Solvable task for the hosts
Timely it is not the first match of the European Handball Championship 2022, but rather the highlight of the first day of the competition from the Magyars’ point of view. Traditionally, the hosts get into the action on the first day of this European Championship to create a good atmosphere, maybe even euphoria. The Hungarians should be able to do that with an opening victory over the Dutch.
The home side have certainly not got an easy group. Iceland and Portugal both possibly have what it takes to prove a stumbling block, but the bottom line is that the Hungarian team is the clear favourite in their group at the home European Championship, at least for now. It would be a surprise if they did not finish first in the end.
There are many sports in which Dutch teams are big names, even in women’s handball. In the men’s game, however, the team in Oranje is no more than a glaring outsider. Even before the first match between Hungary and Holland, we dare to predict that the Dutch will be eliminated in the preliminary round.
For the Magyars, on the other hand, it’s all about the medals. Whoever makes it to the quarter-finals at the World Cup will certainly have a chance of winning a medal at the European Championships.
Hungary – Statistics & current form
On club level, the Hungarian clubs around Pick Szeged or Telekom Veszprem belong to the absolute top in Europe. The national team has rarely been able to benefit from this in recent years. However, the European Championship in their own country could now be the tournament where the fruits that the Hungarian clubs have sown will be reaped by the national team.
Nearly a year undefeated
Not only since last year’s great World Cup has there been a real sense of optimism among the Magyars. Their quarter-final appearance at the World Cup in Egypt and fifth place at the end could be the flywheel they need to be successful at home now. Since the World Cup, however, there have only been sporadic international matches.
After all, the Hungarians have won all of their last six games. Due to cancellations, there was only one real test match before the start of the European Championship. Against Bahrain it was enough for a 36:30 victory. That sounds like a decent offensive performance, but problems in defence. Coach Istvan Gulyas saw a lot of room for improvement.
In terms of personnel, the Hungarians are in excellent shape. There were no positive test results for the Magyars before the start of the European Championship. Therefore, coach Istvan Gulyas can already draw from the full range against the Dutch. Right winger Peter Hornyak is the only player who did not make it into the squad due to injury.
The squad of Hungary:
Goal: Szekely, Mikler, Borbely
Back: Györi, Nagy, Lekai, Hanusz, Ligetvari, Szita, Bodo, Ilic, Mathe, Ancsin
Left wing: Noka, Sunajko
Right wing: Rodriguez, Alvarez, Bujdosu
Circle: Sipos, Topic, Rosta, Banhidi
Coach: Gulyas
Last matches of Hungary:
EHF EURO Cup 2022
05/01 2021 – Hungary 26 – 22 Croatia
04/28 2021 – Spain 28 – 30 Hungary
03/14 2021 – Hungary 36 – 26 Slovakia
03/12 2021 – Slovakia 15 – 30 Hungary
World Championships Final Stage
01/27 2021 – France 35 – 32 Hungary
Holland – Statistics & current form
The Dutch handball men are still at the very beginning of their development. The Dutch have never qualified for a World Cup and after 2020, this is only their second time at a European Championship. Perhaps Oranje can upset their opponents, but it is hardly to be expected that it will be enough for the main round.
Dropouts difficult to compensate for
Nevertheless, the Dutch’s big goal is to reach the main round. Bonds coach Erlingur Richardsson is counting on something, especially against Iceland and Portugal. At the European Championship in Hungary, he wants to learn his lessons from the early exit in Sweden two years ago. But before the match between Hungary and Holland we dare to predict that it will not be enough for Oranje.
After all, the Dutch were able to play a few test matches between Christmas and New Year and also in 2022, but only with moderate success. Five of the last six international matches were lost, with opponents including Norway, Denmark and Sweden, three candidates for European Championship gold at this tournament.
For the Dutch, however, it was not only from a sporting point of view that the preparation went a little off course. Alec Smit, Ephrahim Jerry and Florent Bourget tested positive for PCR. It is difficult to say if and when these three players will play in the tournament. In addition, Niels Versteijnen and Jorn Smits are injured. The latter did not even make it into the Dutch line-up.
The Holland squad:
Goal: Ravensbergen, Schellekens
Back: Bourget, L. Steins, Baijens, Schoenaker, Jerry, Sluijters, Versteijnen, K. Smits, Jansen
Left wing: ten Velde, Falke
Right wing: Schagen
Circle: Benghanem, I. Steins
Coach: Richardsson
Last matches of Holland:
Friendlies
01/06 2022 – Sweden 34 – 30 Netherlands
Golden League, Norway
11/07 2021 – Denmark 33 – 19 Netherlands
11/06 2021 – Norway 40 – 29 Netherlands
European Championships Qualification Grp. 5
05/02 2021 – Netherlands 32 – 30 Poland
04/29 2021 – Turkey 24 – 32 Netherlands
Hungary – Holland Direct comparison / H2H balance
To date, the national teams from Hungary and Holland have only played two matches against each other. Both matches went to the Magyars and therefore the direct comparison is also a clear matter for the Hungarian team. However, the two matches took place more than four years ago.
Both teams met in the qualifiers for the 2018 European Championship in Croatia. The Magyars won 28:27 in Holland and the return match in Hungary ended with a 35:30 home victory. The Hungarians thus clinched their ticket to the European Championship. For the Dutch, only the role of spectator remained.
Hungary – Holland tip
Istvan Gulyas’ side will be desperate to celebrate an opening win with their own fans behind them. The Magyars reached the quarter-finals at the last World Cup and now have basically everything of note on board for their home European Championship. Therefore, the hosts will certainly have to be taken into account in the course of the tournament.
The Dutch are only competing for the second time at a European Championship. Nevertheless, Erlingur Richardsson’s team has big goals and wants to at least reach the main round. However, the Dutch have been hobbled by a number of absences in the run-up to the tournament.
The question in handball is always which handicap is best to play. It tends to be better to always aim for one goal less, because especially in the last minute, when the game is decided, you tend to let time run down. That’s why we will probably play the betting odds on a handicap win (-6.5) for the hosts between Hungary and Holland.
