Germany lost to Denmark 34‑27 in the 2026 Handball European Championship final. From the start the encounter was tightly contested, yet Denmark ultimately proved the stronger side. Mathias Gidsel stood out, notching his 68th tournament goal.
For much of the game Germany fought back hard, but a red card to Jannik Kohlbacher and several two‑minute penalties forced the team to endure setbacks. In the first half strong defensive play and saves by goalkeeper Andreas Wolff kept the scoreline close. At halftime Denmark led 18‑16.
Denmark maintained the momentum in the second half, continually widening the margin. German scorers Marko Grgic and Nils Lichtlein produced powerful moments, but these could not significantly reduce the deficit.
The win gave Denmark its first European title since 2012. Germany, which had shown strong performances earlier in the tournament, finished as runners‑up. Coach Nikolaj Jacobsen expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort, noting the improvement from a mixed group‑stage showing.