Iceland heads into today's Euro2008 competition as a rank outsider but still hopes to qualify for the Beijing Games despite delays to the Olympic handball qualifying format that have ruffled feathers among local Olympic officials.
"Due to the small delegation and how late we knew about our handball team, I would say our athletes have even chances of success in Beijing," Head of Elite Sports Andri Stefansson told China Daily.
"We will be happily surprised if we get another medal there."
Handball is Iceland's de facto national sport and its best chance of capturing its fourth Olympic medal to date. Although the men's team has never bettered its fourth-place finish at Barcelona 1992, the current squad is packed with veterans and has experience on its side.
The country has never won a major international handball competition but it came fifth at the 1997 worlds and punched above its weight for much of the 1990s.
Only the top-ranked team at Euro2008 earns a spot at the Olympics. If reigning world champ Germany wins, this berth will automatically devolve to the runner-up. Of the remaining 10 places, one goes to host China.
"From an organizational point of view, this is a huge headache for small countries like us as we won't know until June whether we are taking 10 or 25 athletes to the Games," said Stefansson.
Led by Alfred Gislason, European coach of the year in 2001, Iceland pulled off a shocker by beating powerhouse Serbia in the playoffs to secure a place in Group D of the Euros this month against France, Slovakia and Sweden.
If Gislason hopes to build on the team's fourth place at Euro2002, it will need to win a David versus Goliath battle in Norway between now and January 27 against continental teams like France, and possibly Germany and Denmark, that have traditionally dominated the sport.
With defending Olympic gold medalist Croatia posting an injury-hit squad that leaves it exposed on the right wing, but still looking fearsome thanks to the inclusion of world No 1 Ivano Balic, Iceland's saving grace may be that most of its squad are at least fighting fit.
"The bottom line is: There are no favorites," said Tom Lukic, spokesman for the Croatian Handball Federation. "The winner (at both the Euros and the Olympics) will be the team whose players are still able to walk after playing so many games throughout the season."
With the Spanish, German and French leagues serving as the handball equivalent of the NBA, sides with players in these leagues benefit from top-level competition -- but suffer when their squad is on medical leave with twisted ankles, groin sprains and fractured fingers.
Croatia has already lost Mirza Dzomba and Vedran Zmic to carve a hole in its right flank for Euro2008. Reigning world champ Germany is also suffering, and looks shaky in defense. Iceland, in contrast, is raring to go.
With line player Robert Gunnarsson, left winger Snorri Steinn Gudjonsson and left back Gudjon Sigurdsson in the mix, the team might count its blessings. Star player Olafur Stefansson, who plays in Spain, will shore up a watertight defense.
A string of poor performances in recent months could also work in the team's favor by disarming opponents. Iceland finished 9th in Athens and 8th at the latest worlds. Euro2008 will be a perfect litmus test for how it should fare this summer.
matthew@chinadaily.com.cn
