Following a 10th-place finish at the Men’s European Handball Championship-a tournament won by Germany over the weekend-Hungary now sets its sights on qualifying for the World Championship.The team learned its path forward Saturday with a qualifying draw in Herning, Denmark, which pits Hungary against either Serbia or Lithuania in a two-leg playoff this May. The matchups represent a crucial step for hungary as thay aim to secure a spot in the next major international handball competition.
The German national team defeated Denmark in a thrilling final on Sunday to claim the title at the Men’s European Handball Championship, while Hungary finished 10th overall in the tournament. The championship showcased some of the world’s best handball talent, with several players earning individual accolades for their performances. For Hungary, Bence Imre led all scorers with 46 goals, including 21 from the seven-meter line, currently ranking him sixth in the tournament’s goal-scoring standings.
Photo: JOHAN NILSSON / TT NEWS AGENCY
Hungary’s World Championship Qualification Path Set
Hungary concluded their European Championship run with a Wednesday match against Croatia and will now turn their attention to qualifying for the World Championship. The draw for the qualifying tournament, held Saturday in Herning, revealed that Hungary will face either Serbia or Lithuania, with those two teams battling for the right to play Hungary in May. The first leg will be played on either May 13 or 14 at the home venue of Serbia or Lithuania, with the return leg scheduled for May 16 or 17 in Hungary.
“If Serbia advances from the preliminary round, which I have no doubt they will, we can say that we have been given the toughest opponent of all,” said Chema Rodríguez to the federation’s website following the draw.
The Serbian team, which was eliminated in the group stage of the European Championship, also reacted to the draw. According to reports in the Serbian press, including Nova and Sportal, a victory over Lithuania would mean facing a formidable challenge in Hungary. The Serbian media suggests that a trip to Hungary could be a “hellish” experience for their team.
Adding to Imre’s impressive performance, he was recognized by Danish TV2 experts as one of the tournament’s top right wingers. Despite the official Dream Team not being announced until Sunday evening, Lasse Svan, an Olympic, World, and European Champion, and Rasmus Boysen, a former handball journalist, both included Imre in their respective lineups. This recognition from handball luminaries underscores Imre’s impact on the championship.
