2017 World Championship - Germany

[mikh]

European Qualification - Round 1:

Group 4: Italy - Portugal 25:20 => Italy goes through. A bit of a surprise I would say, since 2 days ago Group 4: Italy drew against Israel, which the Portuguese had easily won against, putting Italy in a must win situation.

Group 1: Slovakia - Lithuania 27:16 => Ukraine, Slovakia go through. Slovakia lost a very weird first match against Ukraine, after cruising in the first half and playing very poor in the second.

[Dofer]

Italy - Portugal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-YwSmLUKvs. Nice game to watch, and the Italian commentator is fantastico, I can listen to him shouting "Anika Niederwieser" all day.

[doomark]

Tomorrow is the semi-final in the African Handball Championship, then we´ll know which teams from Africa will go to Germany.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_African_Women's_Handball_Championship

[mikh]

In the meantime, Belarus and Turkey from group 2 and Austria and Macedonia from Group 3 advance to the European play-offs.
Macedonia had a really bad first day against the Faroe Islands (21:19) and was hammered by Austria in the second day (19:28), but they dug deep and they got PRECISELY the win they needed (+7) against Iceland, which is now eliminated after being very much in control in the first two matches.

So, the play-off lineup from Europe (up until now): Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Turkey, Austria, Macedonia, Italy.

[mikh]

Tomorrow is the semi-final in the African Handball Championship, then we´ll know which teams from Africa will go to Germany.

Really strange result between Cameroon and Congo. Congo lost by only 1 goal against Tunisia in the group stage, while Cameroon had lost even to Senegal. Will be interesting to see if Senegal will qualify for the WCh for the first time in their history.

[Bo$ko]

Gjorgjievska scored the last goal for MKD sending them in play-offs...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql1FB3HNMjE

[omak]

In the meantime, Belarus and Turkey from group 2 and Austria and Macedonia from Group 3 advance to the European play-offs.
Macedonia had a really bad first day against the Faroe Islands (21:19) and was hammered by Austria in the second day (19:28), but they dug deep and they got PRECISELY the win they needed (+7) against Iceland, which is now eliminated after being very much in control in the first two matches.

So, the play-off lineup from Europe (up until now): Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Turkey, Austria, Macedonia, Italy.

Yeah, our girls controlled the whole match against Iceland and at times, even had a 8-9 goals lead.

[Wbk]

Tomorrow is the semi-final in the African Handball Championship, then we´ll know which teams from Africa will go to Germany.

Really strange result between Cameroon and Congo. Congo lost by only 1 goal against Tunisia in the group stage, while Cameroon had lost even to Senegal. Will be interesting to see if Senegal will qualify for the WCh for the first time in their history.

A look at the rosters explains it, as Senegal (under the new French coach btw.) have 4 players from the French D1 and seven from D2 in Angola. I guess that today they have really solid chances to beat Tunisia, who are playing without Chebbah and rebuilding their squad for the coming period.

[Wbk]

Just happened: Senegal defeated Tunisia 26-20 (17:11) in the first semifinal @ 2016 Women's African Handball Cup of Nations.

After organisers Germany and reigning champions Norway, Senegal is the third team ready for the 2017 WCh in Germany. As mikh already suggested, SEN qualify for the Worlds for the first time in their history.

[Wbk]

Just happened: Senegal defeated Tunisia 26-20 (17:11) in the first semifinal @ 2016 Women's African Handball Cup of Nations.

After organisers Germany and reigning champions Norway, Senegal is the third team ready for the 2017 WCh in Germany. As mikh already suggested, SEN qualify for the Worlds for the first time in their history.

As expected, Angola - Cameroon 31-19 (17:12) in the other semifinal.

Angola going to 2017 WCh, too.

[Wbk]

Just happened: Senegal defeated Tunisia 26-20 (17:11) in the first semifinal @ 2016 Women's African Handball Cup of Nations.

After organisers Germany and reigning champions Norway, Senegal is the third team ready for the 2017 WCh in Germany. As mikh already suggested, SEN qualify for the Worlds for the first time in their history.

Tunisia coming with a post-match protest against the Senegalese Doungou Camara. Camara is a French-born and was naturalised in early 2015. The problem is that she participated at 2014 Junior U20 WCh in Croatia playing for France. Now she's playing for a new NT and that is less than 3 years of required quarantine according to the international rules.
https://m.facebook.com/fthb.official/po ... 3442664652

Note that Camara has starts for Senegal at the 2015 African Olympic qualification and 2015 All-Africa Games, too.

[Wbk]

Just happened: Senegal defeated Tunisia 26-20 (17:11) in the first semifinal @ 2016 Women's African Handball Cup of Nations.

After organisers Germany and reigning champions Norway, Senegal is the third team ready for the 2017 WCh in Germany. As mikh already suggested, SEN qualify for the Worlds for the first time in their history.

Tunisia coming with a post-match protest against the Senegalese Doungou Camara. Camara is a French-born and was naturalised in early 2015. The problem is that she participated at 2014 Junior U20 WCh in Croatia playing for France. Now she's playing for a new NT and that is less than 3 years of required quarantine according to the international rules.
https://m.facebook.com/fthb.official/po ... 3442664652

Note that Camara has starts for Senegal at the 2015 African Olympic qualification and 2015 All-Africa Games, too.

This is sick !

After the cooperation with IHF, Tunisian protest has been accepted, they will play the final against Angola today and are qualified for the WCh, while Senegal is disqualified from the competition !!!

Cameroon comes third automatically, means they are ready for Germany 2017

http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/notici ... edfd4.html

http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/notici ... bddb2.html

From hero to zero...

[mikh]

Aaaaah, good ol' Africa...
Then again, what if they were right?

[Wbk]

Aaaaah, good ol' Africa...
Then again, what if they were right?

Some remarks from Africa:

https://m.facebook.com/PageHandballSene ... 0332067699

https://m.facebook.com/FederationIvoiri ... 217657226/

(in French, but using Google translation is enough to get the points )

[doomark]

Angola is champion after clearly beating Tunisia in the final.

http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/desporto/2016/11/49/Andebol-Angola-campea-africana,975f4918-c502-44c9-bbb7-b9c538569357.html

[OltchimRmValcea]

We know POT 2 for european play-offs:
Poland, Croatia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Turkey, Austria, Macedonia, Italy.

Already qualified from Europe: Norway (2015 world champion), Germany (host).

3 direct tickets to WCh are still available for medalists in EHF EURO 2016. Or let's say semifinalists as long as Norway can't miss it. The rest (9 teams, including Montenegro and Slovenia) in POT 1 for play-offs.

[Wbk]

We know POT 2 for european play-offs:
Poland, Croatia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Turkey, Austria, Macedonia, Italy.

Already qualified from Europe: Norway (2015 world champion), Germany (host).

3 direct tickets to WCh are still available for medalists in EHF EURO 2016. Or let's say semifinalists as long as Norway can't miss it. The rest (9 teams, including Montenegro and Slovenia) in POT 1 for play-offs.

To be more exact:
If both Norway and Germany misses top 3 at EURO 2016, then all the medalist are directly qualified to WCh.
If only one Norway or Germany ends in top 4, then all three remaining teams from top 4 are directly qualified to WCh.
If both Norway and Germany end in top 5, then all three remaining teams from top 5 are directly qualified to WCh. (That's why 5th-6th place game is also scheduled to be played.)

This is how it should be.

[Wbk]

So we have Netherlands, Denmark and France ready for 2017 WCh.


And for the european play-offs this is the pre-draw situation:
Pot 1: Romania, Russia, Sweden, Serbia, Czech Republic, Spain, Hungary, Montenegro, Slovenia
Pot 2: Poland, Croatia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Turkey, Austria, Macedonia, Italy

The draw to take place on Saturday (Dec, 17).

The Czechoslovak clash would be very nice

[mikh]

If during this Euro I wanted the best opponents for Romania, in a WCh play-off I wish for the least complicated pairing, so Italy, please and thank you!
In general, I think it is desirable to avoid Croatia, Belarus, Poland and just maybe Slovakia. Things could turn out quite complicated with these teams, especially since the play-off is in June, at the end of the season.

Anticipating a bit, but when will the Euro 2018 qualification draw be held?

[gergő]

The Czechoslovak clash would be very nice

a croatia - montenegro classic as well.

[doomark]

Give me Hungary vs. Austria, please.

[heavenly]

Give me Hungary vs. Austria, please.

You must be nostalgic of the Austria-Hungary empire. Like Wbk with former Czechoslovakia.
Or some clashes between countries from the former Yugoslavia would be interesting too.

[dydiana]

The draw was made:

Montenegro - Belarus
Italy - Serbia
Russia - Poland
Hungary - Slovakia
Romania - Austria
Ukraine - Spain
Croatia - Slovenia
Czech Republic - Turkey
Macedonia - Sweden

[kleber]

is still there wild cards?

[Wbk]

is still there wild cards?

Very good question. Here we go with the explanation:

1 organiser is qualified.
1 reigning champion is qualified.
12 more European teams will be qualified (8 performance places based on the teams ranked 1st-8th at the last WCh + 1 place for the top continent at the last WCh + 3 compulsory places for the European continent).
3 teams are qualified from 2016 African Cup of Nations -> these are compulsory places for the African continent, they cannot be overtaken by a wild card.
3 teams will join from 2017 Asian Championships -> these are compulsory places for the Asian continent, they cannot be overtaken by a wild card.
3 teams will join from 2017 Panamerican Championships -> these are compulsory places for the Panamerican continent, they cannot be overtaken by a wild card.

1+1+12+3+3+3 = 23 -> Means that 1 place remains. This was originally given for Oceania as a continental compulsory place. However, Oceanian teams qualify via Asian Championships now, so this one last spot seems to be awarded as a late IHF's wild card.