Türkiye’s first-ever participation in an EHF European championship is something thrilling and a good chance to see what the team's real calibre is.
Türkiye's debut in a European Championship has been embraced with joy and excitement throughout the nation's sports community. The Turkish Handball Federation traveled to Hungary accompanied by a legion of journalists eager to document the national team's journey.
The question is, will they be able to convey the message, "We are young, we are passionate, and our journey is just beginning," in their first ever European Championship participation?
With the expansion of the tournament from 16 to 24 teams, Türkiye secured its place in the Women’s EHF Euro 2024 as the best third-placed team. After years of striving for qualification, Türkiye has finally achieved this milestone. However, let’s be honest—the change in tournament format played a significant role. Had the competition remained at 16 teams, Türkiye would not have qualified. On the other hand, if the tournament had always featured 24 teams, this edition would have marked Türkiye’s ninth appearance at the EHF Euros!
STRUCTURE
What’s striking is that despite undergoing six or seven coaching changes over the years, the player roster has remained relatively consistent. Türkiye has relied on a core group of players for years, seeking to achieve different results. This strategy has yet to yield success, and the challenges will only intensify in this tournament.
While the Turkish National Team boasts players competing abroad, they are not in top-tier leagues. Key players, such as playmaker Döne Gül Bozdoğan and goalkeeper Merve Erbektaş, are currently playing in Romania. Additionally, standout names like Beyza İrem Türkoğlu and Aslı İskit also compete in the Romanian league, while other notable players, Diğdem Hoşgör and Elif Sıla Aydın, are in Poland.
Another challenge facing Turkish handball is that many national players also work as teachers. Although they are dedicated to the sport, handball is not their full-time focus, placing Türkiye at a disadvantage compared to fully professional teams.
To illustrate this point, consider Sevilay İmamoğlu, (one of the most decarated players of Turkish handball history), who recently retired from the national team but continues to play for Bursa BSK at a high level. Her commitment is evident—she teaches in Antalya four days a week, then travels to Bursa for training and matches on the remaining days.
Coach Costica Buceschi also acknowledged these challenges in an interview with Eurohandball, stating, “The biggest challenge for me and this team was to change the mentality of the players. Many of the players who remain in Türkiye are not full-time professionals; many are physical education teachers. We had to transform their mindset and help them improve continuously.”
OPPONENTS
This will be Türkiye's first experience competing at such a prestigious level, and while inexperience may pose challenges, it could also serve as a motivation source for the players to excel.
Türkiye will kick off the tournament against Hungary. Although Hungary is not as strong as in previous years, as the host nation they will have the advantage of playing at home. The team is undergoing a generational shift, making this a transitional phase for them. Nevertheless, Hungary remains a formidable name in handball.
If Turkish players can withstand the intense atmosphere of the arena, there is potential for a strong performance against Hungary. While it won't be easy, it is certainly achievable.
When it comes to North Macedonia, despite their lack of wins in the last European Championship, Türkiye's chances against them remain slim. North Macedonia is bringing a strong group of young players, making them a challenging opponent.
The final group match will be against Sweden, the clear favorite in Group A. Sweden is a well-established and formidable team with a successful track record.
Realistically, I don’t foresee Türkiye taking points against Hungary or Sweden. While Hungary might aim for a surprise against Sweden, whether they can accomplish it or not, that remains to be seen.
In Group A, Türkiye will be vying with North Macedonia for third place. Currently, Türkiye appears to be the weakest link in the group—a harsh reality. However, achieving one or two points in this tournament would be a significant success in Türkiye’s maiden year at the EHF Euros.
FUNDAMENTALS
To be honest, women’s handball in Türkiye isn’t in a better state than in past years and has not improved significantly in recent years. But the recently elected president of the Turkish Handball Federation, Mesut Çebi, determined to change that. He underlines continually, that his legacy will be corporateness and sustainability. If his administration could achieve that, he would solve the main problem of Turkish handball.
TÜRKİYE WOMEN’S NATIONAL HANDBALL TEAM
GOALKEEPER - Merve Erbektaş, Yağmur Bembeyaz
LEFT WING - Sıla Aydın, Beyza İrem Türkoğlu
RIGHT WING - Emine Gökdemir, Bilgenur Öztürk
LEFT BACK - Aslı İskit, Betül Yılmaz, Diğdem Hoşgör, Buğu Sönmez
RIGHT BACK - Beyza Gedik, Eda Nur Çetin
CENTER BACK - Döne Gül Bozdoğan, Gülcan Tügel, Yasemin Şahin
LINE PLAYER - Nurceren Akgün, Büşra Işıkhan, Ceren Demirçelen
