10 teams to watch at Beach Handball Champions Cup 2024

WOMEN

1.The Danish Beach Handball Dream (DEN) 

Starting with the 2023 champions in the women's competition, The Danish Beach Handball Dream not only are the current title holders, but also took the trophy home from the ebt Finals in 2023 and 2022. Last year, by not going through the tournament unbeaten, they showed they can be vulnerable but also have great team spirit and dedication, playing until very last second. Now, they are chasing their dream of defending the title, while everyone else dreams of stopping them.

Line Berggren Larsen is perhaps the side's key player – if she is in the team, they will heavily rely on her. One of best players in the world, she was named MVP at the Champions Cup in 2023 and the World Championship in China this year.

2. CATS A.M: Team Almeria (ESP)

The Spanish side lost in last year’s semi-finals before losing the 3rd place match against the German team Beach Bazis, 2:1 – this time, they want a medal! Beach Bazis and 2023 silver medalists OVB Beach Girls will not be there in 2024, so the path really is open for Team Almeria.

Despite last year's shortcomings, they know what it takes to win this tournament, doing so in 2019 and 2020 before succumbing to defeat in the 2021 final. Their experience will surely play its part in 2024.

They hope to call upon Asun Batista, one of the real beach handball stars and  always a crucial player for her team. She was MVP at the Women’s EHF Beach Handball EURO 2023 and the EHF Beach Handball Champions Cup 2022.

3. Multichem Szentendrei NKE (HUN)

Another side looking to profit from last year's minor medallists being absent this time are Multichem Szentendrei NKE from Hungary. They came sixth a year ago, following seventh and fourth place finishes in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Will 2024 finally be their year to make it back onto the Champions Cup podium?

We say "back onto", because the highly-experienced team have been there before; winners in 2018 and 2015, they claimed silver (2016) and bronze (2017) in the intervening years. After lifting the Hungarian national championship in August, they will surely feel motivated for the Champions Cup.

They have the players to do it, too, such as Emese Toth – still an outstanding beach handball defensive specialist and the only player who has been involved in all national and international titles won by Szentendrei NKE; she proved she is in great form recently as she was named MVP at the national championship.

4. GRD Leça - Love Tiles (POR)

Despite playing in their homeland, Leça will have a difficult job on their hands in Group C as they meet Almeria. Finishing second in the group a year ago ultimately was not enough as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Beach Bazis. That match was just one of the thrillers involving the Portuguese outfit, making the 2021 champions one of the most exciting teams to watch.

They know how to defend, too; Catarina Oliveira was named best defender in the 2023 All-star Team, and if she and the likes of Daniela Mendes, Sara Pinho, Sofia Goncalves and Ana Teles are involved, Leça have every chance.

5. BHT Conkret Byczki Kowalewo Pomorskie (POL)

The girls from Poland finished eighth last year, but they showed they can be challenge for opponents and were unfortunate to come up against Almeria in the quarter-finals, losing after a shootout.

Finishing fourth in 2022 proves they know what it takes to reach the latter stages and have warmed up perfectly for this by becoming national champions in July.
Karolina Glasa was named national championships MVP at just 21-years-old, suggesting the future is bright for BHT Conkret Byczki Kowalewo Pomorskie, who will meet The Danish Beach Handball Dream in group A.

MEN

1.Rødby Beach Boys (DEN)

Rødby's success last year means both EHF BH Champions Cup titles are in the hands of Danish clubs. En route to winning the 2023 title they were dominant in the preliminary round before suffering two loses in main round. However, they didn’t slip when crunch time came and showed their winning mentality – can they repeat that again? 

They took the Danish national title in 2024, but how will they do on the European stage with a target on their backs?

2. EFE Os Tigres (POR) Escola de Formação de Espinho - Os Tigres

The Portuguese side have been the model of consistency in recent seasons; last year they took silver after a fifth-place finish in 2022 and fourth in 2021. Will the tigers show extra bite this year and finish first? Winning the ebt Finals 2024 certainly suggests they can.

They took the ebt crown despite finishing fourth in the group phase, but when it came to the business end, the Portuguese club outplayed their opponents to win the title.

3. BHT Petra Plock (POL)

Petra Plock have taken medals home from this tournament in successive seasons, adding bronze last year to the gold they won as 2022 champions.

Fifth in 2021, the Polish club are always contenders for the trophy and surely will be again if Filip Koper is back and scoring anything like the 157 points he scored last year to become the leading scorer in the competition. A repeat performance in attack could make the 2024 Polish champions dangerous opponents.

4. 12Monkeys Köln BHC (GER)

Fourth place in 2023 after they lost against Escola in semi-final, the Cologne side will have a chance for revenge when they meet them in group D. Last year they were the top team in main round, playing some of the best beach handball of the tournament, and still left without medal. That missed opportunity will have hurt more given that they beat champions Rødby along the way.

5. GRD Leça SPAR (POR)

Making the top five on both the men's and women's side are Leça, who finished fifth in the 2023 men's event. A clash with Petra Plock right at the start of group B will be a standout early match, as the bronze medallists of 2023 meet the bronze medallists of 2022.

Should he feature, goalkeeper Ricardo Castro will be key for his side's medal hopes. Last year he provided strong support between the posts, if the 'keeper can repeat the feat, it will be easier to get closer to the trophy.

Photos © Sasa Pahic Szabo / kolektiff, Uros Hocevar / kolektiff