Slovakia made history at the W17 EHF EURO 2025, securing their first medal in the competition, after a pitch-perfect performance throughout the maiden edition of the continental competition with 24 teams at the start.

24 teams lined up at the start of the W17 EHF EURO 2025, which took place in Podgorica, Montenegro, between 30 July and 10 August, with the sides being divided into six groups of four teams each in the preliminary round, with the top two sides in each group progressing to the next phase.

One of the favourites to win the title, champions at the European Youth Olympic Festival just one week prior to the start of the W17 EHF EURO 2025, Germany, were drawn in Group B, where they finished second, tied on points with Slovakia, but with a weaker goal difference, +17, as opposed to Slovakia’s +18, after the two sides finished in a 21:21 draw.

The usual suspects – Spain and Denmark in Group A and France in Montenegro in Group F – also went through, as well as Hungary in Group D, joined by Slovenia. Switzerland and the Netherlands in Group C also made the cut, making an appealing main round, where the top two teams in each group, plus the top two third-placed sides made it to the quarter-finals.

Once again, Slovakia were close to produce a shock, after their 25:22 win against Spain, but their 13:8 advantage at the break evaporated, when they conceded a last-gasp 21:22 loss against Denmark.

However, all three teams made it to the quarter-finals, with Montenegro, Croatia and France joining from another group, while Switzerland was the only team to make it to the next phase with maximum points, joined by Hungary, whom they won clearly against, 39:30.

In the quarter-finals, Switzerland lost against Spain, 27:29, while Croatia beat Hungary, 32:26, in dominating fashion. Slovakia took their revenge against Denmark, 30:29, with hosts Montenegro also securing a 31:29 win against France to book their place in the semi-finals.

There, Montenegro conceded a 27:29 loss against Slovakia, while Croatia also secured a hard-fought win, 31:28, against Spain, setting up a clash between two sides which have never been in an European final at any level.

Croatia took an early lead in the final, 8:6, but at half-time, Slovakia were up by a single goal, 18:17. In the second half, Slovakia rode a fantastic match from left back Mária Bartková, who finished the final with 14 goals, to secure a 34:30 win and their maiden title in history.

The bronze medal was won by Montenegro, 22:20, against Spain.

The top 14 teams in the final standings of the W17 EHF EURO 2025 – Slovakia, Croatia, Montenegro, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Hungary, France, Czechia, Serbia, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands and Slovenia – have secured their tickets for the 2026 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship.

Women's 17 EHF EURO All-star Team

MVP - Martina Knezevic (MNE) 
Goalkeeper - Maša Dubljević (MNE)
Right wing - Nayenka Noslen (FRA)
Right back - Edurne Donderis Sánchez (ESP)
Centre back - Antea Jerković (CRO) 
Left back - Mária Bartková (SVK) 
Left wing - Lauryn Mierzwa (SUI) 
Line player - Sofie-Matilde Taylor (DEN) 
Defender - Liliana Gogová (SVK) 
Top scorer - Gazel Dikme (TUR) - 66 goals

Photo credit: Matchlens