Semi-final race heats up in Debrecen

Romania, on their part, look for another surprise as they face second-ranked Hungary, while both Montenegro and Poland are hunting their first win in this phase of the competition.

GROUP I

Montenegro vs Poland
Sunday 8 December, 15:30 CET, live on EHFTV

• after two defeats in the main round a win in this game is essential for Montenegro, although they brought two points with them from the preliminary round
• the Montenegrin squad is experiencing injury troubles with Milena Raicevic, Djurdjina Malovic and Katarina Dzaferovic all missing at least once match at the EHF EURO 2024
• Montenegro and Poland have only met once at an EHF EURO, with the Golden Lionesses winning 26:23 in the preliminary round. That was their last official match; Poland have won one out of 10 clashes, 33:28 in the 2021 World Championship main round
• Poland are out of the race for the semi-finals, but could still earn a ticket to play in the fifth-place match if they win both remaining games and other results go their way
• Monika Kobylinska, Natalia Nosek and Aleksandra Rosiak will all play their 15th EHF EURO matches against Montenegro, equalling Joanna Drabik and Karolina Kudlacz-Gloc in joint fourth place in Poland’s all-time list
• Kobylinska is now eight goals shy of Kinga Grzyb in second place in Poland’s all-time EHF EURO top-scorer list, with 52 goals before this game compared to 60 for Grzyb and 88 for top-ranked Kudlacz-Gloc

Hungary vs Romania
Sunday 8 December, 18:00 CET, live on EHFTV

• the co-hosts are running high on confidence after extending their five-match perfect record with a 31:21 win against Poland
• Vlagyimir Golovin's squad could secure a place in the semi-finals in Vienna with one point against Romania
• Hungary and Romania played a friendly match back in September this year with Hungary securing a 37:28 win; at the EHF EURO, they last met in the main round in 2020 when Hungary won 26:24
• overall, the two teams have met 28 times in official matches, with Hungary taking 18 victories, Romania nine, and one game ending in a draw at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
• Romania surprised Sweden 25:23 in the previous match to take their first two points in the main round, displaying aggression in defence and maturity in attack
• left back Bianca Bazaliu is Romania's top scorer with 28 goals to her name across five matches
• one of Romania's key players, right wing Sonia Seraficeanu, missed the last match against Sweden through injury, but was ably replaced by 21-year-old Oana Bors who shifted from right back to the wing and scored three goals

Sweden vs France
Sunday 8 December, 20:30 CET, live on EHFTV

• if the Swedes are to reach the semi-finals after their 23:25 defeat by Romania, Tomas Axnér's squad must first secure a win against the world champions before beating Montenegro and hoping other results go in their favour
• like Hungary, France now have a five-match winning streak at the EHF EURO 2024 and need only one point against Sweden to book their place in the semi-finals
• Nathalie Hagman will overtake Isabelle Gulldén as the second most-capped player in Sweden’s EHF EURO history with this game, her 48th; team captain Jamina Roberts tops the list, now with 53 games
• Sweden and France’s last four meetings were in the knockout stages of major tournaments, with France winning in the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games semi-finals, the 2021 World Championship quarter-finals, and the 2023 World Championship semi-finals
• at the EHF EURO, the last mutual game was in the 2020 main round, where France won 31:25 and went on to take silver behind Norway
• Orlane Kanor will miss this match after receiving a direct red card in the previous game against Montenegro

Photos © EHF/kolektiff