Iceland (ISL)

Iceland are another nation eagerly awaiting a trip to the most important matches of an EHF EURO. The Nordic side have not made an EHF EURO semi-final since 2010 in Austria, where they won the bronze medal.

Their depth in the squad is remarkable. Reigning Champions League winners Ómar Ingi Magnússon and Gísli Þorgeir Kristjánsson, who won the MVP award for the second time after 2023, have welcomed another Icelandic teammate to German side SC Magdeburg in the shape of versatile back-court player and defensive mastermind Elvar Örn Jónsson. 

Snorri Stein Guðjónsson’s team can also rely on spectacular and efficient wings, as well as solid line players. Additionally, they have a special dynamic within their goalkeeping duo. While Viktor Gísli Hallgrímsson moved to Barça last summer and is at the age of 25 still a younger goalkeeper with potential, Björgvin Páll Gústavsson will be celebrating 20 years in the national team after debuting in 2006 and is nearing 300 appearances for the Nordic side.

After finishing 10th at the EHF EURO 2024, missing out on a semi-final by just one point in an incredibly close main round group, and failing to qualify for the quarter-finals at last year’s IHF World Championship, ranking third in a three-way tie for the top spots in the main round, the aim for the upcoming EHF EURO 2026 should be clear: turning the script to Iceland’s favour and breaking the curse. 

Iceland have faced three of their potential opponents on their way to a semi-final berth in recent times, losing to Hungary 25:33 at EHF EURO 2024 and Croatia 26:32 in the main round last January, as well as beating Slovenia 23:18 in the World Championship group phase. 

It could be the year for Iceland; either way, this team will be fun to watch at EHF EURO 2026.

Competition records:
Number of EHF EURO participations, including 2026: 14
Bronze: 2010