Iker Romero recovers

Spanish international Iker Romero has recovered after an elbow injury. The player suffered a nasty injury in his right elbow and it kept him out of action at the beginning of the season. The recovery time was estimated two months, but Romero is back two weeks before that. T

Doctor Gutierrez is very satisfied with the player’s condition:

“The recovery was faster than we hoped for. He is ready to play, but he must go on with the rehabilitation exercises. It is important that he can travel with the team, though it is not sure whether he can play”.

Romero will travel to Cuenca for an Asobal game and he will probably also be in the squad against Drammen this weekend.

Champions league standings

Pos	Teams	Pts		Pos	Teams	Pts
1	THW Kiel	8		1	HSV Hamburg	8
2	FC Barcelona Borges	4		2	FC Kopenhagen	4
3	HC Metalurg Skopje	2		3	Tatran Presov	4
4	Drammen HK	0		4	RK Crvena Zvezda	0

Pos	Teams	Pts		Pos	Teams	Pts
1	Steaua MFA Bucuresti	6		1	Cro. Osiguranje-Zagreb	7
2	Chehovskie Medvedi	4		2	Rhein-Neckar Löwen	7
3	Portland San Antonio	4		3	Pick Szeged	2
4	RK Cimos Koper	2		4	Wisla Plock	0

Pos	Teams	Pts		Pos	Teams	Pts
1	Chambery Savoie HB	8		1	BM Ciudad Real	8
2	Celje Pivovarna Lasko	6		2	GOG Svendborg TGI	6
3	Hammarby IF	2		3	HC Bosna Sarajevo	2
4	HC Granitas-Karys	0		4	A.S.E. Doukas	0

Pos	Teams	Pts		Pos	Teams	Pts
1	Reale Ademar Leon	8		1	SG Flensburg-Hande.	6
2	Montpellier HB	6		2	MKB Veszprem KC	6
3	ZMC Amicitia Zürich	2		3	Haukar Hafnarfjördur	4
4	A1 Bregenz HB	0		4	ZTR Zaporozhye	0

Ola Lindgren in HM interview: "Scandinavian model mixed with German one"

Field appointment in Nordhorn, HSG Nordhorn´s office: For German Handball-Magazin, Ola Lindgren, 44, took more than our to discuss about handball. On the financial crisis of HSG Nordhorn, about the lessons learned from coach ikon Bengt Johansson, his life in a family full of women and his love to old Mustang cars and fast horses. handball-world.com prints and translates extracts of this interview in cooperation with Handball-Magazin, the complete interview is only part of the November issue of “HM” which can be bought in Germany from 31 October.

During the talk with HM, Lindgren showed the ease which is as typical for the people of the County of Bad Bentheim. And another element fitted: Ending the talk, Lindgren catched his cap and went to training by bike.. "This is my contribution to environment protection", the double World Champion stated winking.

Excerpt from HM-Interview

HM: How do you esteem Nordhorn?

Ola Lindgren
It is amazing that we have a work climate at ease, here. There is not so much pressure from outside. We can implement our scandinavian model without hurry and stress. And we have always been lucky to commit new players who fit into the region, emerge and adapt to their envisaged role. Elsewhere the pressure to success is harder.

HM: Is the „Grafschaft“ really a pressure-free zone?

Ola Lindgren
No. We produce the pressure inside our team and elaborate goals for ourselves. After a defeat there will be nobody to hold a crisis talk. It is important for us to control such a situation internally. One is a lot more engaged if one finds our himself where the mistakes have been made and if the solution is made up together.

HM: So, self-motivation instead of strict rules?

Ola Lindgren
I say, you do not have to be late. This is a rule. But if the team sets his our framework concerning punctuality and mutual respect, then the acceptation is much higher than with simple rules. Since it results from the group cohesion and contributes inner power to the team.

HM: What is this philosophy derived from?

Ola Lindgren
It is no great mysterium that I have mixed the Scandinavian model with the German one...

The complete interview is released on 31 October in November issue of Handball-Magazin (German only).

Chambery: team of October in France

The beginning of the season was fabulous for the French Chambery Savoie. They clinched six victories from six games in two competitions, the French League and the Champions League. Not many clubs can boast with such an achievement.

The team of coach Gardent is leading the table in France and they have good chances to qualify for the Main Round. As a consequence, the French coaches chose Chambery the best team of the month October.

Chambery president, Alain Poncet, was really satisfied with this prize:

“It is very nice for our players. It means that we are on the right track and we are working properly. But the season is very long and we must keep playing with the same motivation that we had last games. We cannot think that everything is done. We have to work to continue in the same way”.

It is increasingly difficult for the team in France. From now on all clubs are putting in double effort to become the first team to beat Chambery.

Metz: disappointment after Viborg

Viborg are among the greatest European clubs and also favourites for the CL title. It doesn’t change the situation: Metz are disappointed to lose against the team of coach Vestergaard.

Metz top scorer, Svetlana Ognjenovic, commented:

“We played badly, but the 13-goal difference does not reflect the real strength of the two teams. It will be difficult to play worse than we did that day”.

Metz president Thierry Weizman was not so negative:

“We lost against a great club, the best in the world for me. This defeat shows everybody where we stand in reality. However, we are hopeful to qualify”.

Two players, Helene Francois and Vesna Horacek, agreed in some critical points:

“We lost balls and we were not able to impose our style. It is a pity because we fought well in the first half,” Francois said.

Horacek added: “We worked hard in the first half and we gave up in the second. Their goalkeeper Haraldsen showed why she is one of the best in her position. I hope that we can learn from the defeat”.

TEXT: Fernando Urra Goni

Dutchmen with surprising victory against Ukraine

Gerrie Eijlers was backing his team In qualification group 7 for Euro 2010 in Austria, the Netherlands celebrated a surprising home victory. With a 24:19 (14:19) result, the host team prevailed against Ukraine and may now dream of participating in European Championship finals. If the games against Lithuania and Cyprus would be won, and both Ukraine and the Netherlands would lose their matches against Spain, it would amount to the showdown in the return match on 17 June 2009, because then the direct comparison would decide. The best scorer of the Dutch who were especially convincing in defense, was no Bundesliga legionnaire but Bartek Konitz with seven goals.

"Spain is the favourite in our group, but against Ukraine and Lithuania, we must show our potential. The physical and mental state of the day will decide those matches. The upcoming comparison with Ukraine is already a key game for us," goalie Gerrie Eijlers put up the significance of the successful match in advance. And the Dutchmen should proof to be an equal adversary in that match.

After the start, the 1,400 spectators in Emmen were glad about the first 2-goals-lead at 7:5 with three goals of Bartek Kontitz. But then, a time penalty against Mark Bult was an advantage for Ukraine who scored three goals in succession at 8:10. But now the defense of the Dutch ameliorated, while Ukraine equally lost power offense. Tim Remer catched up the backlog and also due to three goals of Mark Schmetz the outsider took a 14:10 lead into the cabin.

At the beginning of the second half Ukraine came up to 18:16, but the Dutchmen had the match in their grip. Especially the strong and movable defence arranged for Ukrainian problems. The back players did not get in positions because they lacked the necessary pressure, but also goalkeeper Gerrie Eijlers was excellent. So, the host led the match by 22:17 and after a double blow to 24:17 the decision was finally taken. Ukraine, however, still managed an answer to 24:19, which, if the direct comparison between these two teams should still be relevant in the end, might be decisive.

The Dutch coach Harrie Weermann was overjoyed, the whole week we have sensed that the team wants to win this game and is able to. "Nineteen goals against by Ukraine - this is unprecedented," said Weermann on their defense and goalkeeper Eijlers: "It might also have been a seven goals lead," Weermann looks back a bit sad at the last minutes of the game. "But before the game we would have been overjoyed about a one-goal-win," relativized Weermann immediately. "The victory was our aim that we have achieved now. We habe a good feeling. In defence we were good, there we have won the game," said Fabian van Olphen, who still added: "Saturday will be the game against Cyprus and there will be no discussion that we have to win."

EHF suspends Dimovski

The European Handball Federation (EHF) suspended Vanco Dimovski for one match. The Macedonian player was convicted of an „action against team spirit“ during the last five seconds of a match in Champions League Gruppe C, when his team Metalurg Skopje played against Drammen HK. Dimovski was disqualified directly and was no suspended by EHF.

In the match against the Northmen, Skopje won 37:30. So, it was no typical case of lack of sportsmanship for securing a result. Dimovski who is also captain of Metalurg, scored seven times and now is missing in the game against Barcelona on 8 November.

2010 Men's European Championship Qualification Results

Russia - Bosnia and Herz. 37:25

Greece – Hungary 21:27

Estonia – Norway 25:33

Croatia – Finland 39:20

Israel – Slovenia 28:36

Latvia - Czech Republic 31:34

Spain – Cyprus 32:20

Germany – Bulgaria 42:11

Faroe Islands – Serbia 20:41

Poland – Montenegro 30:20

Iceland – Belgium 40:21

Veszprém beat Szeged

The two Hungarian CL sides did not have much time to rest before the upcoming group matches. Szeged hosted Veszprémin the Hungarian league.

It was three and a half year ago that Veszprém could take points from Szeged for the last time. The team of Lajos Mocsai stepped on court on Sunday to break this bad series.

Szeged has been unlucky with injuries and illnesses in the last few weeks. Coach Vladan Matic had to use many young players to replace the missing Andjelkovic, Laluska, Nenadic and Stamate.

Though both teams were unbeaten before the game in the league, the CL games were far not so easy for the Hungarians. Szeged lost two home games against Rhein-Neckar and Zagreb, while Veszprém suffered a shock-defeat in Iceland.

With all this in mind, both teams needed a victory to boost their confidence. Veszprém were visibly in better physical condition and they took the initiative right from the beginning. It was Osmajic to keep Szeged in the game and the hosts could come back to one goal on several occasions. At the same time, Szeged had no chance against the quick counter attacks of the guests.

It was 12-16 at half-time. Eklemovic&Co. Did not allow Pick closer after the break. Szeged were struggling to find the gaps in a very tall defensive wall and they needed to fight hard all the time. Coach Mocsai could rely on more substitutes and they defeated Szeged that was very tired in the last 10-12 minutes. In the endgame the guests could even practise a few tactical variations and took a 26-30 victory.

Regarding the future: MKB Veszprém seem to be in good form to taget the qualification from Group F, while Pick Szeged have set a new target: a Cup Winners’ Cup place in Group F.

TEXT: Juhász Judit

Cervar announces squad for matches against Finland and Hungary

Lino Cervar anounced a squad of seventeen players for upcoming games against Finland in Zagreb 29.10.2008 at 18.00 h. and Hungary in Veszprem 02.11.2008 at 12.45 h. .
1. Mirko Alilović CBM Ademar Leon
2. Mario Kelentrić Melsungen
3. Zlatko Horvat CO Zagreb
4. Vedran Zrnić VFL Gummersbarch
5. Manuel Štrlek CO Zagreb
6. Goran Šprem HSG Nordhorn
7. Igor Vori CO Zagreb
8. Dalibor Anušić Goppingem
9. Jakov Gojun Siscia
10. Tonči Valčić CO Zagreb
11. Denis Špoljarić CO Zagreb
12. Domagoj Duvnjak CO Zagreb
13. Denis Buntić CBM Ademar Leon
14. Damir Bičanić CBM Ademar Leon
15. Marko Kopljar Metković
16. Drago Vuković VFL Gummersbarch
17. Petar Metličić HB Ciudad Real

Bad news for THW Kiel - Börge Lund and Anders Palicka injured

Börge Lund (THW Kiel) has been injured at the 31:27-victory in the Champions League game against FC Barcelona. His Achilles tendon is strained and Lund will miss possibly the next six months. He has already undergone surgery and his rehabilitation program will soon begin. But starting with Lund`s injury, the problems in Kiel`s squad worsened some days later. Andreas Palicka has a Meniscus injury and needs also surgery. A four week drop-out is expected for the Swedish keeper.

The Norwegian national player could be available again in spring 2009. The back player who delivered a very strong defensive performance in the Champions League game against Barcelona acted as a playmaker in offense when all of a sudden his foot seemed to be glued on the ground. Without influence from another player Lund plunged to the ground as if being cut by the axe, he was immediately brought into the cabin for medical treatment. "I thought someone had kicked my foot from behind," Lund told the "Kieler Nachrichten": "This is my first major injury. I probably will realize it only when I see my mates play."

Immediately after the game coach Alfred Gislason had asked for a replacement for Lund: "We need a substitute for Börge in order that none of my players has to bear a double burden. Especially in defense. Let`s see what will be possible now," said the Icelander. Since the "Zebras" have a small squad, the club now wants to explore the market for a short-term replacement. But there will be no panic reaction said manager Uwe Schwenker. "A player from the Bundesliga would have to stay in Kiel until the end of the season. A foreigner could also be borrowed only for a few months. But an alien player would only bring us forward in the running season if he has not already played in the Champions League," Schwenker told “Kieler Nachrichten”.

The other hole in the team of Alfred Gislason is left by Andreas Palicka. The 22-year-old keeper already experienced problems with the knee during the game in Mannheim against the Rhein Neckar Lions. How long the team will have to do without him is yet unpredictable. "I prefer to make a prediction after the operation. Then, I will have seen the full extent of the injury with my own eyes," THW doctor Frank Pries said in "Kieler Nachrichten."

During the match against Stralsund in the city of Neubrandenburg, the 26-year-old Florian Hossner (from Kiel Juniors’ Team) will be alongside Thierry Omeyer. As there will be no matches during next week, Kiel sees no acute distress concerning a temporary substitution of Anders Palicka. Otherwise, THW Kiel would have to look for a second substitute.

Perkovac announces squad for matches against Italy and Russia

Already on Monday, October 27th, the team will meet in St. Gallen. Perkovac anounced a squad of seventeen players. With this players the coach of the Suisse national team will have two training-sessions, at Wednesday the team will travel by bus to South Tirol. On Sonday the match against Italy will be played in Brixen, same evening the team travels back to Switzerland. In Aarau the team will prepare for the upcoming task against Russia.

	Bucher, Elio	17.01.1984	Kadetten Schaffh.	33/21	1.88/84	RM
	Engeler, Martin	12.01.1982	St. Otmar St. G.	25/84	1.97/92	RL
	Fellmann, Daniel	27.01.1984	Amicitia Zürich	69/152	1.94/92	RR
	Gautschi, Thomas	28.01.1976	Ciudad Logroño	133/416	2.02/93	RL
	Goepfert, Florian	09.07.1988	RTV 1879 Basel	0/0	1.90/83	LA
	Graubner, David	29.05.1984	Kadetten Schaffh.	34/36	1.94/85	RL
	Hüsser, Markus	22.01.1986	Amicitia Zürich	22/21	1.85/82	RA
	Kurth, Marco	12.03.1983	Pfadi Winterthur	94/243	1.88/84	RA
	Liniger, Manuel	10.09.1981	Kadetten Schaffh.	117/468	1.80/76	LA
	Merz, Andreas	24.11.1985	Suhr Aarau	21/0	1.88/75	TW
	Milosevic, Alen	24.12.1989	BSV Bern Muri	2/2	192/101	KM
	Oltmanns, Mathias	23.09.1981	Kadetten Schaffh.	36/36	1.90/95	KM
	Schmid, Andy	30.08.1983	Amicitia Zürich	75/277	1.89/81	RM
	Stauber, Pascal	12.10.1979	RTV 1879 Basel	72/0	1.91/90	TW
	Steiger, Benjamin	06.03.1984	BSV Bern Muri	19/39	192/97	RM
	Ursic, Iwan	06.12.1976	Kadetten Schaffh.	156/467	1.92/98	KM
	Vukelic, Marko	27.01.1987	Amicitia Zürich	21/24	1.81/85	RR

Wetzlar signs new goalkeeper Vladan Krasavac

German HSG Wetzlar found a substitute to long-time injured goalkeeper Zoran Djordjic. Today Yugoslavian international player Vladan Krasavac signed a contract in Wetzlar. The 37-year-old old goalkeeper comes from Swiss national Champion and Champions League participant ZMC Amicitia Zurich. He got a contract up to the end of the season.

In the last month the Serbian, born in Loznica, was not able to play for Zurich because of an operation at the groin. But during last season he was a important player of the ambitious team from Zurich which could yield national championship and the super-cup. "Vladan has cured his injury meanwhile and eagerly wants to come up to his great achievements of the off-season", betrays Rainer Dotzauer of HSG Wetzlar, who was able to get a quick playing permission for the 1.97-metre-"Goalie". Krasavac whose sporting life motto purely and simply is „win!“ is married and father of two children. The 37-year-old got hold of eight national titles with teams in Serbia, Italy and Switzerland. Besides, he played in EHF Cup and in Champions League.

"He is quite an experienced goalkeeper with outstanding reflexes. We are sure that he will form a successful goalkeeper team together with Nikolai Weber and later also Zoran Djordjic", Dotzauer said. "Beside his sporting class it was also decisive that Krasavac could change free of money. The obligation of the second goalkeepers candidate Dragan Jerkovic has failed because of that fact in the end. Zagreb wanted to have a too high transfer fee for him which we did not want to - and were not able to - afford. Therefore, we have neglected the negotiations with the player and have decided on Vladan. For us, he is an ideal supplement to our current number one Weber."

Robert Hedin new Coach for Norway

It is the ultimate a coach can achieve," says Robert Hedin, coach of Melsungen MT about his new and additional task. The 42-year-old Swede is now coach of German first division team MT Melsungen as well as the new men`s national team coach of Norway. This confirms the release by handball-world.com from September 12, which had already reported that the Norwegian association would decide between Hedin and former THW Kiel coach Serdarusic.

Hedin will succeed Norway`s national coach Gunnar Pettersen who had declared his resignation in this summer after he had not succeeded to qualify Norway for the Olympics. Norwegian officials took their time to find a new coach. As Norwegian media sources as well as handball-world.com reported one month ago, the search became a duel between Hedin and Serdarusic, but it was left open if Serdarusic was interested in the job at all. Hedin has signed a two year contract with the Norwegian Handball Association.

Both Robert Hedin and the management of MT Melsungen, a first league club located in Hessen in the center of Germany, announced that the existing contract with Melsungen will be still in existence until 06/30/2010. In doing so both sides agreed to analyze the development up to the end of the running season in order to decide whether Hedin can shoulder the twho jobs.

"To Rastislav Trtik (Robert Hedin’s predecessor at Melsungen), we had recommended to quit the coach office at the Czech Republic and to concentrate on Melsungen. But this is something you can not over-simplify but must decide in respect to the acting persons and the identified constellations. We believe that Robert Hedin can fulfil both offices," says MT Board Chairman Barbara Braun Lüdicke. With Ola Lindgren, who also runs a double office as Swedish national team coach together with his task at HSG Nordhorn, there is also an example showing that a double caoching task can work out.

Robert Hedin himself assess the situation as non-problematic: "There are only a few periods throughout the year when I will be with the Norwegian national team. These are fixed times in the international calendar and are declared as a course or tournament dates. Then half of my players in Melsungen are together with their national teams, too."

While Hedin is collecting points with MT in order to climb the first division’s table, he has now the additional task to get Norway ready for the Euro 2010 qualification. First test will be the game against Estonia on 29 October. Norway has already qualified for the World Championships 2009 under Hedin`s predecessor Gunnar Pettersen.

One of the most frequently mentioned candidates for the office as Norwegian national coach was the former coach of THW Kiel, Zvonimir "Noka" Serdarusic. But according to Norwegian media, Serdarusic never said "Yes", possibly also because of offers from the Bundesliga. Norway`s Association did not want to wait any longer and took its decision in favor of Hedin.

GF World Cup opening day: Russia defeated by Denmark

Every year in October, the female Handball elite meets at the GF World Cup in Arhus, Denmark. From October 14 to 19, Russia, Romania, France and Norway as well as Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Germany are playing each other in order to prepare for the European Championships in Macedonia in December. Norway, France and Germany won their matches. But the World Cup already had its first surprise: World Champion Russia stumbled against host Denmark.

The opening game between France and Hungary was a bad match from both sides. Both France and Hungary are in the process of rebuilding their teams. Both have to integrate a lot of new players. Many famous names, like the goal-keepers Valérie Nicolas and Katalin Palinger, left. Amandine Leynaud and Orsolya Herr are their successors and they did a decent job. Moreover, Hungary`s Anita Görbicz had to cancel her participation at the GF World Cup because of a shoulder injury. Without its “heart” and “brain”, Hungary experienced a tough start in the match agaisnt France and it took quite a while for the Hungarians to become an equal adversary to France.

When Szabina Mayer scored 10-9 (23), Hungary was in the lead for the first time but right after the start of the second half, technical mistakes by Hungary enabled France a “run and gun” series, ending with the 12-16. Hungary fought back with a stronger defence and equalized at 17-17 by Valeria Szabo. But the team of Olivier Krumbholz kept its pace and with Hungary losing its energy, Raphaelle Tervel scored 24-20. Paule Baudouin added the final gaol, making it 29-23.