The final week of 2022 EHF EURO is now behind us. In an incredible weekend of handball, Sweden has managed to go all the way defeating Olympic champs France in the semis and then European champs Spain in the final following Niclas Ekberg’s last-second seven-meter shot. In the third-place match, which was also an amazing display of top-quality handball, Denmark managed to come out on top versus France ending their eight-year-long medal drought on EHF EUROs.

In the 3rd place match, we’ve seen a great duel of two teammates from Hungarian Telekom Veszprem – Kentin Mahe and Rasmus Lauge. And while Lauge finished the match with four goals, Mahe led his team offensively in this one finishing the match with eight goals.

Croatian winger Ivan Cupic finished the tournament as the best SEHA – Gazprom League scorer with 29 goals. Spaniard Jorge Maqueda scored two less. Reigning SEHA – Gazprom League Final 4 MVP Rodrigo Corrales grabbed five important saves in the grand final. In the goalkeeping discussion, we must also add Vladimir Cupara grabbed 24 saves in three matches stopping over 30% of shots heading in his direction.
During the final weekend, pairs were drawn for the first phase of European qualification for WCh which will in 2023 be played in Sweden and Poland.

In it Ukraine will face off against Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina will meet Greece, Macedonia will play Romania and Slovakia will square off against Belgium and Belarus will play Faroe Island. Best from two matches will advance through to the second and final phase of the qualifications. In that phase Croatia, Serbia and Hungary will join the qualifications as well as the Netherlands, Iceland, Germany, Montenegro, Czech Republic, and Russia.

Croatia will play against the winner of the duel between Ukraine and Finland, Serbia against the best between Italy and Slovenia and Hungary will play either Israel or Lithuania. Matches are scheduled for March and April which means new national team challenges are right around the corner!