Even more participants of the 2016 European Championship in Belgrade were determined on day 2 of the 2nd qualification round on Saturday. Thanks to a big 10-9 win over Slovakia the French home side secured their 2nd straight European Championships berth while the Slovaks on their part also found themselves sure of the 2016 European Championships as Belarus and Ukraine are too far behind with just one game left this weekend. Another team to obtain historic participance in the European finals is Malta who defeated Poland 8-13 on Saturday at home in the national pool that clinched the second spot in their group with Germany as winners after their crushing triumph over Switzerland: 21-0. Also Georgia made sure their will be back on the European stage following their Budapest 2014 participance by finishing 2nd in group E thanks to a big 6-17 victory over hosts Israel on Saturday. Turkey followed that example obtaining historic qualification claiming 2nd place in Astrakhan, Russia despite an 11-8 loss to home side Russia who clinched the group win while Portugal crush Latvia 0-30. As Turkey already beat Portugal on day 1 their 2nd place is ensured and will be confirmed Sunday when last ranked Latvia awaits.
In the women's tournaments Germany made highlights by beating France 11-9 in Krefeld on Saturday to take the group victory while securing themselves of Belgrade 2016. As Greece did the same in the other group, as expected, the race for the final spot will be interesting with both France and Portugal with the same amount of points after day 2 of the 2nd round.
2016 European Championships
Belgrade (SRB)
Men's Qualification Round 2
Programme and results
Group E (in Netanya, Israel)
Friday, 25 September
The Netherlands vs. Georgia 5-5 (1-1, 2-0, 1-2, 1-2)
Israel vs. Lithuania 8-11 (1-2, 3-2, 2-4, 2-3)
Saturday, 26 September
Lithuania vs. Netherlands 3-25 (0-5, 2-5, 0-7, 1-8)
Israel vs. Georgia 6-17 (1-5, 2-2, 1-5, 2-5)
Current rankings:
1. Netherlands 5-13 pts, 2. Georgia 5-10, 3. Lithuania 5-3, Israel 5-3.
Sunday, 27 September
09.30: Georgia vs. Lithuania
11.00: Israel vs. Netherlands
Group F (in Chalons-en-Champagne, France)
Friday, 25 September
Ukraine vs. Slovakia 3-13 (1-3, 0-4, 1-4, 1-2)
France vs. Belarus 17-4 (4-1, 6-0, 5-2, 2-1)
Saturday, 26 September
Belarus vs. Ukraine 9-9 (3-3, 2-2, 2-3, 2-1)
France vs. Slovakia 10-9 (3-3, 3-3, 1-0, 3-3)
Current rankings:
1. France 5-12 pts, 2. Slovakia 5-12, 3. Belarus 5-3, 4. Ukraine 5-0.
Sunday, 27 September
09.00: Slovakia vs. Belarus
10.30: France vs. Ukraine
Group G (in Gzira, Malta)
Friday, 25 September
Germany vs. Poland 10-3 (1-0, 4-0, 2-2, 3-1)
Switzerland vs. Malta 8-20 (5-3, 0-7, 1-6, 2-4)
Saturday, 26 September
Germany vs. Switzerland 21-0 (4-0, 7-0, 6-0, 4-0)
Poland vs. Malta 8-13 (0-3, 2-5, 3-3, 3-2)
Current rankings:
1. Germany 5-15 pts, 2. Malta 5-9, 3. Poland 5-6, 4. Switzerland 5-0.
Sunday, 27 September
09.00: Poland vs. Switzerland
10.15: Germany vs. Malta
Group H (in Astrakhan, Russia)
Friday, 25 September
Turkey vs. Portugal 14-9 (4-2, 4-2, 4-1, 2-4)
Russia vs. Latvia 37-0 (9-0, 8-0, 9-0, 11-0)
Saturday, 26 September
Latvia vs. Portugal 0-30 (0-6, 0-8, 0-7, 0-9)
Russia vs. Turkey 11-8 (4-3, 1-0, 4-1, 2-4)
Current rankings:
1. Russia 5-15 pts, 2. Turkey 5-9, 3. Portugal 5-6, 4. Latvia 5-0.
Sunday, 27 September
17.00: Turkey vs. Latvia
18.30: Portugal vs. Russia
N.b.: time metioned is local time.
In brackets: the points gained from the first round – final ranks will be based on the total points earned. First two of each group qualify for Belgrade 2016 (10-23 January).
Already qualified - top 8 from 2014 European Championships:
Serbia, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, Greece, Spain, Romania.
Women's Qualification Round 2
Group C (in Krefeld, Germany)
Friday, 25 September
Turkey vs. France 8-16 (1-4, 1-2, 4-6, 2-4)
Germany vs. Israel 20-6 (8-2, 5-1, 5-3, 2-0)
Saturday, 26 September
Turkey vs. Israel 13-8 (3-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-4)
Germany vs. France 11-9 (2-3, 2-2, 4-1, 3-3)
Current rankings:
1. Germany 5-12 pts, 2. France 5-12, 3. Turkey 5-6, Israel 5-0.
Sunday, 27 September
10.00: France vs. Israel
11.30: Germany vs. Turkey
Group D (in Rio Maior, Portugal)
Friday, 25 September
Croatia vs. Greece 3-24 (2-3, 0-8, 0-7, 1-6)
Switzerland vs. Portugal 1-22 (0-6, 0-6, 0-4, 1-6)
Current rankings:
1. Greece 5-15 pts, 2. Portugal 5-12, 3. Croatia 5-3, 4. Switzerland 5-0.
Saturday, 26 September
Greece vs. Switzerland 22-2 (6-0, 4-1, 5-0, 7-1)
Portugal vs. Croatia 8-5 (0-1, 2-1, 2-3, 4-0)
Sunday, 27 September
09.30: Croatia vs. Switzerland
11.00: Portugal vs. Greece
N.b.: time mentioned is local time.
First three seeded sides of the cumulative rankings from both groups (6 teams) will promote to the European Championships to be held in Belgrade (SRB) in 2016.