Ukraine (UKR)

Ukraine’s route to the Women’s EHF EURO 2024 was arguably harder than for any other team. With home matches impossible due to the political situation, they played their games in Germany, Poland and Slovakia.

Despite this, they managed to finish second in their group behind Germany and ahead of Slovakia and Israel to book their ticket to the final tournament. In the crucial matches against Slovakia, they took a 25:20 win in their “home match” at Poland and a draw in Slovakia.

The EHF EURO 2024 is Ukraine’s 11th participation in a final tournament and the first one since 2014, when Ukraine finished 16th and last. Their highest high was the EHF EURO 2000 in Romania, when they made it to the final against Hungary and took the silver medal. In 2004, some months after winning the bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Ukraine finished sixth, losing the placement match against their current group phase opponents Germany in Budapest.

Qualifying for the World Championship 2023 in Scandinavia was the end of a nine-year drought without being part of any major tournament. Ukraine finished 21st among 32 participants.

Most of the current Ukrainian players are signed by domestic clubs, although some play in Slovakia (Karina Soskyda), in Hungary (Tamara Smbatian, Ukrainian top scorer in the qualification with 23 goals), or Romania (Andriana Naumenko). 

“Especially in this situation of our country, we feel so proud to be back in the European Championships. This young team deserves it and we will try to show that we deserve to be among the 24 best teams of Europe,” said Ukrainian Handball Federation Secretary General Sascha Gladun after the berth was clinched in Slovakia.