Germany Set to Face Portugal in Handball EM Quarterfinals After Portugal's Surprising Group Win

January 21, 2026 7:12pm

Portugal's surprise win over Denmark sets up a quarterfinal clash with Germany in the 2026 Handball European Championship.

Key details

• Portugal surprised by winning against Denmark 31:29 in the group stage, finishing first in Group B.
• Germany faces Portugal in the quarterfinals aiming for revenge after losing to Denmark in 2025.
• Denmark's key player Lukas Jörgensen was absent due to injury, impacting their performance.
• Mathias Gidsel of Denmark expressed disappointment despite scoring 8 goals.

In a surprising turn at the 2026 Handball European Championship, Portugal secured first place in Group B after defeating reigning world and Olympic champions Denmark 31:29 in a sold-out match at the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning. This victory sets up an unexpected quarterfinal match between Germany and Portugal. Germany, which aims to avenge its quarterfinal loss to Denmark at the 2025 World Championship, faces Portugal on Thursday in the main round of the tournament. The German squad will also contend with Norway, Denmark, and defending champion France in this stage.

Denmark's defeat was marked by the absence of key player Lukas Jörgensen due to a serious injury. Despite Mathias Gidsel scoring eight goals, Denmark struggled and expressed visible disappointment. Gidsel commented, "It hurts a lot and is a huge disappointment," highlighting the lack of momentum during the game.

Germany's upcoming match against Portugal represents a critical opportunity to advance further in the championship after their previous setbacks. Portugal's strong performance against the favorites Denmark has injected fresh energy and unpredictability into the tournament's quarterfinals.

This article was translated and synthesized from German sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.