EHF EURO

Your guide to Women's EHF EURO 2018 Qualification

Courtney Gahan / ts

25 September 2017, 09:55

On September 27, the final qualification stage for the Women’s EHF EURO 2018 throws off, with six rounds to be played over the course of 10 months.

28 teams split into seven groups of four will play the round robin competition to determine who proceeds to the final tournament in France next December
The top two teams from each group qualify for the EHF EURO 2018, along with the best third-ranked side out of all groups
The 15 successful teams will join France, who are already qualified for the EURO as hosts of the event, at the tournament played in five cities
All matches will be streamed live on ehfTV for the first time

Wednesday 27 September

Highlights

Defending champions and record European title winners Norway begin their campaign against Ukraine at home in Stjordal, playing in Group 1
Fellow Group 1 side Croatia named a new head coach only one week out from their opening qualification match, with Nenad Sostaric replacing Goran Mrden
In Group 5, EURO 2016 semi-finalists Denmark face Slovenia in their first qualification match. The Scandinavian team hold the second highest number of European titles, having won three behind Norway’s record of seven
EHF EURO 2016 and World Championship 2015 runners-up (both behind Norway), Netherlands, take on Belarus in Round 1 in Group 7

Matches at a glance (all times local; links to ehfTV)

Thursday 28 September

Highlights

Faroe Islands make their debut in EHF EURO Qualification Phase 2 after a successful Phase 1 campaign. They will meet Serbia in Group 3, while Kosovo, also playing Phase 2 for the first time, open against Hungary in Group 7 on Wednesday
Montenegro, who are one of only four nations to have won the European trophy (alongside Norway, Denmark and Hungary), play Slovakia in Group 2
The hosts of the previous EURO and bronze medallists at the 2014 edition, Sweden, take on FYR Macedonia at home in Lund

Matches at a glance

Round 2

Highlights

Round 2 sees one match played on Saturday 30 September and 13 on Sunday 1 October
On Saturday, 2016 Olympic champions Russia play Austria in Maria Enzersdorf, who take the court without long-time stalwart, recently retired Kathrin Engel
On Sunday, three-time and current World Handball Player of the Year Cristina Neagu will lead World Championship 2015 bronze medallists Romania as they take on Portugal in Luso
Former Poland men’s coach Michael Biegler leads Germany in their last official match before the home World Championship in December, when they meet Turkey in Group 6