +16 8:4 1st Group 2 1996 EHF EURO 7 4 0 3 169:165 +4 8:6 4th Place 1998 Qualif. 6 4 1 1 158:137 +21 9:3 2nd Group 2 1998 EHF EURO 6 4 0 2 140:145 -5 8:4 6th Place 2000 Play-off 2 1 0 1 45:42 +3 2:2 Won vs. CRO 2000 EHF EURO 6 2 0 4 139:155 –16 4:8 9th Place 2002 Play-off 2 1 1 0 49:46 +3 3:1 Won vs. CRO 2002 EHF EURO 6 1 0 5 142:168 –26 2:10 11th Place 2004 Play-off 2 1 0 1 51:47 +4 2:2 Won vs. MKD 2004 EHF EURO 7 5 0 2 183:173 +10 10:4 5th Place 2006 EHF EURO 8 5 0 3 228:208 +20 10:6 4th Place 2008 EHF EURO 8 5 1 2 227:208 +19 11:5 4th Place 2010 Qualif. 6 6 0 0 205:129 +76 12:0 1st Group 4 2010 EHF EURO 3 1 0 2 78:87 -9 2:4 13th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 5 0 1 178:125 +53 10:2 1st Group 1 2012 EHF EURO 6 3 1 2 136:132 +4 7:5 7th Place 2014 Qualif. 4 3 0 1 114:93 +21 6:2 1st Group 7 2014 EHF EURO 6 2 1 3 164:165 -1 5:7 10th Place ------Total Qualif. 34 25 2 7 934:737 +197 52:16 Total EHF EURO 70 37 3 30 1758:1749 +9 77:63

62 GERMANY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 45:19 (20:9) vs. Italy @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010 Biggest defeat: 24:20 (13:11) vs. Croatia @ Zagreb CRO, 08.04.2000 Longest winning run: 9 matches (05.06.2004 – 23.10.2011) Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (05.06.2004 – 23.10.2011) Longest losing run: 1 match (04.02.1996) 1 match (04.04.1996) 1 match (29.04.1998) 1 match (08.04.2000) 1 match (29.05.2004) 1 match (22.03.2012) 1 match (27.10.2013) Longest run without win: 3 matches (29.04.1998 – 08.04.2000) Current run: W2 (11.06.2014 – 14.06.2014)

Most goals: 45 vs. Italy 45:19W @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010 Most goals opponent: 29 vs. Russia 29:28L @ Astrakhan RUS, 27.10.2013 Most goals both teams: 64 vs. Italy 45:19W @ Freudenstadt GER, 30.05.2010 Fewest goals: 16 vs. France 14:16W @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 14 vs. France 14:16W @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996 Fewest goals both teams: 30 vs. France 14:16W @ Liévin FRA, 06.03.1996

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS*

GER VS FRA 06.03.1996 Liévin FRA FRA-GER ECh-Qual. – Group 2 14:16 (8:5) 08.03.1996 Wermelskirchen GER GER-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 2 27:19 (13:8) 10.12.2000 Râmnicu Vâlcea ROU FRA-GER ECh – Group A 25:19 (12:12) 16.12.2004 Debrecen HUN GER-FRA ECh – MR-Group II 29:27 (13:16) 12.12.2005 St. Petersburg RUS GER-FRA WCh – MR-Group II 32:26 (18:13) 17.12.2006 Stockholm SWE FRA-GER ECh – Place 3/4 29:25 (14:11) 10.12.2009 Wuxi CHN GER-FRA WCh – Group A 15:29 (10:10) 16.12.2014 Zagreb CRO GER-FRA ECh – MR-Group II 24:24 (13:10) GER VS ISL 07.12.2011 Santos BRA ISL-GER WCh – Group A 26:20 (13:12)

GER VS SUI No previous encounters

63 ICELAND

MEDIA CONTACT EINAR THORVARDARSON +354 5 144206 [email protected] • PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE • PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE • PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE • www.his.is

TEAM PROFILE The first two EHF European foreign clubs like in Denmark or Germany. Championships in 2010 and 2012, were In the quest to qualify for the Women’s invaluable international experience for EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia them. Ranking 15th on both occasions only one point was missing to clinch their they are still waiting on their first win berth. Now head coach August Johannsson at an EHF EURO final tournament. will have to try hard against competitors After years of failing to make it through like France and Germany - after his the pre-qualification, the national team team failed to make it to the 2015 World has changed its course of action - many Championship against Montenegro despite Icelandic players are now under contracts at drawing on home court.

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 2 2 2 111:121 -10 6:6 2nd Group 2 1994 Runners-Up 2 0 0 2 37:65 –28 0:4 Lost vs. HUN 1996 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 95:140 –45 0:12 4th Group 4 1998 Pre-Qualif. 2 0 0 2 44:63 –19 0:4 Lost vs. BUL 2004 Qualif. 3 1 0 2 76:85 -9 2:4 3rd Group 2 2004 Play-off 2 0 0 2 44:51 -7 0:4 Lost vs. CZE 2006 Qualif. 5 2 1 2 137:129 +8 5:5 4th Group 1 2006 Play-off 2 0 0 2 47:55 -8 0:4 Lost vs. MKD 2008 Qualif. 5 4 0 1 151:131 +20 8:2 2nd Group 1 2008 Play-off 2 0 0 2 46:70 –24 0:4 Lost vs. ROU 2010 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 166:146 +20 6:6 2nd Group 3 2010 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 69:91 –22 0:6 15th Place 2012 Qualif. 2 6 3 0 3 140:123 +17 6:6 3rd Group 7 2012 EHF EURO 3 0 0 3 56:78 –22 0:6 15th Place 2014 Qualif. 6 3 0 3 151:136 +15 6:6 3rd Group 2 ------Total Qualif. 53 18 3 32 1245:1315 -70 39:67 Total EHF EURO 6 0 0 6 125:169 -44 0:12

64 ICELAND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 40:20 (23:9) vs. Great Britain @ Reykjavík ISL, 03.04.2010 Biggest defeat: 36:19 (21:9) vs. Bulgaria @ Sofia BUL, 01.11.1997 Longest winning run: 4 matches (28.11.2007 – 02.12.2007) Longest unbeaten run: 4 matches (28.11.2007 – 02.12.2007) Longest losing run: 10 matches (04.03.1994 – 02.11.1997) Longest run without win: 10 matches (04.03.1994 – 02.11.1997) Current run: W2 (11.06.2014 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 40 vs. Greece 27:40W @ Panevėžys LTU, 30.11.2007 40 vs. Great Britain 40:20W @ Reykjavík ISL, 03.04.2010 Most goals opponent: 37 vs. Romania 23:37L @ Reykjavík ISL, 01.06.2008 Most goals both teams: 67 vs. Greece 27:40W @ Panevėžys LTU, 30.11.2007 Fewest goals: 12 vs. Sweden 12:23L @ Vestmannaeyjar/Vestman-islands ISL, 09.03.1996 Fewest goals opponent: 11 vs. Portugal 11:16W @ Porto POR, 13.06.1993 Fewest goals both teams: 27 vs. Portugal 11:16W @ Porto POR, 13.06.1993

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS* ISL VS FRA 30.10.1988 Dreux FRA FRA-ISL C-WCh – Group A 16:12 (7:4) 14.10.2009 Besançon FRA FRA-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 3 32:23 (16:12) 26.05.2010 Reykjavík ISL ISL-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 3 24:27 (11:13) 26.03.2014 Reykjavík ISL ISL-FRA ECh-Qual. – Group 2 21:27 (11:15) 29.03.2014 Limoges FRA FRA-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 2 24:19 (10:13) ISL VS GER 07.12.2011 Santos BRA ISL-GER WCh – Group A 26:20 (13:12) ISL VS SUI 17.12.1985 Hude FRG SUI-ISL B-WCh – Place 13-16 26:13 (17:10) 01.11.1988 Chateau des Vaux FRA ISL-SUI C-WCh – Place 5/6 19:17 (6:10, 16:16) 12.03.1997 Gossau SUI SUI-ISL WCh-Qual. – Group 4 30:23 (15:11) 15.03.1997 Seltjarnarnes ISL ISL-SUI WCh-Qual. – Group 4 21:18 (12:11) 25.11.2005 Mezzocorona ITA SUI-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 1 22:25 (12:10) 27.11.2008 Dąbrowa Górnicza POL SUI-ISL WCh-Qual. – Group 3 30:41 (14:20) 22.03.2012 St. Gallen SUI SUI-ISL ECh-Qual. 2 – Group 7 19:26 (12:15) 25.03.2012 Hlíðarendi ISL ISL-SUI ECh-Qual. 2 – Group 7 31:16 (15:9

65 SWITZERLAND

MEDIA CONTACT MARCO ELLENBERGER +41 79 629 58 42 [email protected] www.handball.ch

TEAM PROFILE Jesper Holmris former British women’s side two years later. Four player of the coach, with Olympic Games experience, current squad are signed at clubs abroad, will try and climb the steep qualification three of them in Germany and Karin ladder as Switzerland look for a major Weigelt in Norway. Top star Nicole Dinkel event berth. In their various past EHF is contracted by EHF Cup debutants EURO qualification attempts, the Swiss Metzingen - where she has four German side only managed two victories against internationals as teammates. With France Portugal and one against Azerbaijan. having won 20 of the last 22 meetings and Likewise in pre-qualification for the 2013 Germany 15 of the last 16 says all about World Championship they beat Greece tough task ahead. and Finland, managing to beat the Greek

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION RECORD

YEAR STAGE MP W D L GOALS DIFF. PTS. RANK 1994 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 145:129 +16 4:8 3rd Group 4 1996 Pre-Qualif. 4 2 0 2 73:74 -1 4:4 2nd Group C 2000 Qualif. 2 0 0 2 44:47 -3 0:4 Lost vs. BUL 2002 Qualif. 2 0 0 2 41:59 –18 0:4 Lost vs. LTU 2004 Qualif. 3 1 0 2 84:86 -2 2:4 3rd Group 1 2004 Play Off 2 0 1 1 45:55 –10 1:3 Lost vs. SWE 2006 Qualif. 5 2 0 3 137:136 +1 4:6 5th Group 1 2008 Qualif. 4 1 0 3 92:113 –21 2:6 4th Group 2 2010 Qualif. 6 2 0 4 143:184 –41 4:8 3rd Group 1 2012 Qualif. 2 6 0 0 6 119:173 –54 0:12 4th Group 7 2014 Qualif. 6 0 0 6 131:175 –44 0:12 4th Group 5 ------Total Qualif. 46 10 1 35 1054:1231 -177 21:71

66 SWITZERLAND NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

EHF EURO QUALIFICATION TEAM RECORDS

Biggest win: 38:13 (14:6) vs. Georgia @ St. Gallen SUI, 07.02.1993 Biggest defeat: 18:39 (7:20) vs. Romania @ Zürich SUI, 17.10.2009 Longest winning run: 2 matches (06.02.1993 – 07.02.1993) 2 matches (31.03.2010 – 03.04.2010) Longest unbeaten run: 2 matches (06.02.1993 – 07.02.1993) 2 matches (31.03.2010 – 03.04.2010) Longest losing run: 14 matches (26.05.2010 – 15.06.2014) Longest run without win: 14 matches (26.05.2010 – 15.06.2014) Current run: L14 (26.05.2010 – 15.06.2014)

Most goals: 38 vs. Georgia 38:13W @ St. Gallen SUI, 07.02.1993 Most goals opponent: 39 vs. Turkey 39:29L @ Mezzocorona ITA, 27.11.2005 39 vs. Romania 18:39L @ Zürich SUI, 17.10.2009 Most goals both teams: 68 vs. Azerbaijan 35:33L @ Gabrovo BUL, 21.11.2003 68 vs. Turkey 39:29L @ Mezzocorona ITA, 27.11.2005 Fewest goals: 13 vs. Poland 13:22L @ Ptuj SLO, 10.04.1993 Fewest goals opponent: 12 vs. Belgium 12:29W @ Mezzocorona ITA, 22.11.2005 Fewest goals both teams: 32 vs. Italy 17:15L @ Biella ITA, 29.10.1995

HEAD-TO-HEAD ENCOUNTERS*

SUI VS FRA No previous encounters

SUI VS GER No previous encounters SUI VS ISL 17.12.1985 Hude FRG SUI-ISL B-WCh – Place 13-16 26:13 (17:10) 01.11.1988 Chateau des Vaux FRA ISL-SUI C-WCh – Place 5/6 19:17 (6:10, 16:16) 12.03.1997 Gossau SUI SUI-ISL WCh-Qual. – Group 4 30:23 (15:11) 15.03.1997 Seltjarnarnes ISL ISL-SUI WCh-Qual. – Group 4 21:18 (12:11) 25.11.2005 Mezzocorona ITA SUI-ISL ECh-Qual. – Group 1 22:25 (12:10) 27.11.2008 Dąbrowa Górnicza POL SUI-ISL WCh-Qual. – Group 3 30:41 (14:20) 22.03.2012 St. Gallen SUI SUI-ISL ECh-Qual. 2 – Group 7 19:26 (12:15) 25.03.2012 Hlíðarendi ISL ISL-SUI ECh-Qual. 2 – Group 7 31:16 (15:9)

67 Bella Gulldén, Most Valuable Player at the Women’s EHF Passion and skill EURO 2014, explains why and how her first international She has seen the logo, which is hand drawn from scratch with championship on home court will be all about a brush and water colours. Every line, every splatter and every ‘Pure heart. All hands.’: beautiful imperfection is made by hand. When Sweden hosted the Women’s EHF EURO 2006, Isabelle “I think it is perfect. It shows the contrasts in handball. I’m not Gulldén was 17 years old. Now she is 25 and the captain of the sure there is any other sport where you have to be so tough and Swedish national team. so technical at the same time. “I watched many games in 2006. I remember that Sweden got “To achieve something in handball you need to have both a their best result to date and that the players received well-deserved passionate heart and a skillful hand.” attention which made me work harder to play for the national All different colours and textures mixing into each other in the logo team myself,” she says. stand for the nations coming together - on the court all are equal. When the EHF EURO 2010 came around, she was one of the “That is so true. I have learned a lot by playing with players from key players that steered Sweden to silver, the team’s first loads of different countries. championship medal. “Every player has their own view on tactics, training and loves One explanation of the success was that the championship was handball in their own way and we can all learn a lot from each held in the neighbouring countries of Norway and Denmark. other,” says Gulldén. “The Norwegians, Danes and Swedes created an awesome The slogan for Sweden 2016 is: “Pure heart. All hands.” atmosphere! It felt almost like home court and gave our team a big energy boost. It describes that every sport involves more than mechanics and more than passion. “I hope the Scandinavians can create that kind of atmosphere in Sweden 2016 as well,” says Gulldén. It takes both heart and hands to win, and both are what create an impact and excitement for fans and players alike. Gulldén: “The best tournaments I have experieced, both as a youngster and senior, is when so much is happening off the court as there is on the court. “That is what we are hoping to create at EHF EURO 2016, together with all the visitors.”

68 EHF EURO VENUES

The final tournament will take place in Sweden from 4 to 18 December 2016. The host cities and playing halls were carefully selected for the Women’s EHF EURO 2016 with the utmost care and consideration based on the bidding documents, with every city bringing its own speical energy and charm.

Further information regarding the host cities and on the venues themselves can be found on the offical Women’s EHF EURO 2016 website: swe2016.ehf-euro.com

STOCKHOLM HOVET HELSINGBORG HELSINGBORGS ARENA Will host Group A matches in the Will host Group D matches in the preliminary round. Capacity: 8,094 preliminary round and in Main Round Group II. Capacity: 4,700

KRISTIANSTAD KRISTIANSTAD ARENA MALMÖ MALMÖ ISSTADION Will host Group B matches in the Will host Group C matches in the preliminary round. Capacity: 4,700 preliminary round. Capacity: 5,800

GOTHENBURG SCANDINAVIUM Will host matches in Main Round Group I and the final weekend. Capacity: 12,000

69 WOMEN’S EHF EURO HOST EHF EURO WINNERS

EHF EURO 1994 Germany Denmark

EHF EURO 1996 Denmark Denmark

EHF EURO 1998 The Netherlands Norway

EHF EURO 2000 Romania Hungary

EHF EURO 2002 Denmark Denmark

EHF EURO 2004 Hungary Norway

EHF EURO 2006 Sweden Norway

EHF EURO 2008 FYR Macedonia Norway

EHF EURO 2010 Denmark & Norway Norway

EHF EURO 2012 Serbia Montenegro

EHF EURO 2014 Hungary & Croatia Norway

70 EHF MEDIA TELEPHONE +43 1 80 151 164 EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @EHFEURO FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/EHFEURO WEBSITE www.ehf-euro.com ADDRESS Hoffingergasse 18 1120 Vienna, Austria