Triple delight as Denmark seal majestic treble at the Men's EHF EURO 2026

Reigning world champions and Olympic champions Denmark completed the treble, after securing eight wins in nine matches at the Men’s EHF EURO 2026, with a stellar display in the final against Germany, 34:27, to clinch their third continental title in history.

In the bronze medal match, Croatia delivered a 34:33 win against Iceland, in a dramatic match, to secure the third place on the podium and clinch their second medal in a row, after the silver at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship.

Prior to Denmark’s historic treble, only one team in history managed to hold all the major international titles – the World Championship, the Olympic title and the continental one – France – when they won gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the world title in 2009 and the European title in 2010.

While winning the prior two competitions - the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship – without dropping a single match, Denmark had their share of trouble at the EHF EURO 2026, especially after conceding a 29:31 loss against Portugal in the last match of the preliminary round.

 

Denmark’s fabulous crew bounced back after that loss and won six matches on the trot to get into the final and secure their third continental title, after the ones in 2008 and 2012 – marking their best-ever performance at the EHF EURO – with the largest number of wins and the largest number of goals scored per match.

Powered by a stellar Mathias Gidsel, the 2025 IHF Male World Player of the Year, and another excellent left back in Simon Pytlick, Denmark went into the semi-finals against Iceland as favourites, but had a tough job, needing a great second half to progress to the final. 

After a 14:13 scoreline at the break, Gidsel took over and ensured that Denmark won the match, 31:28, scoring seven goals, while right wing Johan Plogv a Hansen added six and Pytlick five goals.

In the other semi-final, Germany relied on their depth and dominated Croatia, 31:28, to make way to their maiden final since winning the continental title in 2016, setting up a rematch of the Olympic final, where they were totally outplayed by Denmark, 39:26.

Denmark had the upper hand – playing at home, in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, having a superior depth, a better attack and also the advantage of winning the last eight matches against Germany in a row. On the other hand, they only had one line player available, after Simon Hald, Emil Bergholt and Lukas Jorgensen all got injured throughout the competition.

It was far from the thumping received by Germany in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games final, yet Denmark were still in control, with Pytlick and Gidsel running riot. Eventually, the left back was the top scorer of the match, with eight goals, followed by Gidsel, with seven, and Johan Plogv a Hansen with seven goals.

 

But while Emil Nielsen had seven saves, his counterpart, Kevin Møller had eight, six of which in the second half, cancelling Andreas Wolff’s monster match with 14 saves. And Denmark pulled ahead late in the second half, after a 18:16 lead at the break, securing a 34:27 win and the title in front of 15.000 fans.

Denmark moved third in the all-time standings of the competition, with nine medals – three gold, two silver and four bronze – while Germany earned their fifth medal and the second silver, also their maiden since 2016. For Croatia, it was their fourth bronze medal and seven in total, the first since losing the final in 2020.

Players from six teams, were represented on the All-Star team of the EHF EURO 2026. For the third consecutive major international competition, Mathias Gidsel was named the MVP and earned the top scorer award, with 68 goals. He was followed in the top scorer standings by Pytlickj, with 64 goals, and Costa, with 61 goals.

Gidsel also broke the record for the largest number of goals scored in a single edition of the Men’s EHF EURO, 68, previously held by Norway’s back Sander Sagosen, with 65 goals in 2020. Alongside Gidsel, Pytlick also made the All-Star team, with Portugal’s right back Francisco Costa selected as the best right back and the best young player of the competition.

Germany had Andreas Wolff and Johannes Golla in the All-Star team, while Croatia’s Mario Šoštarić made back-to-back All-Star teams, after also being selected in the best team of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship.

 

With four spots available at the Men’s EHF EURO 2026 for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship, the top four sides – the semi-finalists – have ensured safe passage to the competition. However, due to Denmark – the reigning world champions – and Germany – the hosts – being already qualified, the fifth and sixth-placed sides made it to the world handball flagship competition.

Therefore, Portugal and Sweden, also ensured safe passage, and join Denmark, Germany, Iceland and Croatia between the qualified teams.

Men’s EHF EURO 2026 – All-Star team

Goalkeeper: Andreas Wolff (GER)
Right wing: Mario Šoštarić (CRO)
Right back: Francisco Costa (POR)
Centre back: Gísli Kristjánsson (ISL)
Left back: Simon Pytlick (DEN)
Left wing: August Pedersen (NOR)
Line player: Johannes Golla (GER)
Defender: Salvador Salvador (POR)
Young player: Francisco Costa (POR)
MVP: Mathias Gidsel (DEN)

Credit photo: EHF / kolektiff / Jozo Cabraja / Anze Malovrh