Handball News From Around the World

Known as one of the most powerful handball players of our times, Cristina Neagu won this year the first ever Rookie of the Year Award from  the International Handball Federation. If everybody is aware of what Cristina can during a handball match, few people know anything about her private life. Cristina was kind enough to answer some blitz questions for Handballnews.blog.com.

So, Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Cristina Neagu:

1.       Hammerseng, or Neagu?
Neagu! I respect all the players, but I always choose to play my cards.
 2.       Movie or theater?
Movie. I love watching movies, special in a movie theater.
 3.       Dress or pants?
Usually pants. :) But I felt very comfortable in a dress, also. So I can choose both.
4.       Black or white?
Black. It’s one of my favorite colors.
5.      Blonde guys, or brunette ones?
Brunnette. You can’t argue on personal choices. :)
 6.       Restaurant or club?
Restaurant. I am not the club type.
7.       Rose or tulip?
Rose. Just like that.
8.       Bucharest or Paris?
Paris. It’s a dream city.
9.    Car or plane?
Plane. It’s faster.
10.   Christmas or New Year’s Eve?
Christmas. It’s tradition

With only days remaining until the 2010 EHF Euro Championship will start (Denmark&Norway, 7-19 December), the eyes of the handball world are focused on the top players of the tournament. The Romanian Cristina Neagu is definitely on the Most Wanted list of all European club powers and she is set to play an important role next month. Here is an exclusive interview Cristina gave for Handballnews.blog.com and for the official website of the 2010 Euro Championship:

Handballnews: You have received the “Rookie of the Year” award from the International Handball Federation. Did this thing change you in any way?
Cristina Neagu: I can only be happy when my work is appreciated. And yes, the award changed me: it made me more ambitious and eager to learn more things about handball. 
Handballnews: You won several medals with Romania at younger category ages, but not as a senior player. How do you see the chances this to happen now? 
Cristina Neagu: I want this to happen from the bottom of my heart! But we must be aware that we will meet very strong teams. It’s good to take it step by step and to try to win match after match. 
Handballnews: You won the MVP award at this year’s GF World Cup in Aarhus. Is Denmark  a “lucky” place for you? 
Cristina Neagu: We’ll see in December how lucky it is.
Handballnews: 3 years ago, at the World Championship in France, we made Olivier Krumbholz say that his team was eliminated in the quarter finals by a19 years old school girl. From that moment on, your opponents are giving you special treatment each match.  How do you handle with this? 
Cristina Neagu: Just as simple as that: I try to give my best each match, no matter sometimes I commit errors, also. 
Handballnews: Do you have any idol?
Cristina Neagu: No.

Denmark will host the 2014 EHF European Championship!. This is what the delegates of the 10th EHF Congress decided today. It was a very close and tense battle between Denmark and the joint bid of  Croatia and Hungary. Finally Danish celebrated: they got 24 votes, compared to 22 for the other bidder (3 votes were not valid).

This will be the first European Championship Denmark will host and the first handball final tournament since the 1978 World Championship. “It’s a fantastic feeling that EHF Congress backs our candidacy.  We now have the opportunity to show how strong a handball culture we have and how much we can contribute to the international handball world.” – the chairnman of Danish Handball Federation, Per Rasmussen, said after the decision.

The bid presentation strategies of the two candidates were totally different: while Croatia and Hungary focused on the  enormous hall capacity of the venues, Denmark played the winning card by putting Ulrik Wilbek touch the hearts of the delegates with a very emotional speach.

The 11th EHF European Championship will take place in January 2014. The venues will be Aalborg (Gigantium Arena), Aarhus (NRGi Arena), Ballerup (Super Arena), Odense (Arena Fyn) and Herning (MCH Multi Arena).

Photo: Danish Handball Federation

ROMANIA – FRANCE 23-21 (15-7)

The fans in NRGi Arena, Aarhus, were not believing their eyes in the beginning of the first semifinal of the 2010 GF World Cup: the Romanians were already 6-0 ahead (!!!) after a terrible start of Olivier Krumbholz’s team and a perfect play of blue-yellow-red team.

Although France tried to come back, it was impossible until the break: Romania went to the dressing room with a 8 goals advantage, 15-7!! What happened in the first 15 minutes of the second half was like the projection in the mirror of the first par: France played better and better, while the Romanians were just selling the balls in attack and creating boulevards for the French players in defence.

France reduced the gap to 1 goal, 16-17, when Romania finally found the key to stop the team of Krumbholz. Until the end it was a very close game, but Romania managed to win it thanks to some very important goals scored in the last decisive minutes. So the team of Radu Voina will play the final of the GF World Cup for the second consecutive time (last year they won the trophy after 28-27 in the final against Norway).

Romania: Paraschiv 2, Amariei 3, Neagu 8, Bradeanu 2, Manea 6, Moldovan 1, Ardean-Elisei 1
France: Kanto 3, Ayglon 2, Pineau 2, Mendy 4, Baudouin 2, Herbrecht 2, Dembele 1, Deroin 1, Piejos 2, Lacrabere 2

DENMARK – NORWAY 19-24

The Olympic and European champions, Norway, showed no mercy to the 2010 GF World Cup‘s hosts, Denmark. In the second semifinal of the tournament, Gro Hammerseng and her colleagues left no room for surprises in front of the young and ambitious Danish team.

As usual in modern handball, the defence was the key for success: the Danish players bumped themselves into a wall protecting against any intruder who wanted to endanger the goal of Lunde-Haraldsen. The result: 15-9 for Norway at half-time. Not even after the break the Danish team found the way to really turn the game, so Norway will have now the chance for revenge: they will again play the final of the GF World Cup against Romania, which left the Scandinavians without the trophy last year.

Denmark: Kviesgaard 3, Thorsgaard 1, Augustesen 3, Aaen 1, Kamilla Kristianensen 1, Jörgensen 1, Kristina Kristensen 6, Troelsen 2, Berit Kristensen 1
Norway: Alstad 5, Löke 4, Nøstvold 5, Johansen 1, Frafjord 2, Riegelhuth 1, Mørk 4, Edin 1, Herrem 1.

Tomorrow, in the last day of 2010 GF World Cup, Denmark will play against France for the bronze medals (14:15 CET), while Romania and Norway will fight for the title starting 16:15 CET.

For the first time in the history of Bundesliga a club sponsor fired the coaches of his team! Jesper Nielsen, the Danish chairman and the main sponsor of Rhein-Neckar Lowen, decided to sack the Swedish duo Ola Lindgren and Kent Harry Anderson!

The new coach is a very good friend of Nielsen – the Icelandic Gudmundur Gudmundsson. The 46 year old took charge of Rhein-Neckar Lowen less than 40 hours before their debut in VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League, in Barcelona. Gudmunsson is the one who led Iceland to the Olympic silver medals in Beijing.

My friend Bjorn Pazen is bringing us all the details of this unusual decision.

GERMANY – FRANCE 29-39 (12-21)

“The way we lost is really annoying for me. I need to change something in my team.” – this is all what the German coach Rainer Osmann was able to say after the painful defeat against the World vice-champions, France. The team of Olivier Krumbholz took full advantage of the porr German defence and the match turned into a cat and mouse chase.

The 9 goals difference which France had in their pockets after 30 minutes proved to be much too high to be overcame by Germany. Germany is left without any point after 2 matches at 2010 GF World Cup, while France got their first 2 points after yesterday’s defeat against Denmark.

Germany: Richter 6, Beier 5, Loerper 5, Jurack 3, Mietzner 3, Augsburg 3, Althaus 2, Haerdter 1, Wörz 1
France: Goudjo 1, 3 Kanto, Ayglon 4, Boudan 1, Pineau 2, 3 Mendy, Baudouin 7, Herbrecht 1, Dembele 3, Deroin 2, Gnabouyou 3, 4 Piejos, Signate 3, Lacrabere 2

DENMARK – HUNGARY 28-24 (11-10)

The hosts of the 2010 GF World Cup already booked their semifinal ticket after winning against Hungary. Still, Eszter Matefi, the Hungarian coach, had some reasons to doubt some dubious decisions taken by the Montenegrin referees (Milos Raznatovic/Ivan Pavicevic), as the international media is writing.

The Hungarian weak point looked to be Ibolya Mehlmann, who was coming back after pregnancy. She looked a bit too static in the defence and Denmark took advantage of this. Denmark has now 4 points after 2 matches and is already waiting for the semifinals. Hungary remains with yesterday’s win against Germany.

Denmark: Dalby 8, Troelsen 3, Kristina Kristensen 3, Kviesgaard 3, Jörgensen 2, Brögger Led 2, Okkels 2, Kamilla Kristiansen 2, Melgaard 1, Augustesen 1
Hungary: Görbicz 6, Szabo 4, Kovacsicz 4, Mehlmann 2, Toth 2, Bulath 2, Verten 1, Vincze 1, Szamoranski 1, Tomori 1

Denmark          2 matches       60-53           4 points 
France              2 matches       68-61            2 points 
Hungary          2 matches       46-47           2 points
Germany         2 matches       48-61           0 points

RUSSIA – ROMANIA 24-32 (9-15)

Another impressive performance of the Romanian team, who, after beating the Olympic and European champiosn Norway, did the same with the World champions today. Not a single moment someone doubted who will be the winner of the match – Romania dominated Russia both in attack and defence.

Not even the loud voice of Evgenii Trefilov managed to change something in Russian team – Cristina Neagu was again magnificent for Romania, scoring 6 goals. Romania has now 4 points, while Russia is still looking for its first one.

Russia: Koroleva 1, Sen 7, Levina 2, Davydenko 6, Gruzdeva 1, Makeeva 1, Lavrenyuk 1, Chernoivanenko 3, Gorshenina 1
Romania: Manea 2, Amariei 5, Neagu 6, Chintoan 4, Ardean-Elisei 4, Geiger 3, Nechita 3, Moldovan 4, Tacalie 2 

SWEDEN – NORWAY 23-31 (11-16)

First win for Norway at 2010 GF World Cup. Sweden looked a bit tired after they won the war against Russia the day before and the Norwegian stars had no mercy on their neighbours. The difference was even higher in the 48th minute, when Tina Rustad Kriastiansen scored for 28-18!

In just a few words, it was a game without any comments!

Sweden Flognman 4, Hagman 2, Fredén 1, Torstensson 5, Wiberg 1, Gulldén 2, Helleberg 2, Wallén 3, Jacobsen 2, Alm 1 
Norway Molid 2, Alstad 3, Løke 1, Nøstvold 4, Hammerseng 3, Johansen 1, Frafjord 6, Kristiansen 2, Sulland 2, Riegelhuth 5, Edin 1, Herrem 2

Romania    2 matches   53-44   4 points
Norway      2 matches   51-44   2 points
Sweden      2 matches   48-55   2 points
Russia        2 matches   48-57   0 points

The last matches of the groups are: Romania – Sweden, France – Hungary, Russia – Norway, Denmark – Germany

“Norway collapses in front of Romania”  – this was the title of the news the Danish TV2 covered the 2010 GF World Cup game between the Olympic and European champions, Norway, and Romania. Romania won the match 21-20 after Norway had a 6 goals lead at half-time (12-6)!!!

Norway collapses in front of Romania – Video (video news on the right side of the screen, 3rd video on the first line)

RUSSIA – SWEDEN 24-25 (12-12)

The first match of Group B produced the first big surprise of the 2010 GF World Cup. The World Champions, Russia, lost against Sweden after a very dramatic end. No team was able to impose its game in the first half, which the two teams ended neck to neck: 12-12. It was a battle between the teams which just booked their tickets to the Women’s WHF Champions League groups last weekend: Trefilov sent 4 Zvezda players on the court, while IK Savehof players formed the skeleton for Swedish team.

Both Russia and Sweden shared the lead throughout the whole match, but none of them managed to put more than 3 goals difference. With 18 seconds left in the game the score was 24-24. Sweden had the last attack: Torstensson found Helleberg with an assist and the Swedish player scored for the victory.

Sweden: Fredén 5, Helleberg 5, Torstensson 4, Johansson 3, Wallén 2, Walter 2, Jacobsen 2,  Gulldén 1, Wiberg 1
Russia: Gorshenina 5, Postnova 3, Sen 3, Davydenko 3, Vetkova 2, Levina 2, Makeeva 1, Chernoivanenko 2, Yartseva 1, Dmitrieva 1, Lavrenyuk 1

NORWAY – ROMANIA 20-21 (12-6)

Romania came from the dust to win against the European Champions, Norway, in what was the re-match of last year’s GF World Cup final. Norway dominated the first half, ending with a comfortable 6 goals advantage, but Romania managed to come back in the game after a devastating second half start. 5 consecutive goals by the Romanians without conceiding any turned the match into a very tensed one.

Romania took the lead for the first time in the 50th minute (18-17) and increased the lead to 20-18 with 3 minutes left from the game. Norway stroke back and equalised, 20-20, but the best Romanian player – Cristina Neagu – brought joy to Romanian squad with the last goal of the match.

Romania: Neagu 8, Manea 5, Curea 2, Geiger 2, Ardean-Elisei 1, Moldovan 1, Amariei 1,  Bradeanu 1
Norway: Alstad 4, Riegelhuth 4, Sulland 3, Løke 2, Løke 2, Nöstvold 2, Breivang 1, Hammerseng 1, Solberg 1

HUNGARY – GERMANY 22-19 (9-10)

A terrible second half costed Germany dear in their first 2010 GF World Cup match. The team of Osmann Rainer was leading after 30 minutes (10-9), but what happened in the second part of the match will probably not be forgotten very soon by Jurack, Worz and all the German players.

Hungary came back in style and in the 51st minute the scoreboard was showing an unbelievable 20-14 for the Hungarians! Grit Jurack tried to saveher team in the last minutes, but it was too little too late for Germany: Hungary took both points.

Hungary: Görbicz 8, Szamoránsky 3, Tomori 3, Vérten 2, Bulath 2, Mehlmann 2, Kovacsicz 1, Tóth 1
Germany: Althaus 5, Jurack 5, Mietzner 4, Wörz 2, Hardter 1, Richter 1, Müller 1

DENMARK – FRANCE 32-29 (15-13)

The 2010 GF World Cup hosts, Denmark, impressed on their first match of the competition. France had in Allison Pineau the most prolific player (8 goals), but it was just not enough. Trine Troelsen (7) and Mie Augustesen (6) led the hosts to an impressive victory against the World vicer-champions. Krumbholz was unable to find the right answers to the Danish devastating attacks in the final minutes of the match, although France came only at two lenghts behind Denmark with 2 minutes and a half left (28-30). Kamilla Kristensen scored the decisive goal for Denamrk, who is now leading Group A after the first day of the competition.

Denmark: Troelsen 7, Augustesen 6, Dalby 5, Thorsgaard 4, Kamilla Kristensen 2, Kristina Kristensen 2, Kviesgaard 2, Jörgensen 2, Berit Kristensen 1, Okkels 1
France: Pineau 8, Goudjo 3, Signate 3, Lacrabere 3, Baudouin 3, Piejos 2, Herbrecht 2, Kanto 2, Ayglon 2, Dembele 1

Today’s matches at the 2010 GF World Cup: Russia – Romania, Germany – France, Sweden – Norway, Denmark – Hungary.

The last 4 teams made it to the 2010-2011 Women’s EHF Champions League. After the conclusion of the 4 Qualification Groups, the winners progressed now to the group stage.

In Qualification Group 1, the hosts Randers HK (DEN) made it to the Champions League groups after 3 wins; in Qualification Group 2, Trefilov’s Zvezda Zvenigorod (RUS) had no problems to finish with maximum points; in Group 3 IK Savehof (SWE) managed to overcome its opponents; in Group 4 DVSC-Korvex (HUN) also got 3 victories.

To see in which Champions League Groups the winners of the qualification tournaments will play, as well as for more details about the Qualification Groups phase, click here.

Today the Russian women national team will arrive in Denmark for this year’s edition of GF World Cup (21-26 September, Aarhus). If the destination point is the same for all the team – Copenhagen, the starting point will be different: the coach Evgenii Trefilov together with the players from Zvezda Zvenigorod will fly from Athens – the place they won the qualification group for the 2010-2011 Women’s EHF Champions League. Other 10 players will fly to Denmark from Moscow.

Maria Sidorova will return to the national team for the first time after she gave birth to her son, while 3 players from the champions Dinamo Volgograd will miss the GF World Cup due to injuries: Anna Kotchetova, Tatiana Khmyrova and Anna Sedoikina.

Here is the complete Russian squad for the 2010 GF World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Inna Suslina (Rostov-Don), Maria Sidorova (Lada)
Players: Elena Dmitrieva, Ekaterina Vetkova, Daria Gruzdeva, Ludmila Postnova, Oxana Koroleva, Anna Sen (all Zvezda), Olga Chernoivanenko, Ekaterina Davidenko, Olga Gorshenina (all Lada), Marina Yartseva, Tatiana Lavreniuk, Elena Slivinskaya ( all Rostov-Don), Olga Levina, Ksenia Makeeva (both Dinamo Volgograd).
  Reserve goalkeeper: Victoria Kalinina (Zvezda)

Russia will play in Group B of the 2010 GF World Cup, against Norway, Romania and Sweden.