Czech Republic qualify for EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark

Czech Republic are the next confirmed participants at the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark.

The team of top star Filip Jicha finished on top of group 2 after confidently beating Montenegro 30:25 on Saturday (15 June).

Both teams have made it to Denmark with each of them having eight points in their account, but Czech Republic have won the direct encounter by aggregate goals after their clear victory.

This also means that Germany’s clear 38:19 victory against Israel came too late as they finish third in group 2. And the chances to finish as the best third ranked team are close to zero.

In group 3 France (against Turkey) kept their clean record by gaining their sixth victory in this qualification group.

Group 2: Germany vs. Israel 38:19 (21:12)

The clearest ever German victory in any EHF EURO qualification match came too late.

The hosts showed an inspiring performance against a weak Israeli squad, reaching a double-figured margin already in the 26th minute, when Patrick Groetzki scored his tenth goal with his tenth attempt.

Kevin Schmidt, Groetzki’s substitute after the break on the left wing, added another nine goals.

Israel could not stage a comeback, knowing that – in contrast to the first leg which Germany only narrowly won 30:27– their fate was sealed already at the break.

Only Chen Pomeranz (top scorer with six goals) lived up to his regular performing level.

When the score stood at 28:13 the margin was 15 goals for the first time, finally it became 18.

Group 2: Czech Republic vs. Montenegro 30:25 (16:9)

Czech Republic were in the lead throughout the entire 60 minutes – and their crucial victory was never threatened.

Courtesy of five goals from five attempts by Filip Jicha (in the end the match’s top scorer with ten goals), Czech Republic extended the margin from 12:8 to a half-time score of 16:9.

When the gap was nine goals for the first time at 20:11 the deal was sealed.

Montenegro lacked power, and the hosts had no problems in keeping them trailing until the score stood at 29:22.

Closer to the final whistle, Montenegro reduced to five goals but were far away from having any chance to turn the match around.

Best Montenegrin scorer was Vasko Sevaljevic with nine goals.

Group 3: France vs. Turkey 31:23 (17:10)

Sixth match, sixth victory – and France had an ‘easy-going’ afternoon against the already eliminated Turkish side, which remain on two points.

The guests could resist the French pressure only in the first 13 minutes when the score stood at 9:7, before the Olympic champions scored a series of 8:3 to virtually decide the game at half-time.

After the break the margin constantly stood between seven and nine goals, and five minutes before the final whistle William Accambray scored for the first double-figured gap to make it 29:19.

France were in particular boosted by the performance of wing players Michael Guigou and Guillaume Joli, who scored ten goals together.

Best Turkish scorers were Ramazan Döne (nine goals) and Tolga Özbahar (6).