The 14th edition of the M20 EHF EURO 2024, the Under-20 continental championship in Europe, is due to take place between 10 and 21 July 2024, in Slovenia, with 24 teams at the start, the maiden edition of the competition with such a large number of teams in the line-up.

The 96 matches scheduled in Slovenia will take place in Celje and Laško in three venues, with the 24 teams being divided into six groups of four teams each, with the preliminary group winners, plus the best two second-placed sides progressing to the main round.

Several powerhouses are at the start of the competition, with reigning champions Spain having another excellent generation, which has already proven its credentials, by winning the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship (Under-19) last year.

Spain are bringing an experienced side to the M20 EHF EURO 2024, with players like Petar Cikusa and Djordje Cikusa, as well as left wing Ian Barrufet, with Petar Cikusa having trained with the senior national team prior to the start of the Olympic Games, as he also won the EHF Champions League Men with Barcelona.

Spain will be headed to Group C in the preliminary round, which looks pretty well-balanced, with the Faroe Islands, France and Switzerland.

The runners-up at the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, Denmark, also bring a star-studded side at the M20 EHF EURO 2024, with backs Frederik Vilhelmsen, the All-Star right back at Croatia 2023, and centre back Frederik Pedersen, the MVP of the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship and the second best scorer of the competition.

They will face hosts Slovenia, Italy and Israel in Group E, another well-balanced group, where every mistake may prove costly.

Croatia, the bronze medallist at the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, are also stacked up, with the All-Star centre back at Croatia 2023, Aleksandar Capric, and another fantastic centre back, Vito Glivetic, making the roster for the team which will face Montenegro, Austria and North Macedonia in the preliminary round.

M20 EHF EURO 2024 – preliminary round

Group A: Croatia, Montenegro, Austria, North Macedonia
Group B: Germany, Portugal, Serbia, Greece
Group C: Spain, Faroe Islands, France, Switzerland
Group D: Hungary, Norway, Czechia, Romania
Group E: Denmark, Slovenia, Italy, Israel
Group F: Sweden, Iceland, Poland, Ukraine