Czechia (CZE)

Czechia have become regulars at the EHF EURO. Since 2008, they only missed the 2016 edition. The national team might not count on a star such as their former player Filip Jicha, but that does not mean they are not able to impress at the European level.

In fact, Czechia won one game in each of their last four participations, qualifying for the main round in 2020 and even playing the fifth-place match in 2018. So, expect them to give France and Norway fierce opposition in Oslo/Bærum in January.

Coaching duo Daniel Kubeš and Michal Brůna took over from Xavi Sabate in January 2025, and picked up exactly where the Spanish technician left off. And the method seems to be working so far, as Czechia finished second in their qualifiers group, behind Croatia, but with four victories over Belgium and Luxembourg.

In these games, a young and talented generation showed up. Former THW Kiel goalkeeper Tomáš Mrkva is the most experienced member of the national team, and the only one with more than 100 international games played. But a few other members of the squad have gone to the Bundesliga, such as Leipzig right back Tomáš Piroch and his club partner Matěj Klíma.

These so-called “older” players surround a young generation which, for the most part, still plays in Czech clubs such as Plzen and Karvina. Some of them might make it to the bigger stage in a few years, but for now, they will try to shine at the EHF EURO 2026.

Nothing seems impossible for Czechia right now, as the team took four victories during the EHF EURO 2026 Qualifiers, and even put on a great fight in round 3 against Croatia, losing by only six goals (35:29), a campaign which gave them even more hope ahead of the final tournament. 

Competition records:
Number of EHF EURO participations, including 2026: 13