[html] The Men’s World Championships took place in January 2007 and European teams took all the places and the resulting spots in Olympic Qualification tournaments. The nation which wins the European Championships, however, will receive an automatic bid to the Olympics and won’t have to play in an Olympic Qualification Tournament. As a result the exact composition of the Olympic Qualification tournaments will hinge on who wins the European Championships.
Here’s a summary of what’s at stake for each nation:
Germany: As the World Champion, they have already qualified. Where they place in the tournament has no bearing on Olympic qualification and wherever they place the teams behind them will all move up 1 spot.
Poland, Denmark, France, Croatia, Russia and Spain: These teams have already earned an Olympic Qualification Tournament bid by placing 2nd to 7th at the World Championships. Who they play and whether they will host a tournament, however, is very dependent on who wins the European Championship. The different scenarios are listed in detail at the bottom
Iceland: If Poland, Denmark, France, Croatia, Russia or Spain win the European Championship then Iceland will take the 7th place world’s position in Tourney 1. Otherwise, they are fighting for a 2nd or 3rd place finish with the teams in the next group below.
Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Norway, Montenegro, Hungary, Belarus, Slovakia or Sweden: These teams can only qualify for an Olympic Qualification Tournament by taking the 2nd or 3rd place spots in the European Championships. The good news for these teams is that all the teams that placed 2nd to 7th at the World Championships (Poland, Denmark, France, Croatia, Russia and Spain) won’t count in the standings. Additionally, should one of those teams win the European Championship, Iceland would also not be counted in the standings. This means that 9th and 10th place could actually earn the 2nd or 3rd place Europe spot. This means that teams that advance to the Main Round will likely have some meaningful games even if they don’t have a good chance at reaching the semifinals. A third place finish in one of the main round groups should earn a spot, and even a 4th or 5th place finish may be sufficient.
Detailed scenarios:
If Poland wins the European Championships
Tourney 1: Denmark, Iceland, Europe 2nd, Argentina
Tourney 2: France, Spain, Africa 2nd, Europe 3rd
Tourney 3: Croatia, Russia, Asia 2nd, Africa 3rd
If Denmark wins the European Championships
Tourney 1: Poland, Iceland, Europe 2nd, Argentina
Tourney 2: France, Spain, Africa 2nd, Europe 3rd
Tourney 3: Croatia, Russia, Asia 2nd, Africa 3rd
If France wins the European Championships
Tourney 1: Poland, Iceland, Europe 2nd, Argentina
Tourney 2: Denmark, Spain, Africa 2nd, Europe 3rd
Tourney 3: Croatia, Russia, Asia 2nd, Africa 3rd
If Croatia wins the European Championships
Tourney 1: Poland, Iceland, Europe 2nd, Argentina
Tourney 2: Denmark, Spain, Africa 2nd, Europe 3rd
Tourney 3: France, Russia, Asia 2nd, Africa 3rd
If Russia wins the European Championships
Tourney 1: Poland, Iceland, Europe 2nd, Argentina
Tourney 2: Denmark, Spain, Africa 2nd, Europe 3rd
Tourney 3: France, Croatia, Asia 2nd, Africa 3rd
If Spain wins the European Championships
Tourney 1: Poland, Iceland, Europe 2nd, Argentina
Tourney 2: Denmark, Russia, Africa 2nd, Europe 3rd
Tourney 3: France, Croatia, Asia 2nd, Africa 3rd
If Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Norway, Montenegro, Hungary, Belarus, Iceland, Slovakia or Sweden win the European Championship
Tourney 1: Poland, Spain, Europe 2nd, Argentina
Tourney 2: Denmark, Russia, Africa 2nd, Europe 3rd
Tourney 3: France, Croatia, Asia 2nd, Africa 3rd [/html]