Handball - European Women's Championship

HANDBALL - EUROPEAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

TOURNAMENT FAVOURITES

NORWAY

It was only in December 2012 that the Norwegian dominance in women's handball came to an abrupt halt when the Scandinavian team lost the final at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia 31:34 against Montenegro after double extra time. Prior to that Norway had triumphed at three consecutive major tournaments, starting with the EHF EURO 2010, continuing with the World Championship 2011 and concluding at the 2012 Olympic Games. And even though the EHF EURO Qualification was new terrain, Norway, led by 2011 and 2012 World Handball Coach of the Year Thorir Hergeirsson, were the overwhelming favourites to win their group and they did so inunbeaten fashion.


It remains to be seen, however, what performance the team will be able to produce in Hungary and Croatia as important players such as goalkeeper Katrine Lunde (pregnant) will be missing. Norway is the favourite of the tournament, but I think it will be tough for them to win the gold medal. Super goalkeeper Katrine Lunde, Tonje Nostvold, Sulland, Marit Malm Frafjord will miss the tournament and super Heidi Loke accepted to play, but the roster is completed with unexperienced players and the stars are coming after a back-breaking season, I think this will count on team's performance.. 

Key players 

Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren

Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren has won all titles available in the world of handball. She was named World Handball Player of the Year and she won the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012, the World Championship in 2011 and even four times the European Championships (2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010). With Larvik, the club she has been playing for for more than a decade apart from one short stint in Denmark, she also won the Women’s EHF Champions League in 2011 and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2005. On the court and especially in the counter attack, Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren at the age of 30 still is one of the best players in the world.

Camilla Herrem

28-year-old Camilla Herrem made her debut in the national team in 2006 and has since been part of the teams that won the EHF EURO in 2008 and 2010, the World Championship in 2011 and the Olympic Games in 2012. After having played at Byasen Trondheim for almost a decade, she left her home country at the beginning of the 2014/15 season and joined HCM Baia Mara in Romania. She is known for her outstanding speed and will be a constant threat in Norway’s counter attacks.

Roster

Goalkeepers : Kari Aalvik Grimsbø, Silje Solberg
Left Wings : Camilla Herrem, Sanna Solberg
Right Wings : Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren, Maja Jakobsen
Centre Backs : Karoline Dyhre Breivang, Stine Bredal Oftedal
Left Backs : Betina Riegelhuth, Emilie Hegh Arntzen, Veronica Kristiansen, Ida Alstad
Right Backs : Nora Mørk, Ida Bjørndalen Karlsson
Line Players : Heidi Løke, Pernille Wibe


Coach : Thorir Hergeirsson

OUTRIGHT WINNER : 5.00 (Bwin) 

HUNGARY

The biggest challenge for Hungary on home court will be to produce its best performance in front of a very expectant home crowd. The team's goal is to make the semi-finals, but the dream of all Hungarian fans is to win the EHF EURO.

Key players 

Szucsanszki Zita 

The 27-year-old centre back is regarded as one of the biggest talents in Hungarian handball in the last decade, and she is without doubt one of the fans’ favourites (including me) whenever she takes to the court for her club side FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria and the Hungarian national team. She was part of the national team that won bronze at the EHF EURO 2012.
With Anita Görbicz being pregnant and not available at the EHF EURO, a lot of responsibility will be on her shoulders as Hungary’s main playmaker. However, she definitely possesses the leadership qualities and great passing skills – not to mention her shooting prowess – to fulfill this role.

Zsuzsanna Tomori

The 27-year-old back court player made played her first major international tournament at the World Championship 2007 and ever since the EHF Champions League top scorer in 2013 has been playing a key role as right or left back as well as in defence. 

Hungary's main players are from Gyori Eto - the winner of the Champions League - and second best team in the country, Ferencvaros. Unfortunately, superstar, Gorbicz Anita will miss the tournament, which is a huge gap for the team. The roster is less experienced than the last World Championship, a lot of younger players completed the squad, but I expect from Tomori, Szucsanszki and Kovacsics to lead Hungary to a medal. 

Roster
  
Goalkeepers : Biro Blanka, Herr Orsolya, Kiss Eva
Left Wings : Erdosi Ildiko, Kovacsics Aniko
Right Wings : Bognar Bodi, Kovacsicz Monika
Left Backs : Bulath Anita, Klivinyi Kinga, Triscsuk Krisztina
Right Backs : Planeta Szimonetta, Tomori Zsuzsanna
Centre Back : Szucsanszki Zita
Line Players : Mayer Szabina, Meszaros Rea, Szamoransky Piroska

Coach : Nemeth Andras

OUTRIGHT WINNER : 4.75 (Bet365)

MONTENEGRO

In Montenegro, 2012 was the year of women's handball: first Buducnost Podgorica won the Women’s EHF Champions League; then the national team qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games and went almost all the way, only losing to Norway in the final.
The icing on the cake became the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia when the team took revenge for the Olympics and beat Norway in a thrilling final after double extra time.
However, as regulations have changed, for the first time the defending champions had to go through to qualification to make it to the next final tournament. Having been drawn in a group with Czech Republic, Poland and Portugal, Montenegro wasted no time and already secured their tickets to the Women’s EHF EURO in Hungary and Croatia after the bare minimum of four rounds.

Key players

Katarina Bulatovic

The left-handed shooter was a key player in Montenegro's biggest achievements, when she was the top scorer at both the 2012 Olympics and the EHF EURO in 2012, helping to secure silver in London and gold in Serbia.
In 2012 she topped the podium of Europe's top women's club handball competition once again, this time with Buducnost. And she completed the three-peat in 2014 when she, as a player for Györi Audi ETO KC, won the Women's EHF Champions League for the third time. As of the 2014/15 season Bulatovic again plays for Buducnost in Montenegro.

Jovanka Radicevic

Like her teammate Katarina Bulatovic, Jovanka Radicevic played an instrumental role in Montenegro’s victory at the EHF EURO 2012, which was topped for her by the nomination to the tournament’s all-star team as best right wing. For many seasons she was a fixture with Montenegrin side Buducnost with which she won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2006 and 2010.
In 2011 she moved to Györ where in 2013 she added the EHF Champions League trophy to her illustrious collection. After the victory she transferred to WHC Vardar SCBT in FYR Macedonia where she is still playing.

Roster 

Goalkeepers : Sonja Barjaktarovic, Marina Vukcevic, Mirjana Milenkovic
Left Wings : Majda Mehmedovic, Biljana Pavicevic
Right Wings : Jovanka Radicevic, Radmilla Petrovic
Centre Backs : Andela Bulatovic, Milena Knezevic
Left Backs : Marija Jovanovic, Jelena Despotovic, Djurdjina Jaukovic
Right Backs : Katarina Bulatovic, Andrea Klikovac, Djurdjina Malovic
Line Players : Suzana Lazovic, Sara Vukcevic, Ema Ramusovic


Coach : Dragan Adzic

With world-class players in the squad and a super coach, Montenegro is definitely one of the contenders for the gold medal !!

OUTRIGHT WINNER : 6.00 (Unibet)

DENMARK

For exactly a decade – from 1994 to 2004 – the Danish national team became one of the biggest sport successes, if not the biggest, of all time: Olympic champions in 1996, 2000 and 2004, world champions in 1997 and European champions in 1994, 1996 and 2002. However, what followed was an 11-year medal drought that finally ended in December 2013 when they won bronze at the World Championship.
Denmark nowadays have a strong team again in which more and more young players are integrated. Head coach Jan Pytlick can rely on the fact that the pool of talents will not dry out soon, as Denmark won the women’s competition at the 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival followed by double-bronze the same year, first at the Women’s 19 EHF EURO on home court, then at the Women’s 17 EHF EURO in Poland.
Unfortunately the Danish handball did not pass a very good period in the last years. The clubs fail to purchase high class players. but have had patience and time, and the results appears. Young players have grown up pretty quickly and now the national team has very good potential. I think they have a real chance to win the trophy, especially if we look at the problems faced by other teams.

Key players

Sandra Toft

Despite her relatively small size of 1,74 metres Sandra Toft is one of the most promising goalkeepers in the world. She is fast, fearless and very intelligent with a great understanding of the game which allows her to have the anticipation which is such a necessary ‘weapon’ for any goalkeeper.
Unfortunately, she has been suffering for several injuries that delayed her international career and saw her only taking to the court in 40 internationals (as of September 2014) since her debut in 2008. But that time seems to be behind her now, and this summer she has taken another step in her career by joining Norwegian powerhouse Larvik HK.

Line Jorgensen

Line Jorgensen has been regarded as one of the biggest talents in Danish women’s handball for many years as she celebrated her national team debut at the age of just 17 on 16 October 2007.
However, a couple of serious injuries forced her to step back a bit and it took a lot of hard work until she had eventually developed into one of the best defensive players in the world, something that was recognised when she was voted into the all-star team at the World Championship 2011 in Brazil. As of September 2014 she has scored 270 goals in 107 matches.
With Denmark she won bronze at the World Championship 2013 and with her club side, FC Midtjylland, she won the EHF Cup in 2011. 

Roster 

Goalkeepers : Sandra Toft, Rikke Poulsen
Left Wings : Ann Grete Nørgaard, Maria Fisker
Right Wings : Maibritt Kviesgaard, Trine Østergaard Jensen
Centre Backs : Kristina Kristiansen, Lotte Grigel
Left Backs : Stine Jørgensen, Pernille Holmsgaard, Anne Mette Hansen
Right Backs : Line Jørgensen, Louise Burgaard
Line Players : Susan Thorsgaard, Mette Gravholt, Louise Spellerberg

Coach : Jan Pytlick

OUTRIGHT WINNER : 7.00 (Sportingbet) 

DARK HORSES (other teams that can make great tournament) : FRANCE, CROATIA, SPAIN, ROMANIA


EUROPEAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP - BEST SCORER
I think these are the best options, you can choose your favourite :) :

• Katarina BULATOVIC - 7.50 (Bet365)

• Andrea PENEZIC - 5.50 (Bwin)

• Cristina NEAGU - 10.00 (Bwin)

• TOMORI Zsuzsanna - 19.00 (Bet365)

• Kristina KRISTIENSEN - 9.00 (Bwin)

To score most goals in the Tournament for the team - HUNGARY : Tomori Zsuzsanna - 2.55 (Unibet)  | ✖ 

To score most goals in the Tournament for the team - FRANCE : Baudouin Paule - 2.50 (Unibet)  | ✖ 

To score most goals in the Tournament for the team - POLAND : Karolina Kudlacz - 2.75 (Unibet)   | ✓

To score most goals in the Tournament for the team - NETHERLANDS : Estavana Polman - 2.50 (Unibet)   | ✓