Croatian handball team won the bronze medal at this year’s EHF EURO 2026 — their first medal at the continental tournament since 2020, when they claimed silver.
In the third-place match, Croatia men’s national handball team defeated Iceland men’s national handball team 34:33, leaving Iceland without the chance to repeat the success of 2010 and win their first European medal in 16 years.
A nervy opening was seen from both sides, with plenty of attacking mistakes in the first minutes, while the goalkeepers were in the spotlight — Matej Mandić at one end and Viktor Hallgrímsson at the other.
Unlike the high-scoring encounter in Malmö, the first 30 minutes this time told a slightly different story.
Croatia struck first and were already 3:1 up in the 6th minute after a goal from Ivan Martinović. The lead soon grew to a maximum of +4 (8:4) in the 14th minute when Tin Lučin found the net, forcing Snorri Gudjónsson to call the first timeout.
As the half progressed, the tempo increased — clearly suiting the reigning world runners-up more. In the 18th minute, the gap stretched to +6 (12:6), and it became increasingly difficult for the Scandinavian side to stay in touch.
Still, almost out of nowhere, “The Fishermen” tightened up defensively and raised their shooting efficiency in attack. A 4:0 run brought them within two (10:12) by the 23rd minute.
At the end of the first half, a last-second goal by David Mandić sent Croatia into the break with a 17:14 advantage.
Iceland carried over their momentum from the closing minutes of the first half and again cut it to two (16:18) in the 35th minute. However, Dagur Sigurðsson and his players weathered that push and, within three minutes, rebuilt a +5 lead (21:16) — a cushion that proved valuable heading into the final 20 minutes.
But Iceland have made drama a trademark of this tournament, and almost imperceptibly they erased the deficit. By the 59th minute, they were just one goal behind at 32:33, prompting Sigurðsson to take his final timeout. Croatia responded with composure: Lučin delivered the assist to Filip Glavaš, who finished from the right wing with his most important shot of the tournament to secure another medal for his national team.
Croatia’s top scorer was Lučin with nine goals — and he was named Player of the Match — while for Iceland, Ómar Ingi Magnússon led the way with 12.
Iceland – Croatia 33:34 (14:17)
Iceland: Hallgrímsson (4 saves), Gustavsson (6 saves); Rikhardsson 5, Smárason 1, V. Kristjánsson, Elísson 5, G. Kristjánsson 6, Gíslason, Magnússon 12, Gunnarsson, Viðarsson 2, Thorkelsson, Arnarsson 1, Gudjónsson, Thrastarsson 1.
Croatia: M. Mandić (8 saves), Slavić; Šoštarić 3, Klarica 1, Češko, Maraš 2, Raužan, Mamić, Cindrić, D. Mandić 4, Lučin 9, Martinović 5, Sušnja, Glavaš 1, Jelenić 3, Načinović 6.
Mandatory Credit © Anze Malovrh / kolektiff