First key games show flawed system

The first two key games for the top four places in the 2012 Europa Cup korfball show the flaw of the new system: the champions of Catalunya and Russia have to face those of The Netherlands and Belgium and, as expected, don't stand a chance, condemning them to a maximum of fifth place in the final ranking.

Now any sane follower of the international korfball arena can predict the victories of the Dutch and Belgian champion, but The Netherlands' TOP really takes CK Vallparadis to the cleaners. After a blast 6-1 lead in ten minutes, Vallparadis seems to recover a bit, coming to 9-5, but the half time score is already a clear 17-8. The second half must feel even more painful for the Catalans, as TOP goes on to 27-10 in fifteen minutes in that second half. Now this is a Dutch squad that has been rather weakened compared to last season! A last boost in the final minutes brings no less than 40-14 on the scoreboard.

Russia is off to a better start against Belgium's Boeckenberg. With ill stricken female star Davydova starting again on the bench, it's the hirelings Petrukhin and Spiridonova that keep HSS State University in the running in the beginning of the game. Solid man Usachev joins in and the Russians come to a 7-6 one goal margin. Then Boeckenberg main shooter Nick Janssens starts the Belgian whirlwind and at half time the score is already 19-10. This is enough for the Boeckenberg coach to make three substitutions during the break. HSS State University uses up all its four subs, emptying their entire bench (they brought only four substitutions, of which one woman and three men). They end with a better result than Vallparadis against TOP, but nevertheless a very clear loss and a shot at fifth place at best.

With these ruthless results, it will be interesting to see if IKF is to maintain this injust match schedule for the 2013 Cup and if yes, if countries and teams are willing to accept it, knowing that two of them will have no serious chance to get third or fourth place, after already knowing first or second is a Utopia.