# Handball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament

The men's handball tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics was contested by twelve teams divided in two groups, with the top two proceeding to the semifinals and the bottom four proceeding to placement matches.

## Qualification

| Mean of qualification | Date | Host | Vacancies | Qualified |
| Host nation | 18 September 1990 | Tokyo | 1 | United States |
| 1995 Pan American Games | 16–25 March 1995 | Mar del Plata | 1 | Brazil |
| 1995 World Championship | 7–21 May 1995 | Iceland | 7 | France Croatia Sweden Germany Russia Egypt Switzerland |
| 1995 Asian Championship | 25 September – 6 October 1995 | Kuwait City | 1 | Kuwait |
| 1996 European Championship | 24 May – 2 June 1996 | Spain | 1 | Spain |
| African qualification tournament | 6-12 October 1995 | Cairo | 1 | Algeria |
| Total | Total | Total | 12 | |

## Preliminary round
### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sweden | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 94 | +37 | 10 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Croatia | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 132 | 122 | +10 | 8 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Russia | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 137 | 106 | +31 | 6 | Fifth place game |
| 4 | Switzerland | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 126 | 115 | +11 | 4 | Seventh place game |
| 5 | United States (H) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 111 | 142 | −31 | 2 | Ninth place game |
| 6 | Kuwait | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 100 | 158 | −58 | 0 | Eleventh place game |
| 24 July 1996 10:00 | Russia | 32–20 | Kuwait | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Thomas, Thomas (GER) |
| 24 July 1996 10:00 | Kuleshov 7 | (18–10) | S. Al-Marzouq 6 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Thomas, Thomas (GER) |
| 24 July 1996 14:30 | Croatia | 23–22 | Switzerland | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Dăncescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 24 July 1996 14:30 | Ćavar 8 | (12–14) | Baumgartner 5 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Dăncescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 24 July 1996 19:00 | Sweden | 23–19 | United States | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gedvilas, Guterman (LTU) |
| 24 July 1996 19:00 | Wislander 5 | (11–9) | Heath 4 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gedvilas, Guterman (LTU) |
| 25 July 1996 10:00 | Kuwait | 22–31 | Croatia | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 25 July 1996 10:00 | S. Al-Marzouq 6 | (11–16) | Ćavar 10 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 25 July 1996 14:30 | Switzerland | 19–26 | Sweden | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Garcia, Moréno (FRA) |
| 25 July 1996 14:30 | Baumgartner 5 | (8–14) | Hajas 6 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Garcia, Moréno (FRA) |
| 25 July 1996 20:45 | Russia | 31–16 | United States | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Moelle Mabounda, Mvoula (CGO) |
| 25 July 1996 20:45 | Kudinov 10 | (16–9) | Penn 4 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Moelle Mabounda, Mvoula (CGO) |
| 27 July 1996 11:45 | Switzerland | 33–16 | Kuwait | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gedvilas, Guterman (LTU) |
| 27 July 1996 11:45 | Barth, Spengler 6 | (18–8) | Al-Ali 4 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gedvilas, Guterman (LTU) |
| 27 July 1996 14:30 | Sweden | 22–20 | Russia | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 27 July 1996 14:30 | M. Andersson 5 | (11–11) | Gopin, Torgovanov 5 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 27 July 1996 19:00 | Croatia | 35–27 | United States | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Garcia, Moréno (FRA) |
| 27 July 1996 19:00 | Smajlagić 11 | (20–9) | Brown 8 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Garcia, Moréno (FRA) |
| 29 July 1996 11:45 | Sweden | 33–18 | Kuwait | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 29 July 1996 11:45 | Petersson 10 | (16–7) | Al-Ali 4 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 29 July 1996 16:15 | Russia | 24–25 | Croatia | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 29 July 1996 16:15 | Gopin 7 | (13–11) | Jović 7 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 29 July 1996 20:45 | United States | 20–29 | Switzerland | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Thomas, Thomas (GER) |
| 29 July 1996 20:45 | Heath 7 | (9–12) | Baumgartner 13 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Thomas, Thomas (GER) |
| 31 July 1996 11:45 | Russia | 30–23 | Switzerland | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Garcia, Moréno (FRA) |
| 31 July 1996 11:45 | Kuleshov 9 | (14–11) | Spengler 8 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Garcia, Moréno (FRA) |
| 31 July 1996 14:30 | Croatia | 18–27 | Sweden | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Thomas, Thomas (GER) |
| 31 July 1996 14:30 | Mikulić 6 | (7–10) | Hajas, Thorsson 7 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Thomas, Thomas (GER) |
| 31 July 1996 20:45 | Kuwait | 24–29 | United States | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Dăncescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 31 July 1996 20:45 | S. Al-Marzouq 9 | (10–13) | DeGraaf 13 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Dăncescu, Mateescu (ROU) |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | France | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 145 | 114 | +31 | 8 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Spain | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 114 | 97 | +17 | 8 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Egypt | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 113 | 103 | +10 | 6 | Fifth place game |
| 4 | Germany | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 121 | 112 | +9 | 6 | Seventh place game |
| 5 | Algeria | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 95 | 117 | −22 | 1 | Ninth place game |
| 6 | Brazil | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 100 | 145 | −45 | 1 | Eleventh place game |
* 1 2 France 27–25 Spain
* 1 2 Germany 22–24 Egypt
* 1 2 Algeria 20–20 Brazil
| 24 July 1996 11:45 | France | 27–25 | Spain | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 24 July 1996 11:45 | Kervadec 6 | (10–9) | Urdiales 8 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 24 July 1996 16:15 | Egypt | 19–16 | Algeria | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 24 July 1996 16:15 | El-Geioushy 8 | (7–9) | Saidi 5 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 24 July 1996 20:45 | Germany | 30–20 | Brazil | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Bojsen, Boehne (USA) |
| 24 July 1996 20:45 | Löhr 7 | (12–7) | Barros 4 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Bojsen, Boehne (USA) |
| 25 July 1996 11:45 | Algeria | 22–33 | France | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 25 July 1996 11:45 | Lamali 5 | (10–13) | Stoecklin 9 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 25 July 1996 16:15 | Spain | 22–20 | Germany | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 25 July 1996 16:15 | Garralda, Urdiales 5 | (11–10) | Zerbe 6 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 25 July 1996 19:00 | Brazil | 20–31 | Egypt | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Al-Houli, Al-Enezi (KUW) |
| 25 July 1996 19:00 | Barros 5 | (10–15) | Waress 6 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Al-Houli, Al-Enezi (KUW) |
| 27 July 1996 10:00 | Spain | 20–14 | Algeria | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Al-Houli, Al-Enezi (KUW) |
| 27 July 1996 10:00 | Guijosa, Urdiales 6 | (12–5) | Khalfallah 3 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Al-Houli, Al-Enezi (KUW) |
| 27 July 1996 16:15 | Germany | 22–24 | Egypt | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Dăncescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 27 July 1996 16:15 | Schwalb 6 | (9–11) | El-Attar 5 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Dăncescu, Mateescu (ROU) |
| 27 July 1996 20:45 | France | 37–23 | Brazil | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Moelle Mabounda, Mvoula (CGO) |
| 27 July 1996 20:45 | Volle 14 | (16–10) | Pelissari 7 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Moelle Mabounda, Mvoula (CGO) |
| 29 July 1996 10:00 | Egypt | 20–25 | France | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 29 July 1996 10:00 | Soliman 5 | (9–12) | Lathoud 8 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Øie, Høgsnes (NOR) |
| 29 July 1996 14:30 | Germany | 25–23 | Algeria | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 29 July 1996 14:30 | Kretzschmar 5 | (13–12) | Saidi 6 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Vujnović, Mladinić (CRO) |
| 29 July 1996 19:00 | Brazil | 17–27 | Spain | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Bojsen, Boehne (USA) |
| 29 July 1996 19:00 | Hoffelder 7 | (10–12) | Urdangarín 6 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Bojsen, Boehne (USA) |
| 31 July 1996 11:45 | Egypt | 19–20 | Spain | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gedvilas, Guterman (LTU) |
| 31 July 1996 11:45 | Soliman 6 | (8–11) | Urdiales 8 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gedvilas, Guterman (LTU) |
| 31 July 1996 16:15 | France | 23–24 | Germany | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 31 July 1996 16:15 | Prandi, Stoecklin 6 | (10–12) | Fegter 7 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 31 July 1996 19:00 | Algeria | 20–20 | Brazil | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Moelle Mabounda, Mvoula (CGO) |
| 31 July 1996 19:00 | Loukil, Nedjel Hammou 5 | (9–11) | Pinheiro 5 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Moelle Mabounda, Mvoula (CGO) |

## Final round
### Bracket

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 2 August | 2 August |
| Sweden | 25 |
| Sweden | 25 | 4 August | 4 August |
| Spain | 20 | 4 August | 4 August |
| Spain | 20 | Sweden | 26 |
| 2 August | 2 August | | Sweden | 26 |
| 2 August | 2 August | Croatia | 27 |
| France | 20 | Croatia | 27 |
| Croatia | 24 | | |
| Croatia | 24 | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match |
| | | 4 August | 4 August |
| | | Spain | 27 |
| | | France | 25 |

### Eleventh place game

| 2 August 1996 10:00 | Kuwait | 25–31 | Brazil | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Boehne, Bojsen (USA) |
| 2 August 1996 10:00 | Al-Harbi, Al-Zadah 5 | (13–16) | Nascimento 7 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Boehne, Bojsen (USA) |

### Ninth place game

| 2 August 1996 11:30 | Algeria | 26–27 (ET) | United States | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Al-Houli, Al-Enezi (KUW) |
| 2 August 1996 11:30 | Saidi 6 | (12–10) | Brown 7 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Al-Houli, Al-Enezi (KUW) |
| Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Al-Houli, Al-Enezi (KUW) |||

### Seventh place game

| 2 August 1996 14:30 | Switzerland | 16–23 | Germany | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 2 August 1996 14:30 | Scharer 6 | (10–12) | Scheffler, Stephan 5 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |

### Fifth place game

| 2 August 1996 19:00 | Egypt | 26–29 | Russia | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 2 August 1996 19:00 | El-Attar 10 | (11–15) | Gopin 6 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |

### Semifinals

| 2 August 1996 16:15 | Sweden | 25–20 | Spain | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 2 August 1996 16:15 | Thorsson 7 | (11–12) | Guijosa 5 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Brussel, van Dongen (NED) |
| 2 August 1996 20:45 | France | 20–24 | Croatia | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Høgsnes, Øie (NOR) |
| 2 August 1996 20:45 | Stoecklin 8 | (8–12) | Ćavar 8 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Høgsnes, Øie (NOR) |

### Bronze medal game

| 4 August 1996 11:00 | Spain | 27–25 | France | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |
| 4 August 1996 11:00 | three players 5 | (13–12) | Cordinier 7 | Georgia World Congress Center Referees: Elbrønd, Løvqvist (DEN) |

### Final

| 4 August 1996 12:45 | Sweden | 26–27 | Croatia | Georgia Dome Attendance: 35,000 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |
| 4 August 1996 12:45 | Thorsson 8 | (11–16) | three players 6 | Georgia Dome Attendance: 35,000 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP) |

## Rankings and statistics

Final rankings :
| 1 | Croatia |
| 2 | Sweden |
| 3 | Spain |
| 4 | France |
| 5 | Russia |
| 6 | Egypt |
| 7 | Germany |
| 8 | Switzerland |
| 9 | United States |
| 10 | Algeria |
| 11 | Brazil |
| 12 | Kuwait |
Top goalscorers :
| Player | Games | Goals | Attempts |
| 1. Patrik Ćavar (CRO) | 6 | 43 | 60 |
| 2. Stéphane Stoecklin (FRA) | 6 | 36 | 68 |
| 3. Frédéric Volle (FRA) | 7 | 35 | 58 |
| 4. Marc Baumgartner (SUI) | 6 | 35 | 71 |
| 5. Alberto Urdiales (ESP) | 7 | 31 | 47 |
| 6. Irfan Smajlagić (CRO) | 6 | 31 | 48 |
| 7. Valery Gopin (RUS) | 6 | 30 | 42 |
| 7. Erik Hajas (SWE) | 6 | 30 | 42 |
| 7. Pierre Thorsson (SWE) | 6 | 30 | 42 |
All-star team :
| Mats Olsson (SWE) |||
| Irfan Smajlagić (CRO) | Magnus Andersson (SWE) | Stéphane Stoecklin (FRA) |
| Dmitri Torgovanov (RUS) | Patrik Ćavar (CRO) | Frédéric Volle (FRA) |