Six teams who finished on top of their groups are joined by the two second-best-ranked teams, Germany and Iceland, and continue the race for the European trophy on Monday.
- Current title holders Spain have dominantly concluded the preliminary round with 100% efficiency after winning against France (37:31), Switzerland (40:20) and Faroe Islands (36:30)
- With two wins and one loss, Iceland managed to grab one of the two last remaining main round spots due to a goal difference of +22
- Germany and 2022 runners-up Portugal both made it to the main round from group B. In a low-scoring match, Portugal took the win with 21:17, but Germany secured the main round with a goal difference of +16
- Continuing in the footsteps of the senior team, Austria booked the EHF EURO main round with victories against favoured Croatia and Montenegro and a draw with North Macedonia at the end of the preliminary round
- Óli Mittún is the top scorer of the competition ahead of the main round with 32 goals, followed by Romania’s young star Daniel Stancius with 24 goals and Italy’s Christian Manojlovic with 23 goals
Goalkeeper show as Höler and Marques shine between the posts
Germany’s Frederik Höler and Portugal’s Diogo Marques were the stars of the show on Saturday evening, both saving 13 for their sides. In the match deciding the first spot in group B, Portugal snatched a 21:17 win against Germany, led by the amazing Diogo Rêma Marques and his save percentage of 43. On the other side, Germany’s goalkeeper ace Höler was slightly below Marques with 38.
