Men’s Group Play (Round 2) (Tue, 12 August) (Mon Night/Tue Morning in USA)

[b]Scheduled Matches (Beijing Local Time)[/b]
0900-1030 Match 1: Brazil vs. Croatia
1045-1215 Match 2: Egypt vs. Russia
1400-1530 Match 3: China vs. France
1545-1715 Match 4: Spain vs. Poland **MSNBC, Tuesday 1430-1530 [East Coast, USA Time]
1900-2030 Match 5: South Korea vs. Denmark
2045-2215 Match 6: Iceland vs. Germany

[b]Time zone addition/subtraction from Beijing[/b]
Sydney (Add 2 hours)
Berlin (Subtract 6 hours)
New York (Subtract 12 Hours) (First match starts at 2100 hrs, the day prior)
Los Angeles (Subtract 15 Hours) (First match starts at 1800 hrs, the day prior)

[b]Video Links[/b]: http://www.nbcolympics.com/handball/video/index.html
Suggested match(es) to watch: Egypt vs. Russia, South Korea vs. Denmark and Spain vs. Poland are all worth checking out

[b]Notes: [/b]
– Injuries. Ivano Balic’s right calf injury could put him out of commission for the next 3 matches. Danish Circle Runner Michael Knudsen is out for the Olympics due to appendicitis. His appendix is scheduled to be removed today. As he is one of the world’s top circle runner’s this is a major blow to the Danish team.
– The Kometal Handball Forum had a very spirited discussion concerning the Egypt – Denmark draw. Egypt was given a two minute penalty in the closing minutes of the match for purposely delaying the game with a shot on goal after the whistle. The debate centers on whether the player could have stopped the shot in time. I lean toward the penalty being excessive, but everyone’s entitled to their opinion.
– IHF: Celebrities visit Olympic Handball: http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=269&idart=1490 Former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger and IOC President Jacques Rogge visited the Handball Venue.

[b]- Betting lines:[/b] According to betting comparison site, bestbetting.com, these are the point spreads for Sunday’s matches: Croatia (-8), Russia (-1.5), France (-14.5), Spain (-1.5), Denmark (-4.5), Russia (-6.5) and Germany(-3)

Click on “Read the rest” for match results, current standings and news concerning the matches for this day.

[b]RESULTS[/b]

[b]Group A[/b]
Croatia 33 – Brazil 14 (18:9)
France 33 – China 19 (19-7)
Spain 30 – Poland 29 (16:17)

[b]Group B[/b]
Russia 28 – Egypt 27 (14:14)
South Korea 31 – Denmark 30 (13-14)
Iceland 33 – Germany 29 (17-14)

[b]Detailed Results: [/b]http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idart=1453
[b]Standings:[/b] http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/HB/C76/HBM400000.shtml#HBM400A01

[b]Group A[/b]
Rank Team Pts MP W T L GF GA Diff
1 France 4 2 2 0 0 67 45 22
2 Croatia 4 2 2 0 0 64 43 21
3 Poland 2 2 1 0 1 62 49 13
4 Spain 2 2 1 0 1 59 60 -1
5 Brazil 0 2 0 0 2 40 67 -27
6 China 0 2 0 0 2 38 66 -28

[b]Group B[/b]
Rank Team Pts MP W T L GF GA Diff
1 Iceland 4 2 2 0 0 66 60 6
2 Germany 2 2 1 0 1 56 56 0
3 Russian Fed. 2 2 1 0 1 59 60 -1
4 Korea 2 2 1 0 1 54 57 -3
5 Denmark 1 2 0 1 1 53 54 -1
6 Egypt 1 2 0 1 1 50 51 -1

[b]Quarterfinal Matches (based on current standings):[/b]
France vs. South Korea
Germany vs. Poland
Iceland vs. Spain
Croatia vs. Russia