Spain and Netherlands go to Africa to prepare for EHF EURO 2014

When the qualification for the EHF EURO 2014 was played in 2013 and early this year, Spain and Netherlands had been drawn to the same group, both won their respective home game when they faced each other, and eventually both qualified for the final tournament this December in Hungary and Croatia.

Now, just two months out of the first EHF EURO 2014 matches, they meet again as both have travelled to the Tunisian city of Mahdia where they will face hosts and current African champions, Tunisia, as well as Switzerland for a four-nation tournament.

The match between Netherlands and Spain kicks off the event today (9 October) at 16:00 hrs local time, followed by the match Switzerland vs Tunisia at 18:00 hrs.

The remaining matches will be played on Friday and Saturday.

Both teams have nominated 16 players each. For Netherlands Estavana Polman, Martine Smeets and Ailly Luciano are not able to make the trip because of injuries.

The federation had furthermore announced earlier that Lois Abbingh, who had transferred to Romanian side HCM Baia Mare at the beginning of the season, will miss both the tournament in Tunisia as well as the EHF EURO 2014 as she is still recovering from injury.

For Spain almost everyone seems to be on board with head coach Jorge Duenas relying on household names such as Marta Mangue, Macarena Aguilar, Silvia Navarro and Nerea Pena.

The only player he had to replace was Mireya Gonzalez who suffered from muscular problems last week. She was replaced by Almudena Rodriguez.

Both teams have again the chance to prepare at the end of November when the next women’s national team week has been scheduled from 24 to 30 November.

At the EHF EURO 2014 Spain has been drawn to Group A with Hungary, Russia and Poland, while Netherlands face Croatia, Germany and Sweden in Group C.