WITH little more than a week until their first international matches on home soil, the Great Britain men’s handball team have been finalising their preparations for the 2012 European Championships.
The squad arrived in Britain on Sunday following their morale-boosting 26-24 victory over hosts Belgium in a friendly match last week, and travelled to Loughborough University to use their top-class training facilities.
The win over Belgium was GB’s first over European opposition for around four years, and although they lost out in the second fixture the following day it still provided a real benchmark of the progress being made by the squad.
Trailing 14-10 at half time, GB hit back hard after the break and were rarely behind. They levelled at 14-14 within three minutes of the second half, and continued to control the match right up to the whistle.
With the regime put in place by Head Coach Dragan Djukic now taking shape, GB men battled for the full 60 minutes and fully deserved their victory.
Afterwards, captain Ciaran Williams said: “I can’t tell you how amazing it feels, there were a few wet eyes after the game and rightly so. Our time is coming, and soon everyone will see it!”
“This 2012 European Championship Qualification tournament is without doubt the most important tournament me and the current GB Men's squad have participated in.
“I personally think that this is the best GB team we have ever had, and we have a superb chance of qualifying and sending a message out to the handball world that we are on track with our ultimate goal of being competitive come the London Olympics in 2012.”
Day tickets include two matches, with the winner of the group at the end of the tournament going forward to the next stage of the competition against Hungary, Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina.
The squad arrived in Britain on Sunday following their morale-boosting 26-24 victory over hosts Belgium in a friendly match last week, and travelled to Loughborough University to use their top-class training facilities.
The win over Belgium was GB’s first over European opposition for around four years, and although they lost out in the second fixture the following day it still provided a real benchmark of the progress being made by the squad.
Trailing 14-10 at half time, GB hit back hard after the break and were rarely behind. They levelled at 14-14 within three minutes of the second half, and continued to control the match right up to the whistle.
With the regime put in place by Head Coach Dragan Djukic now taking shape, GB men battled for the full 60 minutes and fully deserved their victory.
Afterwards, captain Ciaran Williams said: “I can’t tell you how amazing it feels, there were a few wet eyes after the game and rightly so. Our time is coming, and soon everyone will see it!”
“This 2012 European Championship Qualification tournament is without doubt the most important tournament me and the current GB Men's squad have participated in.
“I personally think that this is the best GB team we have ever had, and we have a superb chance of qualifying and sending a message out to the handball world that we are on track with our ultimate goal of being competitive come the London Olympics in 2012.”
Day tickets include two matches, with the winner of the group at the end of the tournament going forward to the next stage of the competition against Hungary, Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina.
For more information go to www.BritishHandball.com or for tickets go to www.amiando.com/britishhandball
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