The Women’s EHF EURO 2020 begins on Thursday, 3 December in Denmark, with 16 of Europe’s best.

Originally, the 47-match tournament was set to be co-hosted by Denmark and Norway, with the latter forfeiting the right, due to the ongoing health situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, all games will be played in Denmark in Herning and Kolding.

The 16 teams have been drawn into four groups of four, with the top three teams in each group progressing to the main round stage, featuring two groups of six teams. The top two sides in each group will then progress to the semi-finals, whose winners will have a chance to battle for the top podium spot on 20 December in Herning.

The draw held in Vienna on 18 June, resulted in the following groups:

Group A: France (FRA), Denmark (DEN), Montenegro (MNE), Slovenia (SLO)
Group B: Russia (RUS), Sweden (SWE), Spain (ESP), Czech Republic (CZE)
Group C: Netherlands (NED), Hungary (HUN), Serbia (SRB), Croatia (CRO)
Group D: Romania (ROU), Norway (NOR), Germany (GER), Poland (POL)

Defending champions France are looking to repeat their 2018 feat, as they won their maiden Women’s EHF EURO trophy. However, several teams are looking to challenge the French side, whose preparations have been derailed by injuries of key players.

World champions Netherlands are amongst those teams, eyeing their first Women’s EHF EURO title – even though Emmanuel Mayonnade’s side will be without the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship Most Valuable Player, centre back Estavana Polman, who suffered a season-ending injury in September.

After finishing fifth two years ago, their worst result in 20 years in the Women’s EHF EURO, Norway are going for gold again. Led by captain and reigning IHF Female World Player of the Year Stine Bredal Oftedal, and welcoming back right back Nora Mørk into the squad after several injuries, the Norwegian side look to add a record eighth gold medal to their tally.

Hosts Denmark also aim to end their drought, winning their last EHF EURO medal in 2004, when they came in second, losing the final against Norway.

The latest news and results will be available on the EHF EURO 2020 website. All matches will be streamed live and free of charge on EHFTV.com, with geoblocking restrictions in place.