Image: Jim Gottfridsson during Sweden’s group stage match against Georgia during the EC on 19 January 2026 in Malmö Arena. Photo: Bildbyrån.
Summary of EC day 5 Tuesday 20 January 2026
Today’s matches can be found further down in the article.
Tremors and rattles during Tuesday’s EC matches! North Macedonia won by the narrowest possible margin, Portugal surprised heavy favorites Denmark at home, and Switzerland broke a long losing streak with a record victory. Iceland and Italy offered nail-biting final battles and secured important points for the main round.
Group B, Herning
North Macedonia – Romania 24-23
North Macedonia took home a real nail-biter against Romania with a last-second goal by Nenad Kosteski. After a strong start from North Macedonia, Romania came back strongly in the second half and offered excitement until the final whistle. Romania’s veteran in goal, Mihai Popescu, played his last international game and made important saves that kept the team in the game. But in the end it was the heroes of North Macedonia who got to cheer, thanks to a cool finish and emotional support from their fans in Herning.
Filip Kuzmanovski was the hottest for North Macedonia with 9 goals, while Ionuț Nistor shone for Romania with a perfect hit on all 8 shots.
Denmark–Portugal 29–31
Portugal produced an incredible bang when they beat the host nation Denmark in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning. It was Denmark’s first loss in their home city since the European Championship final in 2014.
Portugal controlled the match from the start and maintained a strong defense that made it difficult for the Danes to find the goal. Despite a strong recovery after the break, Denmark could not turn the game around. Martim Costa and Francisco Costa were hot scorers and together scored 18 goals for Portugal.
Denmark brings important lessons to the main round, but there was something unexpected, Portugal secured the group victory and takes two points further.
Group D, Oslo
Montenegro – Switzerland 26-43
Switzerland ended its six-year losing streak in the European Championship play-offs with a convincing victory against Montenegro in Oslo. The team took the lead from the start and never really let go, with a sharp attack where Lenny Rubin and Luca Sigrist together accounted for a whopping 20 goals. Goalkeepers Nikola Portner and Mathieu Seravilli saved a total of 17 shots and kept Montenegro at bay.
Montenegro had no chance of reaching the main round, while Switzerland now kept alive the hope of advancing to the main round for the first time since 2004 – albeit in nervous anticipation of the group final between Slovenia and the Faroe Islands.
Slovenia–Faroe Islands 30–27
It was an exciting and dramatic end to Group D when Slovenia won 30-27 after a tough fight against the Faroe Islands. Slovenia had the lead for most of the game, but the Faroe Islands battled bravely and even took the lead early in the second half, but Slovenia were able to settle at the end with strong play from Domen Makuc who scored ten goals and was named player of the match.
The win secured the group victory for Slovenia – while Switzerland also progressed to the main round thanks to a big win against Montenegro. The Faroe Islands make an honorable mark in their second EC with fighting spirit and fine efforts, above all from goalkeeper Pauli Jacobsen.
Group F, Kristianstad
Poland – Italy 28-29
Italy broke their 28-year wait for a European Championship victory when they beat Poland 29-28 in the last second in a dramatic match. Although neither team had a chance to reach the main round, they delivered a real fighting effort from start to finish.
Poland had a strong first quarter and were in the lead for long periods, but Italy turned it around in the second half of the first half and then held the lead for most of the game. Simone Mengon became the hero with the winning goal with only 20 seconds remaining. Italy finishes the group in third place and advances to the 2027 World Cup without qualification.
Ungern – Iceland 23-24
In a charged ending to group F in Kristianstad, Iceland took a nail-biting 24–23 victory against Hungary and thus secured important two points for the main round in Malmö.
The match offered high intensity and strong defensive efforts from both teams, where Iceland’s goalkeeper Viktor Hallgrímsson was the big hero of the match with 18 saves and a save percentage of 45. After a difficult start in the second half with a sending off for Iceland, Hallgrímsson took over and set the tone for the team.
Hungary fought hard, but Iceland’s sharpness in crucial situations and Hallgrímsson’s magical effort were decisive in taking home the group victory in front of a jubilant crowd.
Today’s matches Tuesday 21 January 2026
The group stage ends in Malmö Arena with two important matches where the Netherlands and Georgia are chasing their first win in the EC – with no chance of advancement, but with everything to play for. Later, a group final awaits when Sweden takes on Croatia – both teams are already ready for the main round, but are fighting for the group victory and two valuable points.
Group E, Malmö
18: 00 Netherlands – Georgia
Tonight, the Netherlands and Georgia meet in Malmö to finish the group stage in the European Championship. Neither team can reach the main round, but both are chasing their first win in the tournament. The Netherlands have had a tough time against both Sweden and Croatia, and Georgia have had the same journey.
Staffan Olsson’s Netherlands are keeping their fingers crossed that Dani Baijens is not seriously injured after sitting out the match against Croatia, while Georgia are likely to be without key linebacker Erekle Arsenashvili after the injury against Sweden. Rutger ten Velde is the Netherlands’ all-time leading European Championship goalscorer – someone to watch.
20:30 Sweden – Croatia
It will be the group final when Sweden and Croatia meet in the late game in Malmö Arena.
Sweden-Croatia is a classic meeting that usually offers a tough battle and high tempo, most recently, in the Olympics in Paris, Sweden won big. Sweden is now only 42 goals away from reaching 3,000 goals scored in the EC context and a victory tonight would also be the team’s 70th in 108 EC matches.
Goalkeeper Andreas Palicka is excited and says that it will be a physical battle where both teams want to take the points to the main round, while Croatia’s Zvonimir Srna reminds that the pressure is on Sweden as the host nation, and that his team should just enjoy and fight.
Experience the EC in Malmö Arena, buy a ticket here > Link to other website.
The main rounds of the EC
The European Championship continues for the two teams that advanced/advance from the group stage to the two groups of the main round.
