The last weekend saw the top European women’s senior national teams play the last friendly matches before the EHF EURO 2024 throws off this week in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland, with a 24-team line-up.

Arguably the most balanced friendly competition was the Golden League played in Denmark, where the hosts faced the reigning Olympic champions, Norway, another powerhouse, the Netherlands, and Romania.

After six matches, Norway and Denmark finished in a deadlock, both on five points, after they drew in the first match, 27:27, with a seven-goal outing from the MVP of the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship, Kari Brattset Dale.

As both Norway and Denmark beat the Netherlands and Romania, they finished both on five points, with the winner being decided on the goal difference, which went to Norway’s way, as the reigning Olympic champions beat the Netherlands, 33:21 and Romania, 37:25, for a +24-goal difference.

Denmark could only muster a +12-goal difference, with a 35:25 win over Romania and a 32:30 won over the the Netherlands, yet still going strong and confirming their status as one of the title contenders at the EHF EURO 2024.

The Dutch side finished third, after their 41:26 win over Romania, as the latter side finished on the fourth place, having conceded at least 35 goals in each of the three matches, being an outsider for the continental competition.

Another Golden League friendly competition was played in France, where the hosts, the reigning world champions, finished on the second place, after surprisingly dropping their match against Spain, after taking a 6:1 lead early into the match.

Spain bounced back and delivered France a 27:28 loss, with France still trying to find their footing with their new coach, Sebastian Gardillou, as the reigning world championship eventually sealed a 30:24 win over African champions Angola in the second match.

The Spanish side drew in the second match against Czechia, 30:30, with the latter side, the surprise of the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, where they finished eighth, having two draws in this friendly competition, after previously being in a deadlock against Angola, 31:31.

In a doubleheader played in Ystad, Sweden, the hosts took two wins against Poland, 38:32 and 28:27, as right wing Nathalie Hagman scored five and six goals respectively for her side.

The co-hosts of the EHF EURO 2024, Austria, were also competitive against Germany, in a match played on their home court, applying the needed pressure on Markus Gaugsich’s side, conceding a 26:28 loss in the end.

Hungary, also one of the co-hosts, displayed some highly efficient attacking firepower, with two clear wins against Slovakia, 38:31, and Ukraine, 38:19, scoring 38 goals in both matches.

Co-hosts Switzerland also clinched a win against Iceland, 30:29, while Croatia beat North Macedonia, 26:18, being flawless in the last months before the start of the EHF EURO 2024.

Photo credit: handbal.nl