# 1998 European Women's Handball Championship

The 1998 EHF European Women's Handball Championship was the third edition of the European Women's Championship. It was held in the Netherlands from 11 to 20 December. It was won by Norway after beating Denmark 24–16 in the final match. This was the first time Norway won the title, after Denmark had won the first two titles.

## Venues

The tournament was held in the following cities:
* Amsterdam
* 's-Hertogenbosch

## Qualification

| Country | Qualified as | Previous appearances in tournament |
| Netherlands | Host | 0 (Debut) |
| Denmark | Defending champion | 2 (1994, 1996) |
| Austria | Winner of group 1 | 2 (1994, 1996) |
| Russia | Runner-up of group 1 | 2 (1994, 1996) |
| Hungary | Winner of group 2 | 2 (1994, 1996) |
| Germany | Runner-up of group 2 | 2 (1994, 1996) |
| Norway | Winner of group 3 | 2 (1994, 1996) |
| Spain | Runner-up of group 3 | 0 (Debut) |
| Poland | Winner of group 4 | 1 (1996) |
| Romania | Runner-up of group 4 | 2 (1994, 1996) |
| Ukraine | Winner of group 5 | 2 (1994, 1996) |
| Macedonia | Runner-up of group 5 | 0 (Debut) |
Note: Bold indicates champion for that year. Italic indicates host for that year.

## Preliminary round
### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Austria | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 134 | 118 | +16 | 8 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Hungary | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 131 | 109 | +22 | 8 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Germany | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 117 | 119 | −2 | 8 | Fifth place game |
| 4 | Ukraine | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 128 | 127 | +1 | 4 | Seventh place game |
| 5 | Netherlands (H) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 107 | 121 | −14 | 2 | Ninth place game |
| 6 | Romania | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 120 | 143 | −23 | 0 | Eleventh place game |
* 1 2 3 Austria 2 Pts, +4 GD; Hungary 2 Pts, +2 GD; Germany 2 Pts, –6 GD
| 11 December 1998 16:00 | Hungary | 28–24 | Romania | Amsterdam Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 11 December 1998 16:00 | | (14–11) | | Amsterdam Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 11 December 1998 16:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 11 December 1998 18:00 | Austria | 24–25 | Germany | Amsterdam Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 11 December 1998 18:00 | | (15–13) | | Amsterdam Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 11 December 1998 18:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 11 December 1998 20:15 | Ukraine | 23–16 | Netherlands | Amsterdam Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 11 December 1998 20:15 | | (11–9) | | Amsterdam Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 11 December 1998 20:15 | | Report | | Amsterdam Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 13 December 1998 15:00 | Netherlands | 19–28 | Hungary | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 13 December 1998 15:00 | | (5–12) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 13 December 1998 15:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 13 December 1998 17:00 | Romania | 24–26 | Austria | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,300 Referees: Ivanchev, Georgiev (BUL) |
| 13 December 1998 17:00 | | (13–13) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,300 Referees: Ivanchev, Georgiev (BUL) |
| 13 December 1998 17:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,300 Referees: Ivanchev, Georgiev (BUL) |
| 13 December 1998 19:00 | Germany | 28–27 | Ukraine | Amsterdam Attendance: 800 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 13 December 1998 19:00 | | (18–14) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 800 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 13 December 1998 19:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 800 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 14 December 1998 15:30 | Hungary | 21–26 | Austria | Amsterdam Attendance: 750 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 14 December 1998 15:30 | | (10–11) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 750 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 14 December 1998 15:30 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 750 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 14 December 1998 17:30 | Netherlands | 18–19 | Germany | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 14 December 1998 17:30 | | (8–11) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 14 December 1998 17:30 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 14 December 1998 19:30 | Ukraine | 32–24 | Romania | Amsterdam Attendance: 900 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 14 December 1998 19:30 | | (16–12) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 900 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 14 December 1998 19:30 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 900 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 16 December 1998 16:00 | Austria | 30–24 | Ukraine | Amsterdam Attendance: 450 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 16 December 1998 16:00 | | (17–14) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 450 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 16 December 1998 16:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 450 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 16 December 1998 18:00 | Romania | 23–30 | Netherlands | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 16 December 1998 18:00 | | (9–12) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 16 December 1998 18:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 16 December 1998 20:00 | Hungary | 25–18 | Germany | Amsterdam Attendance: 600 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 16 December 1998 20:00 | | (13–10) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 600 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 16 December 1998 20:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 600 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 17 December 1998 16:00 | Ukraine | 22–29 | Hungary | Amsterdam Attendance: 400 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 17 December 1998 16:00 | | (11–17) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 400 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 17 December 1998 16:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 400 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 17 December 1998 18:00 | Germany | 27–25 | Romania | Amsterdam Attendance: 600 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 17 December 1998 18:00 | | (16–12) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 600 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 17 December 1998 18:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 600 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 17 December 1998 20:00 | Austria | 28–24 | Netherlands | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 17 December 1998 20:00 | | (13–9) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 17 December 1998 20:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Norway | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 137 | 102 | +35 | 10 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Denmark | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 138 | 115 | +23 | 8 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Poland | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 110 | +2 | 6 | Fifth place game |
| 4 | Macedonia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 111 | 136 | −25 | 4 | Seventh place game |
| 5 | Russia | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 112 | 128 | −16 | 1 | Ninth place game |
| 6 | Spain | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 107 | 126 | −19 | 1 | Eleventh place game |
* 1 2 Spain 26–26 Russia
| 11 December 1998 16:00 | Poland | 20–15 | Spain | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 11 December 1998 16:00 | | (9–8) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 11 December 1998 16:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 11 December 1998 18:00 | Denmark | 37–21 | Macedonia | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 11 December 1998 18:00 | | (19–10) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 11 December 1998 18:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 11 December 1998 20:00 | Norway | 25–20 | Russia | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 11 December 1998 20:00 | Grini 7 | (9–10) | Mozgovaia 4 | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 11 December 1998 20:00 | 3× 3× | Report | 2× 2× | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 12 December 1998 16:00 | Russia | 21–25 | Poland | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 12 December 1998 16:00 | Mozgovaia 7 | (9–14) | Matuszewska 7 | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 12 December 1998 16:00 | 3× 5× 1× | Report | 3× 3× | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 12 December 1998 18:00 | Spain | 23–26 | Denmark | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 12 December 1998 18:00 | | (10–13) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 12 December 1998 18:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 12 December 1998 20:00 | Macedonia | 23–27 | Norway | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 12 December 1998 20:00 | | (12–13) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 12 December 1998 20:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 14 December 1998 16:00 | Macedonia | 27–22 | Spain | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 600 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 14 December 1998 16:00 | | (13–10) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 600 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 14 December 1998 16:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 600 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 14 December 1998 18:00 | Norway | 30–19 | Poland | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 14 December 1998 18:00 | | (14–8) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 14 December 1998 18:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 14 December 1998 20:00 | Denmark | 27–22 | Russia | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,100 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 14 December 1998 20:00 | Fruelund, Kjærgaard 5 | (14–10) | Shevchenko 6 | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,100 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 14 December 1998 20:00 | 2× 2× | Report | 2× 5× | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,100 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 16 December 1998 16:00 | Russia | 23–25 | Macedonia | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 310 Referees: Ivanchev, Georgiev (BUL) |
| 16 December 1998 16:00 | Mozgovaia 12 | (14–11) | Radulović 9 | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 310 Referees: Ivanchev, Georgiev (BUL) |
| 16 December 1998 16:00 | 2× 4× | Report | 3× 2× | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 310 Referees: Ivanchev, Georgiev (BUL) |
| 16 December 1998 18:00 | Norway | 27–21 | Spain | Amsterdam Attendance: 300 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 16 December 1998 18:00 | | (13–14) | | Amsterdam Attendance: 300 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 16 December 1998 18:00 | | Report | | Amsterdam Attendance: 300 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 16 December 1998 20:00 | Poland | 21–29 | Denmark | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 16 December 1998 20:00 | | (9–15) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 16 December 1998 20:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 17 December 1998 16:00 | Spain | 26–26 | Russia | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 17 December 1998 16:00 | Puche 8 | (12–12) | Chechkova, Verakso 5 | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 17 December 1998 16:00 | 4× 3× | Report | 3× 5× 1× | 's-Hertogenbosch Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 17 December 1998 18:00 | Poland | 27–15 | Macedonia | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 17 December 1998 18:00 | | (13–8) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 17 December 1998 18:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 17 December 1998 20:00 | Denmark | 19–28 | Norway | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 2,200 Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 17 December 1998 20:00 | | (8–12) | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 2,200 Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 17 December 1998 20:00 | | Report | | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 2,200 Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |

## Final round
### Bracket

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 19 December | 19 December |
| Norway | 28 |
| Norway | 28 | 20 December | 20 December |
| Hungary | 14 | 20 December | 20 December |
| Hungary | 14 | Norway | 24 |
| 19 December | 19 December | | Norway | 24 |
| 19 December | 19 December | Denmark | 16 |
| Austria | 24 | Denmark | 16 |
| Denmark | 35 | | |
| Denmark | 35 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 20 December | 20 December |
| | | Hungary | 30 |
| | | Austria | 24 |

### Eleventh place game

| 19 December 1998 13:00 | Romania | 28–25 | Spain | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 200 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 19 December 1998 13:00 | Amariei 13 | (15–16) | Pareja 6 | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 200 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |
| 19 December 1998 13:00 | 3× 3× | Report | 3× 5× | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 200 Referees: Scholtens, Stolk (NED) |

### Ninth place game

| 19 December 1998 15:30 | Netherlands | 19–32 | Russia | Amsterdam Attendance: 2,250 Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 19 December 1998 15:30 | Van Linder 6 | (8–14) | Chechkova, Mozgovaia 7 | Amsterdam Attendance: 2,250 Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |
| 19 December 1998 15:30 | 3× 5× | Report | 2× 10× 2× | Amsterdam Attendance: 2,250 Referees: Klucsó, Lekrinszki (HUN) |

### Seventh place game

| 19 December 1998 17:30 | Ukraine | 35–21 | Macedonia | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 400 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 19 December 1998 17:30 | Derepasko 9 | (21–14) | Abramova 5 | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 400 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |
| 19 December 1998 17:30 | 2× 2× | Report | 2× 6× | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 400 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE) |

### Fifth place game

| 19 December 1998 13:00 | Germany | 23–26 | Poland | Amsterdam Attendance: 900 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 19 December 1998 13:00 | three players 5 | (12–12) | Soja 10 | Amsterdam Attendance: 900 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| 19 December 1998 13:00 | 3× 2× | Report | 3× 7× 1× | Amsterdam Attendance: 900 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD) |

### Semifinals

| 19 December 1998 18:00 | Norway | 28–14 | Hungary | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 19 December 1998 18:00 | Grini 9 | (13–8) | three players 3 | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 19 December 1998 18:00 | 3× 3× | Report | 2× 5× | 's-Hertogenbosch Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Baum, Szczepański (POL) |
| 19 December 1998 18:00 | Austria | 24–35 | Denmark | Amsterdam Attendance: 2,700 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 19 December 1998 18:00 | Fridrikas 9 | (9–22) | C. Andersen 11 | Amsterdam Attendance: 2,700 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |
| 19 December 1998 18:00 | 2× 2× | Report | 2× 4× 1× | Amsterdam Attendance: 2,700 Referees: Kohout, Dolejš (CZE) |

### Third place game

| 20 December 1998 16:30 | Hungary | 30–24 | Austria | Amsterdam Attendance: 3,300 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 20 December 1998 16:30 | Farkas 10 | (18–11) | Fridrikas 11 | Amsterdam Attendance: 3,300 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |
| 20 December 1998 16:30 | 3× 2× | Report | 3× 3× | Amsterdam Attendance: 3,300 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN) |

### Final

| 20 December 1998 19:00 | Norway | 24–16 | Denmark | Amsterdam Attendance: 3,300 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 20 December 1998 19:00 | Sørlie 7 | (13–7) | three players 3 | Amsterdam Attendance: 3,300 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |
| 20 December 1998 19:00 | 3× 2× | Report | 2× 1× | Amsterdam Attendance: 3,300 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY) |

## Ranking and statistics
### All Star Team

| Position | Player |
| Goalkeeper | Cecilie Leganger (NOR) |
| Right wing | Janne Kolling (DEN) |
| Right back | Kjersti Grini (NOR) |
| Centre back | Camilla Andersen (DEN) |
| Left back | Ausra Fridrikas (AUT) |
| Left wing | Sabina Soja (POL) |
| Pivot | Tonje Kjærgaard (DEN) |
Source: