Let’s see some interesting figures as a warm up for the Men’s EHF EURO 2016 semi-finals on Friday.
7 times host national team didn’t play in European Championship semi-finals! That didnt make Portugal (1994), Italy (1998), Croatia (2000), Switzerland (2006), Norway (2008), Austria (2010) and Poland (2016). Only five host teams managed to play for the medals – Spain (1996), Sweden (2002), Slovenia (2004), Serbia (2012) and Denmark (2014). Interesting fact is that in twelwe editions of EHF EURO events only Sweden won the gold in front of home fans.
7 semi-finals participations in a row has CROATIA! Fantastic series began with Balic, Metlicic and Co in Slovenia at EHF EURO 2004. Since than, Croatia always playing for the medals, but never win the gold!
1 (first) semi-final in the history of Norwegian men’s handball! Scandinavian boys have never been even close to the battles for the medals.
8 years Germans waited for the semi-final on some big event! After “home win” at WCh 2007 reality came quickly. Germany managed to stay among the best at Men’s EHF EURO 2008 in Norway, where they won the fourth place and then, dissapeared…
3 semi-final in a row with Manolo Cadenas on the bench will play Spain. Magic Manolo has three of three. If we take look on earlier period on Rivera, since 2011 (WCh 2011 in Sweden), Spain were out of the semi-finals only in London 2012.
9 semi-final will “play” legendary Croatian captain Petar Metlićić. He played eight, and for the first time as assistant coach of Željko Babić, he will have a chance to win the medal.
3 coaches of the semi-final teams in Poland, will lead their teams for the first time in matches for the medals. They are Zeljko Babic, Dagur Sigurdsson and Christian Berge.
0 – Spain have never win the European gold. Spaniards won World Championship twice in 2005 and 2013.
