Can the current EHF European Cup winner replicate their success this year? The tournament’s first match will see the national teams of Denmark and Norway competing against each other. The match will occur in the “Jyske Bank Boxen” stadium in Herning, where the Danish handball players are favoured on their home ground. Will they be able to substantiate their status? We will ascertain this in our forecast.
Denmark, the ‘red and whites,’ will compete in their first encounter at home against the primary underdogs of the group. Although the result seems predictable, a decisive triumph still needs to be comprehended. This year, Denmark has experienced just two losses, one of which was in the European Championship final versus France (31:33), a match that was closely contested until the final whistle. The French celebrations were brief, as the Danes subsequently triumphed in the Olympics in Paris, defeating Germany in the final with a score of 39:26.
On the other hand, Norway is considered the primary underdog in this tournament. However, this status should not be a cause for concern, as their place in the European Championship is secure. The Norwegians showed their potential in the Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals, but a surprising loss to Slovenia (28:33) put an end to their campaign.
Despite Denmark’s clear dominance, the Norwegian team has demonstrated a fierce competitive spirit in their matches this year. With the Danes holding a seven-fold win advantage, the goal difference is minimal. In this context, we can expect a thrilling and competitive match, leading us to predict a victory for Norway with a +7.5 handicap.