Russia (RUS)
In their first four participations at the EHF EURO, Russia did not finish lower than fourth, winning the trophy in 1996. Yet their last appearances were poor: they finished ninth two times, in 2014 and 2016; 15th in 2012; and 22nd in 2020.
In fact, Russia won only four of their last 15 games at the EHF EURO and even failed to qualify in 2018.
But a major reboot is now in the works. Bringing in Bosnian coach Velimir Petkovic was a small coup in itself, as Petkovic brings plenty of experience and a modern style, forged in the German Bundesliga. However, the team still needs to adapt to this, as demonstrated by their 14th-place finish at the IHF Men’s World Championship in January 2021.
Petkovic’s up-tempo style might annoy the Russian purists, yet the change has been welcomed by the players. They have clearly bought into their coach’s approach and this has paid dividends in recent matches.
Russia qualified with ease to the EHF EURO 2022 from a group that included the Czech Republic, Ukraine and the Faroe Islands, winning four games and drawing the other two, with an efficient attack.
This could also be the tournament when young star Sergei Mark Kosorotov really comes of age. The left back was his team’s top scorer in qualification phase 2, with 20 goals in six games.
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| # | Player | MP | Goals | Shots | % | 7m | YC | RC | 2 Min | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{item.playerInfo.shirtNumber}} | {{item.playerInfo.person.lastName}}, {{item.playerInfo.person.firstName}} | {{item.statistics.matchesPlayed}} | {{item.statistics.goals}} | {{item.statistics.shots}} | {{item.statistics.shotEfficiency}} | {{item.statistics.goals7M}}/{{item.statistics.shots7M}} | {{item.statistics.warningsCount}} | {{item.statistics.disqualifications}} | {{item.statistics.twoMinPenaltiesCount}} | {{item.statistics.minutesPlayed}} |
| TOTAL | {{totalGoals}} | {{totalShots}} | {{totalShotsEfficiency}} | {{total7mGoals}}/{{total7mShots}} | {{totalWarnings}} | {{totalDisqualifications}} | {{totalTwoMinPenalties}} |
| # | Goalkeeper | MP | Saves | Shots | % | 7m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{item.playerInfo.shirtNumber}} | {{item.playerInfo.person.lastName}}, {{item.playerInfo.person.firstName}} | {{item.statistics.matchesPlayed}} | {{item.statistics.goalKeeperSaves}} | {{item.statistics.goalKeeperShotsReceived}} | {{item.statistics.goalKeeperSavesEfficiency}} | {{item.statistics.goalKeeperSaves7M}}/{{item.statistics.goalKeeperReceivedShots7M}} |
| TOTAL | {{totalSaves}} | {{totalShotReceives}} | {{totalSaveEfficiency}} | {{total7mSaves}}/{{total7mShotsReceives}} |
30
29
29
29
25
26
23
29
27
36
22
23
29
27
23
28
31
24
27
27
28
27
30
28
27
27
EHF competition history
Belgium
10
Russia
0
Germany
30
Russia
29
Poland
29
Russia
29
Russia
25
Spain
26
Russia
23
Sweden
29
Slovakia
27
Russia
36
Norway
22
Russia
23
Russia
29
Lithuania
27
Russia
29
Czech Republic
21
Czech Republic
27
Russia
26
Montenegro
19
Russia
29
Russia
29
Montenegro
22
Russia
30
Austria
31
Russia
30
Iceland
38
Russia
28
Denmark
34
Croatia
30
Russia
28
Norway
28
Russia
24
Russia
37
Ukraine
33
Russia
35
Switzerland
29
Bosnia Herzegovina
23
Russia
29
Russia
35
Serbia
31
Faroe Islands
18
Russia
34
Russia
38
Italy
19
Italy
23
Russia
34
Serbia
35
Russia
29
Russia
37
Faroe Islands
16
Switzerland
30
Russia
31
Russia
37
Bosnia Herzegovina
25
Germany
32
Russia
30
Denmark
35
Russia
28
Serbia Montenegro
21
Russia
29
Iceland
34
Russia
32
Croatia
29
Russia
30
Portugal
32
Russia
35
Russia
24
Norway
21
Russia
27
Norway
30
Tunisia
35
Russia
24
Russia
24
Greece
29
France
25
Russia
22
Slovenia
27
Russia
31
Russia
29
Iceland
22
Russia
25
Czechia
21
Kuwait
11
Russia
38
Russia
28
Algeria
22
Russia
34
Iceland
30
Russia
25
Croatia
26
Spain
29
Russia
26
Russia
28
Slovenia
25
Hungary
26
Russia
28
Germany
21
Russia
15
France
24
Russia
26
Korea
35
Russia
32
Russia
30
Hungary
25
Iceland
27
Russia
30
Russia
29
Egypt
22
Denmark
28
Russia
35
France
31
Russia
15
Russia
34
Saudi Arabia
17
Russia
26
Croatia
28
Argentina
26
Russia
26
Russia
31
Hungary
30
Russia
33
Slovenia
22
Russia
27
Yugoslavia
25
Germany
25
Russia
23
Russia
26
Korea
24
Cuba
26
Russia
31
Russia
22
Egypt
21
Russia
28
Sweden
26
Russia
29
Yugoslavia
26
Russia
24
Sweden
25
Spain
21
Russia
22
Russia
26
Egypt
20
Russia
31
Korea
23
Russia
27
Hungary
18
Croatia
23
Russia
29
Russia
35
Kuwait
15
Nigeria
23
Russia
36
Russia
35
Norway
27
Sweden
21
Russia
23
France
24
Russia
25
Korea
15
Russia
32
Russia
20
Tunisia
14
Russia
31
Croatia
20
Hungary
19
Russia
24
Russia
30
Morocco
13
China
15
Russia
34
Russia
31
Cuba
17
Russia
22
Morocco
15
Egypt
28
Russia
31
Switzerland
23
Russia
25
Russia
17
Germany
20
Iceland
12
Russia
25
Russia
22
Czechia
17
Croatia
25
Russia
20
Slovenia
22
Russia
27
Russia
21
Cuba
17
ECh Beach Handball
2021 - 3rd place
ECh Beach Handball
2017 - 2nd place
ECh Beach Handball
2013 - 2nd place
ECh Beach Handball
2011 - 2nd place
ECh Beach Handball
2009 - 2nd place
ECh Beach Handball
2007 - Champion
ECh Beach Handball
2004 - Champion
Olympic Games
2004 - 3rd place
ECh Beach Handball
2002 - 2nd place
Olympic Games
2000 - Champion
European Championship
2000 - 2nd place
World Championship
1999 - 2nd place
World Championship
1997 - Champion
European Championship
1996 - Champion
European Championship
1994 - 2nd place
Key Players
Left back
Sergei Mark Kosorotov played at the IHF Men’s World Championship 2019 and 2021 and at EHF EURO 2020, scoring seven goals at the latter. He is one of the biggest talents of Russian handball and a regular in the national team. He wears number 99 because 1999 is his year of birth and unusually for Russia has two first names but is usually called just Sergei. His father was a famous judoka, while his mother played handball at Luch Moscow.
Centre back
Dmitry Zhitnikov has played over 130 games for the Russian national team; this will be his fourth EHF EURO, after 2014, 2016 and 2020. Zhitnikov started handball in Krasnodar, where his first coach was his father, at the local school. As a talented young player, he was invited to join Chekhovskie medvedi at age 16; he played five seasons in the reserve team before his breakthrough. Zhitnikov joined Szeged in the summer of 2017 after two seasons with Plock, and returned after four seasons to Wisla last summer.
Head Coach
Coach
Despite being a coach since the early 1990s, Velimir Petkovic has never taken part in an EHF EURO. He served both as coach of CSKA Moscow and the Russian national team in 2020/21, before quitting his club role at the end of the season. Petkovic won the EHF Cup with Göppingen twice, in 2011 and 2012, and again with Füchse Berlin in 2018. With Borac Banja Luka he won the European Champions Cup (1976) as player and the IHF Cup Winners’ Cup (1991) as a coach. Born in Bosnia Herzegovina, he played both handball and football until he was 18.
