EHF EURO 2012 - Day-by-day
EHF EURO 2012 - Day-by-day
View all information on EHF EURO 2012 on the official webpage www.ehf-euro.com.
Day 14: Saturday 28 January - Rest day
The day before the EHF EURO 2012 Final and all the players and coaches appear at the Beogradska Arena to face the world's media before returning back to training and rest ahead of the big match.
Day 13: Friday 27 January - Semi-Final 1 and 2, 5/6th Placement Match
The first match of the day sees Macedonian legend Kiril Lazarov break the EHF EURO top-scorer record at a single event as he moves onto 61 goals, helping his side defeat Slovenia 28:27 (16:12) to finish fifth, and keep FYR Macedonia hopes alive for London 2012 Olympic Qualification.
In the first semi-final between Denmark and Spain a strike from Mikkel Hansen at the end of both halves helps the Scandinavians overcome Spain 26:22 (12:10). In the second semi-final between neighbours Croatia and Serbia, the home crowd inspires their side to victory 26:22 (13:14).
Day 12: Thursday 26 January - Rest day
The six teams that participating in the Final Round have a rest day before the decisive knock-out matches on Friday. Spain and Denmark play the first semi-final at 17:45 hrs, followed by Serbia vs. Croatia at 20:15 hrs.
Before that FYR Macedonia and Slovenia will face each other in the Placement Match 5/6 at 15:15 hrs, which is important for the Olympic Qualification Tournaments. The winner will get one of the two available tickets for those tournaments, played on 6-8 April, which Serbia definitely are qualified for.
The losers of the 5/6 match can only get a ticket for the Olympic Qualification if Serbia become European Champion on Sunday, which would mean a direct qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games for the hosts.
Also EHF EURO 2012 places 7-16 are now known: 7. Germany, 8. Hungary, 9. Poland, 10. Iceland, 11. France, 12. Sweden, 13. Norway, 14. Czech Republic, 15. Russia, 16. Slovakia
Day 11: Wednesday 25 January - Main Round Group 1 and 2, match day 3/3
In Main Round Group 1 Poland managed to beat Germany 33:32. The spectators in the Beogradska Arena saw an exciting match after which Germany had to bury all their hopes for the medal rounds.
By beating Sweden convincingly 31:24, Denmark completed their perfect Main Round and made the impossible possible. Entering the second stage with no points at all the Danes won three straight games and clinched an EHF EURO 2012 semi-final berth.
FYR Macedonia continued their successful Main Round and were responsible for Serbia’s first defeat at EHF EURO 2012, losing 22:19 leaving the Macedonians finishing third in the group. To Serbia the loss was without consequence as they already had secured the first place.
In Group 2 with no effect on the outcome of EHF EURO 2012, France and Iceland drew 29:29. Both teams played a serious match and kept the intensity level up until the very end.
Spain, although already having qualified for EHF EURO 2012 semi-final and giving resting time to their starting players, beat Slovenia 35:32. The Slovenians withstood the Spanish for most of the game, but towards the end had to pay tribute to their lack of strength.
Also resting some key players, Croatia gave away one point against Hungary. 24:24 was the final result in an exciting game that was supported by strong supporting crowds from both sides. Croatia moved on to face Serbia in the semi-final.
Day 10: Tuesday 24 January - Main Round Group 2, match day 2/3
On the second match day in Group 2 Spain qualified as the second team after hosts Serbia (Group 1) for the semi-finals. In a truly one-sided opening match against Iceland the Iberians gained an early 7-goals lead and kept in control of the game and their opponents until the end of the match. The final result was 31:26.
The second game saw the end of an era: For the first time since 2004 France does not qualify for the semi-finals of a major men's tournament. After the clear defeat against Croatia (22:29) the semi-final dreams are out of reach. This means that there will be a new European Champion at the end of this EHF EURO.
By the end of this game it was not clear, that Croatia would also qualify for the semi-finals, but after Slovenia beating Hungary 32:30 - which ended all Magyar hopes for the Final Round – the first two places in Group 2 are undeniably assigned to the aforementioned winners, Spain and Croatia.
Day 9: Monday 23 January - Main Round Group 1, match day 2/3
On match day two of Main Round Group 1 last placed FYR Macedonia kept their hopes for the Olympic Games in London alive. In the game against Poland they were leading all the way from the first to the last minute. The team around superstar Kiril Lazarov took a deserved victory (27:25) against Poland who never gave themselves up.
After losing 26:28 to Denmark, Germany remain without victory in the Main Round. The Scandinavian silver medallists from last year's world championship showed their best performance in the tournament so far and proved that they are still a serious contender for the semi-finals.
The EHF EURO 2012 has its first semi-finalists. After another strong and convincing performance the hosting nation Serbia beat Sweden 24:21 and move on to the Final Round. Their last match on Wednesday will only decide whether they finish ranked first or second in this group.
Day 8: Sunday 22 January - Main Round Group 2, match day 1/3
The opening games in Main Round Group 2 started with a big surprise. Iceland, who came from the Preliminary Round with no points won against the then unbeaten Hungarians 27:21 in a one-sided match.
Reigning EHF EURO champions France also collected their first two points in the Main Round. Their opponents Slovenia were leading for the most of game but were not able to secure the victory and finally lost 28:26. With this win France kept their hopes of reaching the EHF EURO 2012 Semi-Final alive.
The highlight of the day though was the clash between Croatia and Spain in the final match.
The 7,500 spectators in the SPC Vojvodina Arena, Novi Sad, most of whom were Croatian, saw a high class game with superb defensive lines on both sides. The Croatians started strongly and were leading by five goals, but Spain came back in the second half and turned the match around to win by 24:22 and sit on top of the group.
Day 7: Saturday 21 January - Main Round Group 1, match day 1/3
In the first match day of Group 1 in Beogradska Arena the spectators saw three close and exciting matches. Poland and Sweden drew 29-29. The Polish came back from an 11 goals deficit at halftime (9-20).
In Game two Denmark defeated FYR Macedonia with a goal in the last second. The final result was 33-32. The Macedonias did not manage to convert their temporary seven goals lead into a victory.
The day concluded with the match beween the winners of Groups A and B from the Preliminary Round. Germany scored a few seconds before the final buzzer against hosts Serbia and managed to level the score (21-21) after having trailed by seven goals. Both teams stay on top of Group 1 with 5 points each.
Day 6: Friday 20 January - Preliminary Round, Groups C/D, match day 3/3
In Group C Spain beat Russia 30-27. While Spain advances as first of the group to the Main Round, for Russia the tournament is over. In the second match Hungary won against title defenders France with 26-23. Spain, Hungary and France will stay in Novi Sad for the Main Round.
The last day in Vrsac brought Slovenia their first victory, defeating Iceland 34-32. Croatia collected their third win in the third match. With a 26-20 win over Norway they ended up as first in Group D.
Croatia, Slovenia and Iceland move to Novi Sad for the Main Round while Norway have to go home.
Day 5: Thursday 19 January - Preliminary Round, Groups A/B, match day 3/3
In the last round of matches in Niš, the Czech Republic crashed out of EHF EURO 2012 with their 27:21 defeat against FYR Macedonia who qualified through to the Main Round alongside Sweden and Germany.
In the Serbian capital Belgrade, the hosts, unbeaten and who were already qualified for the Main Round, played out a 21:21 draw with Slovakia, who departed EHF EURO 2012, as Poland beat Denmark 27:26.
Day 4: Wednesday 18 January - Preliminary Round, Groups C/D, match day 2/3
Decisions were becoming clearer as Novi Sad entered their second day of matches with France reversing their opening day defeat, beating Russia 28:24. In the second Group C game of the day Spain and Hungary drew 24:24.
Slovenia, meanwhile, remained the only team without points at EHF EURO 2012 as they lost 31:29 against Croatia who qualified through and, in the other game, Iceland beat Norway 34:32.
Day 3: Tuesday 17 January - Preliminary Round, Groups A/B, match day 2/3
The first real hammering of EHF EURO 2012 took place as Slovakia incurred the wrath of Poland, who lost their first match, and who beat the Slovakians by 17 goals (41:24).
The second match of the day in Group A saw a 7,000 sell-out crowd at the Pionir Arena watch Serbia beat Denmark and, with it, confirmation of the hosts’ passage through to the Main Round.
Over in Niš, FYR Macedonia lost by one goal to Germany (23:24), whilst Sweden beat the Czech Republic by four goals (29:33) and qualified through to the Main Round
Day 2: Monday 16 January - Preliminary Round, Groups C/D, match day 1/3
The second day of EHF EURO 2012 saw the opening games in Group C and D in Novi Sad and Vršac respectively.
The clash of the titans between France and Spain in the opening match of Group C saw Spain win 29:26, whilst the second match ended in a draw between Hungary and Russia (31:31).
Meanwhile, in Vršac, Norway beat Slovenia by one goal (28:27) and Croatia overcame Iceland 31:29.
Day 1: Sunday 15 January - Preliminary Round, Groups A/B, match day 1/3
The opening day of EHF EURO 2012 saw the first matches in Group A and B take place at the Pionir Arena, Belgrade and the Sportski Centar Cair, Niš respectively.
In Belgrade, hosts Serbia opened up their EHF EURO 2012 campaign with 22:18 win over Poland, whilst Denmark eased past Slovakia 24:22.
Czech Republic powered past Germany in their first Group B game 27:24 and Sweden drew 26:26 with FYR Macedonia, who had 4,000 passionate supporters willing them. Niš is only two hours from the capital of FYR Macedonia, Skopje.
