The first expanded 24-team edition of the M20 EHF EURO, the European premium competition for junior teams, provided some hugely entertaining drama in Slovenia between 10 and 21 July 2024, as Spain, the reigning IHF Men’s Youth World Championship winners, added another trophy to their cabinet, with a superb 35:31 win in the final against Portugal.

Spain, who were the reigning champions in the competition, also after a final against Portugal, two years ago, delivered some fantastic performances at the M20 EHF EURO 2024, with three clear wins against France (37:31), Switzerland (40:20) and the Faroe Islands (36:30).

However, in the main round, Spain, who had some serious firepower in their ranks, including brothers Petar Cikuša and Djordje Cikuša, won two matches, 37:26 against Austria, and 37:30 against Iceland, only to drop their level and concede a 37:38 loss against Portugal, who eventually won the group, despite a 33:33 draw against Iceland.

Denmark, who were the runners-up at the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, won the other main round group, despite their 29:30 loss against Sweden, with wins over Germany (33:28) and Norway (33:29), while Germany also made it to the semi-finals, thanks to a win against Norway, 25:21, and a draw against Sweden, 27:27.

There, Spain faced Denmark in a rematch of the final of the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, and won again, 36:34, with 11 goals from Ferran Castillo Oliveras, who has been one of the most consistent scorers for Spain. In the other semi-final, Portugal secured back-to-back appearances in the final of the continental competition, thanks to a 29:24 win over Germany.

The final, played in the Zlatorog Arena in Celje, saw Spain deliver another exquisite attacking performance, backed by Castillo scoring 11 goals, added by another six goals from Petar Cikuša. There was no question about the winner from the start of the match, which saw Spain take a commanding 20:13 lead at the break.

Portugal did try their best, but eventually failed to mount a comeback, conceding a 31:35 loss, as they conceded their second final in a row, while this Spain generation confirmed their credentials, with a superb overall performance in the competition.

In the bronze medal match, Denmark secured a 26:23 win over Germany and clinched the last place on the podium, while the MVP of the 2023 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, Frederik Emil Pedersen, also made the All-Star team at the M20 EHF EURO 2024, as the All-Star left back.

Faroe Islands’ Oli Mittun was again the top scorer of the competition, with 76 goals, six more than Norway’s Patrick Helland Anderson, and 20 more than Slovenia’s Nace Zajc.

16 teams made the cut for the 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, with 15 spots available in this competition, plus the hosts Poland, who finished 14th. Therefore, Romania, who finished on the 16th place, will also return to the world handball flagship competition.

The other qualified teams are Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Iceland, Norway, North Macedonia, France, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia. 

M20 EHF EURO 2024 All-Star team
Goalkeeper: Leon Bergmann, Austria
Right wing: Xavier Gonzalez Unciti, Spain
Right back: Patrick Helland Anderson, Norway
Centre back: Hjalte Lykke, Denmark
Left back: Frederik Emil Pedersen, Denmark
Left wing: Dávid Móré, Germany
Line player: Ricardo Brandão, Portugal
Best defender: Theodor Uliana Starck, Sweden

Credit photo: Slavko Kolar / Rokometna Zveza Slovenije / EHF