A few days after their opening victory against Romania in Aix-en-Provence (34–27), France put on a handball masterclass in Latvia on Sunday. Facing a youthful but inexperienced side, Les Bleus were under pressure in the opening minutes (8': 7-5) before stepping up the pace and taking the lead. Ten goals up at half-time (30': 15-25), Talent Dujshebaev’s men managed to extend their lead in the second half, thanks in particular to three goals from Elohim Prandi (60': 29-44). Karl Konan, meanwhile, was rested for this second match of the week. With two wins, France find themselves atop Group 6, level on points with Poland, who won in Romania on Sunday (28-30).
On his return to the national team after a year and a half away, Emil Mellegard impressed Sweden manager, Michael Apelgren. Having already scored four goals in his side’s midweek victory over Greece, our winger netted two more against Luxembourg on Sunday afternoon. A performance that contributed to the biggest victory in the Scandinavian side’s history, which came as they broke their record for goals scored in a single match. Luxembourg were helpless to prevent the disaster, despite the presence of new manager – and former Parisian – Didier Dinart (20-50). With this result, Sweden sit clear at the top of Group 8, ahead of North Macedonia, Greece and Luxembourg.
Despite an exceptional performance from Mingaugas Dumcius (12 goals), the Netherlands managed to a job away to Lithuania. Leading at half-time, though by a margin that was far from decisive (30': 13-19), the Oranje stepped up the pace in the second half, with Luc Steins proving particularly unstoppable (60-: 27–41). With a perfect shooting record (6 from 6), our centre-half also proved decisive for his team-mates, notably teeing up goals for former Rouge et Bleu man Dani Baijens, who scored seven. Thanks to this latest victory, the Netherlands sit in second place in Group 1 behind Mateo Maras’s Croatia, who also won both their matches this week.
With both club and country, Bjarki is proving that, at 36, he’s still in top form! Following his perfect performance against Ukraine in the opening match (6 from 6 in Iceland’s 48-26 victory), the Rouge et Bleu winger put on a show in Estonia. Scoring ten goals from 11 attempts, he proved unstoppable against Armis Priskus and Madis Valk, the two Estonian goalkeepers. Ahead of their clash with Serbia – their main rivals and joint leaders of Group 3 – in March 2027, Iceland are therefore leading the pack and building confidence ahead of the World Cup in Germany.
Facing a Turkish side who are set to compete in the first international tournament of their history after securing a wildcard for the 2027 IHF World Men's Handball Championship in Germany, Norway put their experience to good use in Istanbul on Sunday. Already comfortably ahead at half-time (30': 15-22), the Scandinavians maintained the intensity right to the end to secure a landmark victory and join Austria – who had beaten Georgia (23-35) – at the top of Group 2. Simen Lyse, who scored three goals against Georgia on Thursday evening, found the net once against Turkey on Sunday.