The best attack won the title at the 2026 European Championship, which ended Sunday in Herning, concluded the European Handball Federation (EHF), based on statistical studies by Julian Roux. Denmark, with 306 goals in nine games, had a record shooting efficiency, with 71.7% and very similar to that of its two scorers, Mathias Gidsel (68 goals, a European record, with 71.6% accuracy) and Simon Pytlick (64, with 71.1%). But the study, using the number of goals per 50 possessions, also notes that, in terms of average goals per game, the champions were behind two teams, the best ever in the competition: France (38.1 per game) and Portugal (34.2).
Herning proved what coach Paulo Jorge Pereira had said before the first game – “We are the best in the world in offensive terms” -, even in the weapons to be used, the “relationship between the first line and the pivots and the one-on-one of Costinhas”. The two brothers stood out, Kiko with 61 goals (third scorer) and Martim with 44, but also the pivots Luís Frade (35) and Victor Iturriza (21), all served by central Rui Silva, fourth in Europe in assists (37) and fifth in the number of passes, with 1230 and only missing three, an efficiency never seen before.
What probably exceeded expectations was Portugal displaying one of the best attacks in the history of the European Championships – and one that had a record of 31.1 goals per game -, halfway between Danish efficiency and the speed of the French, who achieved an unprecedented 61.6 ball possessions per game, ten more than the champions. Where the Heroes of the Sea had a problem was in defense, considering the numbers they were considered the second worst of the teams that reached the main round, although the statistics don’t say everything here.
The Portuguese team had a solid central block and had the best defender of the championship, Salvador Salvador, only failing in two aspects: the 73 turnovers (fourth worst selection) and the 11th place in the number of goalkeeper saves, 72 in total, with an efficiency of 22%. Gustavo Capdeville did not reach the values of the last World Cup (29.5%) and the injured Diogo Rêma was missing (27.7% in the World Cup). The problem, it can be concluded, has a solution in sight.
