France (FRA)

Current world champions, Paris 2024 Olympic Games silver medalists and EHF EURO 2022 semi-finalists — there is no doubt that France, a dominant force in recent years, are among the favourites to claim the Women’s EHF EURO 2024 trophy.

They have featured in the last three Olympic finals, winning the title at Tokyo 2020. They raised the trophy at the 2023 IHF Women's World Championship in December, after finishing as runners-up in 2021. And at the last EURO, France played for the medals, placing fourth.

Prior to that, France played the EURO final twice in a row, winning the title on home ground in 2018. Since 2016, they have won nine medals across the three major championships. France reached the EHF EURO 2024 with a perfect record in the qualifiers, topping group 4 over Slovenia, Italy and Latvia.

At the EHF EURO 2024, some teams will be without big names who retired after the 2020 Olympic Games. However, France are untouched in that respect — on the court at least. Olivier Krumbholz, the coach behind all the team’s medal successes, retired and was replaced by Sébastien Gardillou.

The fact that France’s line-up has not changed while other sides’ have means they are primed for success at the EHF EURO 2024. They are a team led by some of the most established stars in the game, with recent additions like IHF Young Player of the Year Léna Grandveau.

Left back Estelle Nze Minko and goalkeeper Laura Glauser were named in the All-star Teams at the 2023 World Championship and Olympics, while left wing Chloé Valentini made the cut at the World Championship and right wing Alicia Toublanc scooped the award at Paris 2024. Valentini and line player Sarah Bouktit were part of the EHF Excellence Awards Team of the Season for 2023/24, with Valentini also on the shortlist for season MVP.

One of the most formidable squads, chemistry honed to perfection after years of playing and succeeding together, and no adjustment period. Watch out for France.