By Sports Reporter/Doha


While the handball world enjoys their well-earned summer break, the preparations for the 24th Men’s Handball World Championships are in full swing. Although there is still about one and a half year to go, the world’s best handball nations are already planning for their quest to qualify for Qatar 2015.
At the EHF Executive Meeting in Denmark on June 21, the modus for qualification for the 37 registered teams of the Continental Federation of Europe was decided.
Spain, after their stunning 35-19 final victory over Denmark at the 2013 World Championship last January in Spain, have already secured their place in Qatar as defending champions. Besides the title holders, twelve teams are still in the race for a spot at the premium event.
With the three teams finishing on the podium of EHF EURO 2014, the European Championships in Denmark, receiving a direct spot for Qatar as a reward, nine more places are to qualify for.
In the first Europe qualification phase, 20 teams will play in five groups of four teams each. The draw for these groups was carried out in Vienna on June 27.
Lithuania, Turkey, Georgia and Finalnd are in Group 1, while Slovakia, Romania, Cyprus and Italy are in Group 2. Slovania, Ukraine, Switzerland and Luxembourg are paired in Group 3.
Netherlands, Israel, Greece, Belgium have been placed in Group 4 and Portugal, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Latvia and Estonia are in Group 5.
The five group winners join 13 teams that are already lined up for the second qualification phase, the play-offs. These teams are the 12 remaining EHF EURO 2014 participants which come out of the pool of Austria, Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Iceland, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Sweden.
The last team with a secured spot in the play-offs is Germany, by EHF Executive Committee decision as second best third ranked team from EHF EURO 2014 qualification phase 2. The draw for the play-off pairings is likely to take place in Herning on the final day of EHF EURO 2014. The decisive duels for Qatar will then be played in June 2014.