Iceland (ISL)

Iceland were one of the big stories of the EHF EURO 2022, as they came close to clinching one of the semi-final places, only just missing out after a headline-grabbing campaign up to that point.

Iceland topped a competitive preliminary round group that included co-hosts Hungary, Portugal, and Netherlands — against all of whom Iceland won. The Nordic team finished third in the main round group that included back-to-back Olympic finalists Denmark and France. Iceland’s record in that stage included their first ever EHF EURO victory against France, which was also their first win in an official encounter against the side since the London 2012 Olympics and France’s biggest EURO defeat.

Iceland were exceptionally strong during the EHF EURO 2022 and took sixth place after three straight finishes outside the top 10, from 2016 to 2020. Iceland are looking to replicate their biggest EHF EURO successes — two semi-finals, in 2002 and 2010, with the latter ending in the bronze medal — and seem poised to do it. They only just missed out on the top four in 2022 and were impacted by a number of Covid-19 cases — a fact that proves their strength, as Iceland kept recording big results even as key players were sidelined and less experienced players stepped up.

On an individual level, Iceland’s players have grabbed the spotlight in the last year. Three of them play for EHF Champions League title holders Magdeburg: Gísli Kristjánsson, Janus Smarason and Ómar Ingi Magnússon. Kristjánsson was MVP of the EHF FINAL4 2023 as Magdeburg took the title. Although Smarason transferred after the title-winning season, he was part of the 2023 IHF Super Globe victory alongside his two compatriots.

Following a period sidelined with injury, Kristjánsson is expected to be back fully fit for the EHF EURO 2024.