- by croatiaweek
- January 23, 2026
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(Photo credit © Anze Malovrh / kolektiff)
Croatia have taken a significant step towards the semi-finals of the EHF Handball EURO 2026 after defeating Iceland 30–29 in a crucial opening match of the main round at Malmö Arena in Malmö.
The win came in Croatia’s first fixture of Group II in the second phase of the tournament and keeps their hopes of reaching the semi-finals firmly alive.
Iceland had been widely tipped as one of the favourites for a last-four place prior to the championship, making the victory even more significant for the Croatian side.
Croatia produced an excellent performance in the first half, controlling the match from the opening minutes. Iceland were never in the lead during the opening 30 minutes, as Croatia dictated the tempo and showed composure in both attack and defence.
(Photo credit © Anze Malovrh / kolektiff)
A strong spell in the final five minutes of the first half proved decisive, with Croatia going on a 3–0 run to take a 19–15 lead into the break.
(Photo credit © Anze Malovrh / kolektiff)
The second half saw Iceland push hard to close the gap, setting up a tense finish, but Croatia held their nerve to secure a narrow one-goal victory and two vital points in the main round.
(Photo credit © Jozo Cabraja / kolektiff)
Croatia reached the main round following a mixed but ultimately successful group stage campaign. They opened the tournament with a 32–29 victory over Georgia, followed by an impressive 35–29 win against the Netherlands.
Their only defeat came in the final group match, where they were beaten 33–25 (17–13) by Sweden.
Remaining Main Round Fixtures
Croatia still have three important matches to play in the main round as they look to secure a semi-final berth:
• Sunday – Croatia vs Switzerland
• Tuesday – Croatia vs Slovenia
• Wednesday, 28 January – Croatia vs Hungary
With momentum gained from the victory over Iceland, Croatia will be aiming to build on this result and continue their push towards the latter stages of the tournament.