Three predictions for next 100 days

The countdown to the fourth edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 reached the milestone on Thursday, only a few days before the Group Phase will conclude.

One player, one coach and one TV expert make their predictions for ehfCL.com on what the next 100 days in the VELUX EHF Champions League will look like and what the final outcome on 1 and 2 June in Cologne will be. All three of them were at the party on the Rhine banks last year and take one fact for granted - there will be “zebra” stripes in the final match of the season.

KASPER HVIDT

Kasper Hvidt has been a regular on the international scene and has played for some of the best clubs in Europe. The 37-year-old goalkeeper has appeared over 200 times for the Danish national team and was named as the goalkeeper in the All-Star team at the EHF EURO 2008, where Denmark won the championship.

Hvidt reached the EHF Champions League final with Portland San Antonio in the 2005/06 season and the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with AG København last season. He currently plays with KIF Kolding, who compete in the EHF Cup.

It is a bit tricky to predict, as Kiel and Veszprém are in the same group. If that had not been the case, I would say Kiel, Barcelona, Kielce and Veszprém would be the four teams for the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

However, now, as Kiel do not seem to be number one in their group, one of the winners of the group phase will probably not get through, as Kiel are likely to eliminate one of them in the quarter-final. I met Kiel with my current club in a testimonial match for Kim Andersson shortly after the world championship, and they are very strong. There is no doubt in my mind that Kiel will reach the semi-finals, and the three other teams will be the three group winners who escape Kiel in the quarter-final.

At the Final4, Kiel will have an enormous advantage due to the fact that the event is in Germany. They are extremely good at making a fine event in Cologne, but the pressure from the German crowd there is very difficult to withstand.

I also see Barcelona having a good chance, though. The signing of Sterbik in goal has been a tremendous reinforcement to them.

MAGNUS ANDERSSON

Last season he steered his team successfully to the party on the Rhine banks. His AG København entered the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2012 as the newcomers and even the defending champions from FC Barcelona could not stop the Danish star-studded outfit on the way to Cologne.

As a player Andersson collected nine medals from top events. As a part of the golden Swedish generation he became twice the world champion (1990 and 1999), four times European champion (1994, 1998, 2000, 2002) and added three more silver medals at the Olympic Games 1992, 1996 and 2000.

I would obviously expect THW Kiel and FC Barcelona to qualify for Cologne. Barcelona have an extremely strong team as always.

Kiel have not played as well this season, as they did last year, mainly due to the loss of Kim Andersson, but they seem to be there now, when things are to be decided.

I also expect Veszprém to reach the top four. As we all know, they have an extremely strong home ground which can bring them far. Furthermore they have got a really strong again with László Nagy as the main profile.

As the fourth and last team I might see Atlético Madrid. Of course, they have lost their goalkeeper (José Hombrados) to injury for the season, but they have an extremely clever coach in Talant Dujshebaev, and you should never write off Madrid.

If I should point out an over-all winner, I believe it will be a battle between Kiel and Barcelona, but in general, I think we may allow ourselves to expect a very fine and spectacular final event.

FRANCOIS-XAVIER HOULET

The 43-year-old has more than 20 years of handball experience under his belt. He played for ten seasons each in France (mainly at Créteil and Montpellier) and Germany (mainly at VfL Gummersbach) as well as eighty times for the French national team, winning several national and international titles. Following his active handball career, he was VfL Gummersbach’s general secretary from 2008 until 2010 and now works as a players’ consultant and TV-expert for “beIN Sport”.

In the next 100 days there will be no more ‘maybe’, no ‘perhaps’ – the safety nets are gone and we will know soon which teams qualify for the last 16.

First of all, please allow me to state my disappointment as a Frenchman: The Last 16 could go ahead without any French team participating. It would be the first time that Montpellier don’t qualify for that phase. What a sad way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their EHF Champions League victory in 2003.

But back to the facts: All teams have gained at least two points and there has only been one (so far) that won all matches: the very ambitious squad from Kielce.

How many fantastic matches have been played already?! Do you remember Celje’s confident win against Kiel? The unbelievable atmosphere at Berlin’s O2 Arena when the ‘Füchse’ beat Barcelona? Not to mention Veszprém’s win against Kiel and the impressive presentation of will and power by the defending champions in the rematch?

So what now? Four German and possibly three Spanish teams (if they make it, I’ll tip my hat to León) will advance to the last 16. Overall clubs from at least nine different nations will be represented. And we can be sure to expect some very exciting encounters straight away.

Veszprém really impressed in their hotly contested group. Kielce have already won theirs, while Flensburg is only a small step away from achieving the same.

And do not forget the teams from Madrid, Berlin, Hamburg. For many experts these clubs have the potential to surprise and go all the way. So without doubt, anything can happen.

But personally, I still see two ‘big teams’ – one is dressed in black and white, the other one wears blue and claret stripes. Kiel and Barcelona have all it takes to leave Cologne’s Lanxess Arena on 2 June with the trophy in their hands.

The problem being : There aren’t two or more trophies at stake but just one – and many more teams aiming to get hold of it. We will see, who prevails. The game is on!