The qualification for 2014’s men’s championship in Denmark is still ongoing but for some countries the journey to 2016 in Poland is already at an end.  Two of those countries are Great Britain and Ireland who both played their final matches in the process yesterday.

Ireland lost 36:12 in Belgium to finish bottom of the group that also features Estonia.  Belgium must win by eight or more goals away in Estonia on Sunday to take the only qualifying spot in the group – any other result sees Estonia qualify for Stage 2.  Like Ireland, Great Britain end with four losses but they can take some heart from turning around some very heavy defeats.  Their first game (against Greece) saw them go down by 29 goals – this time out in Italy it was an 11 goal margin but was closer than that until very near the end.  Steven Larsson top-scored in the match with 8 goals.  Like Belgium, Italy now need to win away, this time by seven goals over Greece if they and not the Greeks are to progress.

Already through to the next stage are Finland who can use their last game, at home to Cyprus, to chillax and ponder the big guns waiting for them in stage 2.