The Danish national team ended its campaign in the main round of the 2026 European Men’s Handball Championship in the best possible way, after achieving a sweeping victory over its Norwegian counterpart with a score of (38-24), today, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in the fourth and final round competitions.
With this great victory, Denmark finished at the top of its group with a full score, ahead of Germany, confirming its full readiness to compete for the European title. While Norway was eliminated by occupying fifth place with 3 points.
The Norwegian team started the match strongly, and imposed high pressure on the Danish attack, recovering a number of balls, to lead by three goals after 12 minutes, prompting coach Nikolai Jakobsen to call an early time-out.
Denmark’s response was quick and decisive after the time-out, as the team tightened its defensive system and increased the pressure on the ball carrier, in parallel with the brilliance of goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, who blocked several impressive attempts.
Denmark took advantage of this improvement to score five consecutive unanswered goals, turning the tables on Norway and imposing its control over the course of the game, before ending the first half with a 19-16 lead, a clear translation of technical superiority and tactical discipline.
At the beginning of the second half, the Danish team entered with a decisive mentality, and continued its offensive pressure, scoring three consecutive goals within the first five minutes, quickly doubling the difference, and dealing a strong blow to Norway’s hopes of returning.
Denmark relied on quickly shifting from defense to attack, in addition to diversifying its offensive solutions, which confused Norway’s defensive system and opened spaces for back-line players and wingers alike.
As the difference gradually widened, exceeding the ten-goal barrier nine minutes before the end, coach Nikolai Jakobsen resorted to rotating the lineup and giving opportunities to a larger number of players, without the level of performance declining or Denmark losing its balance.
This collective superiority reflected the depth of the Danish squad, as 10 players out of 14 succeeded in scoring goals, in a scene that confirms the great harmony and high readiness of all elements.
Gedsell shines and a well deserved coronation
On the individual level, star Matthias Guedsel continued his remarkable presence, scoring seven goals, winning the Best Player of the Match award, alongside his colleague Emil Jakobsen, who scored the same number, in an attacking duo that made the difference.
Goalkeeper Emil Nielsen also played a pivotal role in consolidating Danish superiority, thanks to his influential saves in crucial moments, which prevented Norway from reducing the gap.
The Danish national team entered the match at the forefront of the scene, having become the first to qualify for the semi-finals, following a series of strong results that confirmed its position as one of the most prominent candidates to win the continental title.
Despite clinching the passage ticket, Red Dynamite is still required to maintain its focus, in order to strengthen its position at the top of the group and ensure a moral and technical advantage before entering the knockout rounds.
The Danish team sought to continue its balanced performances, which combined defensive solidity and offensive effectiveness, benefiting from the great harmony between its members, and the speed of switching from defense to attack, in addition to its extensive experience in managing major matches, which gave it a clear advantage during its journey in the tournament so far.
On the other hand, the Norwegian national team went into the match with the slogan that there is no substitute for victory, as it sought to maintain its chances of competing for advanced positions, whether in order to reach the semi-finals if the competitors faltered, or to ensure participation in the match to determine fifth and sixth places, which qualifies for the honorary positions in the tournament.
