# 1996 European Men's Handball Championship

The 1996 European Men's Handball Championship was the second edition of the tournament and held in Spain from 24 May to 2 June 1996, in the cities of Ciudad Real and Seville. Russia won the tournament after defeating Spain in the final, while Yugoslavia finished third.

## Teams

| Group A | Group B |
| Croatia | Czech Republic |
| Hungary | Sweden |
| Slovenia | France |
| Germany | Romania |
| Yugoslavia | Spain |
| Russia | Denmark |

## Venues

| City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Ciudad Real | Pabellón Santa María | 2.000 |
| Seville | Palacio de Deportes San Pablo | 7.000 |

## Preliminary round

All times are local (UTC+2).

### Group A

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Russia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125 | 98 | +27 | 9 |
| Yugoslavia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 117 | 110 | +7 | 9 |
| Croatia | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 127 | 125 | +2 | 6 |
| Germany | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 110 | 111 | −1 | 3 |
| Hungary | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 117 | 130 | −13 | 3 |
| Slovenia | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 93 | 115 | −22 | 0 |
| 24 May 1996 17:00 | Croatia | 30–27 | Hungary | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 200 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 24 May 1996 17:00 | | (17–13) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 200 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 24 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 200 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 24 May 1996 19:00 | Yugoslavia | 23–22 | Germany | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 24 May 1996 19:00 | | (10–9) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 24 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 24 May 1996 21:00 | Russia | 22–18 | Slovenia | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 500 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 24 May 1996 21:00 | | (10–7) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 500 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 24 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 500 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 25 May 1996 15:00 | Germany | 21–26 | Croatia | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 500 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 25 May 1996 15:00 | | (10–11) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 500 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 25 May 1996 15:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 500 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 25 May 1996 17:00 | Slovenia | 20–21 | Yugoslavia | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 25 May 1996 17:00 | | (10–10) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 25 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 25 May 1996 19:00 | Hungary | 21–33 | Russia | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 350 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 25 May 1996 19:00 | | (10–16) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 350 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 25 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 350 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 26 May 1996 17:00 | Hungary | 24–24 | Germany | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 600 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 26 May 1996 17:00 | | (11–12) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 600 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 26 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 600 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 26 May 1996 19:00 | Croatia | 26–22 | Slovenia | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 800 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 26 May 1996 19:00 | | (13–9) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 800 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 26 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 800 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 26 May 1996 21:00 | Russia | 20–20 | Yugoslavia | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 26 May 1996 21:00 | | (11–8) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 26 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 28 May 1996 17:00 | Yugoslavia | 27–24 | Croatia | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 28 May 1996 17:00 | | (14–11) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 28 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 28 May 1996 19:00 | Russia | 22–18 | Germany | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 28 May 1996 19:00 | | (11–9) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 28 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 28 May 1996 21:00 | Slovenia | 17–21 | Hungary | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 300 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 28 May 1996 21:00 | | (7–10) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 300 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 28 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 300 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 29 May 1996 17:00 | Yugoslavia | 26–24 | Hungary | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 29 May 1996 17:00 | | (12–14) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 29 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 29 May 1996 19:00 | Germany | 25–16 | Slovenia | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 29 May 1996 19:00 | | (10–5) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 29 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 29 May 1996 21:00 | Croatia | 21–28 | Russia | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 29 May 1996 21:00 | | (11–13) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 29 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |

### Group B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Spain (H) | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 124 | 116 | +8 | 8 |
| Sweden | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 124 | 106 | +18 | 8 |
| Czech Republic | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 129 | 125 | +4 | 6 |
| France | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 120 | +10 | 6 |
| Romania | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 117 | 134 | −17 | 2 |
| Denmark | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 108 | 131 | −23 | 0 |
| 24 May 1996 17:00 | Czech Republic | 32–25 | Romania | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 600 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 24 May 1996 17:00 | | (17–13) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 600 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 24 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 600 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 24 May 1996 19:00 | Sweden | 23–24 | Spain | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 24 May 1996 19:00 | | (11–14) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 24 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 24 May 1996 21:00 | Denmark | 22–25 | France | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 24 May 1996 21:00 | | (11–12) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 24 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 25 May 1996 17:00 | Spain | 28–22 | Denmark | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,200 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 25 May 1996 17:00 | | (12–8) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,200 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 25 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,200 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 25 May 1996 19:00 | France | 29–31 | Czech Republic | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 25 May 1996 19:00 | | (11–16) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 25 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 25 May 1996 21:00 | Romania | 24–28 | Sweden | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 850 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 25 May 1996 21:00 | | (14–14) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 850 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 25 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 850 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 26 May 1996 17:00 | Czech Republic | 21–25 | Spain | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 26 May 1996 17:00 | | (10–11) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 26 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 26 May 1996 19:00 | Sweden | 23–21 | Denmark | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,250 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 26 May 1996 19:00 | | (12–8) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,250 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 26 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 1,250 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 26 May 1996 21:00 | Romania | 20–27 | France | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 250 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 26 May 1996 21:00 | | (11–13) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 250 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 26 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 250 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 28 May 1996 16:30 | Denmark | 22–28 | Czech Republic | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 150 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 28 May 1996 16:30 | | (9–12) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 150 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 28 May 1996 16:30 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 150 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 28 May 1996 19:00 | Spain | 26–21 | Romania | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,800 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 28 May 1996 19:00 | | (15–10) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,800 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 28 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,800 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 28 May 1996 21:00 | Sweden | 26–20 | France | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 750 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 28 May 1996 21:00 | | (13–12) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 750 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 28 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 750 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 29 May 1996 17:00 | Denmark | 21–27 | Romania | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 29 May 1996 17:00 | | (10–15) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 29 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 29 May 1996 19:00 | France | 29–21 | Spain | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 29 May 1996 19:00 | | (16–13) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 29 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 29 May 1996 21:00 | Czech Republic | 17–24 | Sweden | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 29 May 1996 21:00 | | (7–13) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 29 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 400 Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |

## Placement games
### Eleventh place game

| 31 May 1996 17:00 | Slovenia | 27–24 | Denmark | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 31 May 1996 17:00 | | (12–11) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 31 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Dancescu, Mateescu (ROU) |

### Ninth place game

| 31 May 1996 19:00 | Hungary | 27–28 | Romania | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 31 May 1996 19:00 | | (13–12) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |
| 31 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 350 Referees: Wille, Vorderleitner (AUT) |

### Seventh place game

| 31 May 1996 17:00 | Germany | 21–24 | France | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 31 May 1996 17:00 | | (9–13) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |
| 31 May 1996 17:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Makarov, Danelia (RUS) |

### Fifth place game

| 31 May 1996 21:00 | Croatia | 27–25 | Czech Republic | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 300 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 31 May 1996 21:00 | | (14–7) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 300 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 31 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 300 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |

## Knockout stage
### Bracket

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Russia | 24 |
| Sweden | 21 | | |
| Sweden | 21 | Russia | 23 |
| | | Spain | 22 |
| Spain | 27 | Spain | 22 |
| Yugoslavia | 23 | | |
| Yugoslavia | 23 | Bronze-final | Bronze-final |
| | | Sweden | 25 |
| | | Yugoslavia | 26 |

### Semifinals

| 31 May 1996 19:00 | Spain | 27–23 | Yugoslavia | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 31 May 1996 19:00 | | (12–7) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 31 May 1996 19:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 31 May 1996 21:00 | Russia | 24–21 | Sweden | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 650 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 31 May 1996 21:00 | | (11–8) | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 650 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 31 May 1996 21:00 | | Report | | Pabellón Santa María, Ciudad Real Attendance: 650 Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |

### Third place game

| 1 June 1996 11:30 | Yugoslavia | 26–25 | Sweden | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,500 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 1 June 1996 11:30 | | (13–15) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,500 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |
| 1 June 1996 11:30 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 3,500 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER) |

### Final

| 1 June 1996 13:30 | Russia | 23–22 | Spain | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 7,500 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 1 June 1996 13:30 | | (13–9) | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 7,500 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 1 June 1996 13:30 | | Report | | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, Seville Attendance: 7,500 Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |