Denmark men's national handball team

This article is about the men's handball team. For the women's national team, see Denmark women's national handball team.

Denmark
Information
Association	Danish Handball Association
Coach	Nikolaj Jacobsen
Assistant coach	Michael Bruun Henrik Kronborg
Captain	Magnus Saugstrup
Most caps	Lars Christiansen (338)
Most goals	Lars Christiansen (1503)
Colours
Results
Summer Olympics
Appearances	9 (First in 1972)
Best result	1st (2016, 2024)
World Championship
Appearances	25 (First in 1938)
Best result	1st (2019, 2021, 2023)
European Championship
Appearances	15 (First in 1994)
Best result	1st (2008, 2012)
Last updated on Unknown.

2017 World Men's Handball Championship
Sweden / Denmark (Group D)
16 January 2017.

Denmark men's national handball team

Medal record
Olympic Games
	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Team
	2024 Paris	Team
	2020 Tokyo	Team
World Championship
	2019 Denmark/Germany
	2021 Egypt
	2023 Poland/Sweden
	1967 Sweden
	2011 Sweden
	2013 Spain
	2007 Germany
World Outdoor Championship
	1948 France
European Championship
	2008 Norway
	2012 Serbia
	2014 Denmark
	2024 Germany
	2002 Sweden
	2004 Slovenia
	2006 Switzerland
	2022 Hungary/Slovakia

The Denmark men's national handball team (Danish: Danmarks håndboldlandshold, lit. 'Denmark's national handball team') is controlled by the Danish Handball Association and represents Denmark in international matches. They are the team with the fourth most medals won in European Championship history on the men's side behind Sweden, France and Spain, with a total of seven medals. Two of these are gold medals (2008, 2012), two silver (2014,2024) and four bronze medals (2002, 2004, 2006 & 2022).

As of August 2024 they are the Olympic Champions, winners of three consecutive World Championships (2019, 2021 and 2023) being the first country to ever do so, and runners-up from the 2024 European Championship making them the current top ranking men's handball team. Defending their 2019 World Championship title at the 2021 World Championship in Egypt, they became only the fourth country to successfully defend a World Championship title. (The other three being Sweden, Romania and France).

By winning the World Championship in 2023, they became the first team on the men's side, to win three World Championship titles in a row, winning in 2019, 2021 & 2023.

They are also the only team to have won nineteen national matches in a row without losing at a World Championship tournament from 2019 to 2021, surpassing the eighteen match winning streak by France. In January 2023, they became the first team ever, to not lose at 28 games in a row at the World Championships spanning from 2019–present, beating the previous record by France who had a 25 winning streak set between 2015 and 2019.

As of January 2023, they are the fourth most successful team in World Championship history behind France, Sweden and Romania, having won seven medals. Three of these are gold (2019, 2021, 2023), three silver (1967, 2011, 2013) and one bronze (2007).

History

Handball is the second most popular pastime in Denmark, only exceeded by football. At the end of 2003, the Danish Handball Association had more than 146,000 active and passive members.

2007 World Championship

In 2007 Denmark participated in the World Championship in Germany, where they were pitted in Group E against Angola, Hungary and their neighbors to the north Norway. Denmark finished second in their group after victories against Angola and Norway. In the main round the team faced Croatia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Hungary and defending champions Spain.

Despite an initial defeat against Croatia, the team advanced by defeating their last three opponents. In the quarterfinal Iceland was defeated by the narrowest of margins, 42–41. In the semi-final Denmark lost to Poland 36–33 and ended up in the bronze match against France, which they won 34–27 thus placing third.

Denmark's pivot Michael V. Knudsen was added to the All Star Team of the tournament.

2008 European Championship

After finishing third in three consecutive European Championships, the Danish team won gold at the 2008 European Men's Handball Championship, which took place in neighboring Norway. The team lost only one match on the way to gold in a fiercely contested derby against hosts Norway. The Danish team defeated Croatia 24–20 in the final after inching out Germany in the semis. Keeper Kasper Hvidt and winger Lars Christiansen were important factors in the Danish campaign, both being selected for the tournament all-star team and Lars Christiansen also finishing as shared top goalscorer.

2010 European Championship

As defending champions, Denmark was a favorite to reclaim the title. However, they did not succeed, losing matches to both Iceland and Croatia. Instead of advancing to the main-round Denmark ended up playing for fifth place against Spain. They won the placement match 34–27.

2011 World Championship

At The 2011 World Men's Handball Championship, after winning nine consecutive matches, Denmark reached the final beating Spain 28:24 in the semi-final. This was the first time in over 44 years, that the Denmark National Handball Team reached a World Championship final. In the final, Denmark lost against France 35:37 in overtime. This meant at the time, that France was able to hold all three major titles as reigning European Champions, Olympic Champions and also double World Champions.

2012 European Championship

Denmark came to the 2012 European Men's Handball Championship as vice World Champions and as one of the pre-favorites to win the tournament. However, in the main group, Denmark lost to both Serbia and Poland, proceeding to the main round with zero points, having only won against Slovakia. This meant that Denmark had to win all of their matches and at the same time, they had to rely on other results in order to advance to the semi-finals. Miraculously, results from other matches were in favor of Denmark. The destiny of Denmark's survival lay in the hands of Poland as Poland had to win against Germany in order to sustain Denmark's survival in the tournament. After a fierce and close match between Poland and Germany, Poland won 33–32. This meant that Denmark only had to beat Sweden in their final main round match, and they would go through to the semi-finals. Denmark beat Sweden by a large margin, 31–24, making handball history along the way, becoming the first team ever, both on the men's and women's side in European Championship history to advance to the semi-finals having carried zero points into the main round.

Like the 2011 World Men's Handball Championship, Denmark met Spain in the semi-finals, a match Denmark won 25–24. In the other semi-final, hosting nation Serbia met Croatia, a match Serbia won 26–22.

In a low scoring match, Denmark won their second European Championship title after beating Serbia 21–19 in the final, thus becoming the first handball team ever claiming the European Championship title having carried zero points into the main round.

2013 World Championship

Despite having disappointed at the 2012 Olympics in London, Denmark was still among the top teams to win the World Champions title. As defending European Champions, Denmark was seated with Russia, Iceland, Macedonia, Qatar and Chile in Group B. Winning all of their matches, they advanced safely to the 16th round where they had to meet Tunisia. Having no problems defeating Tunisia with the score of 30–23, Denmark reached the Quarterfinals where Hungary awaited. After a splendid first half, leading 18–11, the second half was a more close affair, though Denmark managed to win 28–26, reaching the semi-finals for the second consecutive time in this tournament. In the semi-finals, Denmark was seated with Croatia who had beaten the defending World Champions, France, in their semi-final. Though the odds where in favor of Croatia, Denmark played their best match in the 2013 World Championship so far, winning 30–24 and securing their second consecutive World Championship final.

In the final, Denmark was up against hosting nation, Spain. The final became a horrendous game for Denmark, losing with a record-breaking 16 goals, and losing the title for the second time in a row, with Spain declared as winner of the tournament for the second time in history.

2014 European Championship

As vice world champions, defending European Champions and the advantage of home court, Denmark were among the favorites to win the tournament. They won all of the matches in the preliminary round as well as the main round easily advancing to the semi-finals. Denmark met Croatia in the semi-final. They beat Croatia, 29–27, but lost to the France national team in the finals, losing 41–32. This was the second time in a row, that Denmark lost a Championship, losing to Spain at the 2013 World Championship.

2019 World Championship

Denmark along with Germany co-hosted the 2019 World Championship and played in Group C with Norway, Tunisia, Chile, Austria and Saudi Arabia. Started with a victory over Chile and remained undefeated. Then played in Group II in the main round the first match with a win over Hungary, also undefeated, played in the semi-finals. A win over six-time world champions France put them in the final. Denmark won world championship title with a 31–22 victory over Norway in the final.

2021 World Championship

Denmark qualified for the 2021 World Championship in Egypt as defending champions. They went undefeated and won the second successive world title. They also became the only team, to win nineteen national matches in a row at World Championship tournaments from 2019 to 2021, surpassing the eighteen winning streak by France.

2025 World Championship

Denmark along with Croatia and Norway will co-host the 2025 World Championship, it will be the third time Denmark co-host the tournament, they are automatically qualified as co-host

Honours

Competition				Total
Olympic Games	2	1	0	3
World Championship	3	3	1	7
European Championship	2	2	4	8
Total	7	6	5	18

Competitive record

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place  

Olympic Games

The team did not participate in the 1936 field handball tournament at the Olympics, but lost at the 1952 Olympics in a demonstration match against Sweden.

Games	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
1936 Berlin	did not participate
Not held from 1948 to 1968
1972 Munich	Match for 13th place	13th of 16	5	2	1	2	78	78	0
1976 Montreal	Match for 7th place	8th of 11	5	2	0	3	113	127	−14
1980 Moscow	Match for 9th place	9th of 12	6	2	0	4	124	124	0
1984 Los Angeles	Fourth place	4th of 12	6	4	0	2	134	122	+12
1988 Seoul	did not qualify
1992 Barcelona
1996 Atlanta
2000 Sydney
2004 Athens
2008 Beijing	Match for 7th place	7th of 12	8	3	2	3	225	211	+14
2012 London	Quarter-finals	6th of 12	6	4	0	2	146	153	−7
2016 Rio de Janeiro	Champions	1st of 12	8	6	0	2	230	211	+19
2020 Tokyo	Runners-up	2nd of 12	8	6	0	2	255	212	+33
2024 Paris	Champions	1st of 12	8	8	0	0	267	220	+47
2028 Los Angeles	TBD
2032 Brisbane
Total	9/15	2 Titles	60	37	3	20	1572	1458	+114

World Championship

World Championship record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1938	Semi-finals	4	3	0	0	3	6	20
1954	Fifth place	5	3	1	0	2	44	45
1958	Semi-finals	4	6	4	0	2	121	86
1961	Fifth place	5	6	4	0	2	92	78
1964	Seventh place	7	6	3	0	3	105	96
1967	Runners-up	2	6	4	0	2	92	77
1970	Semi-finals	4	6	3	0	3	103	116
1974	Second round	8	6	2	0	4	63	78
1978	Semi-finals	4	6	4	1	1	114	101
1982	Semi-finals	4	7	4	1	2	150	143
1986	Second round	8	7	3	0	4	152	160
1990	did not qualify
1993	Second round	9	7	2	2	3	145	156
1995	Preliminary round	17	5	2	0	3	126	117
1997	did not qualify
1999	Round of 16	9	6	4	0	2	141	140
2001	did not qualify
2003	Second round	9	7	4	0	3	201	193
2005	Preliminary round	13	5	3	0	2	174	117
2007	Semi-finals	3	10	7	0	3	316	283
2009	Semi-finals	4	10	7	0	3	298	258
2011	Runners-up	2	10	9	0	1	334	256
2013	Runners-up	2	9	8	0	1	291	244
2015	Quarter-finals	5	9	6	2	1	272	234
2017	Round of 16	10	6	5	0	1	182	157
2019	Champions	1	10	10	0	0	317	223
2021	Champions	1	9	8	1	0	304	227
2023	Champions	1	9	8	1	0	308	226
2025	Qualified as co-host
2027	TBD
2029
2031	Qualified as co-host
Total	25/30	3 Titles	174	115	*8	51	4466	3832

European Championship

European Championship record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1994	Fourth place	4	7	3	1	3	150	152
1996	11th/12th place	12	6	0	0	6	132	158
1998	did not qualify
2000	9th/10th place	10	6	2	0	4	143	153
2002	Third place	3	8	6	1	1	212	189
2004	Third place	3	8	6	0	2	240	206
2006	Third place	3	8	5	1	2	253	233
2008	Champions	1	8	7	0	1	233	193
2010	5th/6th place	5	7	5	0	2	198	184
2012	Champions	1	8	6	0	2	216	201
2014	Runners-up	2	8	7	0	1	247	222
2016	5th/6th place	6	7	4	1	2	195	180
2018	Fourth place	4	8	5	0	3	235	215
2020	Preliminary round	13	3	1	1	1	85	83
2022	Third place	3	9	7	0	2	274	228
2024	Runners-up	2	9	7	0	2	281	233
2026	Qualified as co-host
2028	TBD
Total	15/16	2 Titles	110	71	5	34	3094	2830

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided in a penalty shootout.

**Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Team

Current squad

On 18 December 2024 a 19-player squad was announced for the 2025 World Championship.

Head coach: Nikolaj Jacobsen

No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club 3 RB Niclas Kirkeløkke (1994-03-26)26 March 1994 (aged 30) 1.95 m 91 174 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 4 LW Magnus Landin Jacobsen (1995-08-20)20 August 1995 (aged 29) 1.97 m 165 265 THW Kiel 7 LW Emil Jakobsen (1998-01-24)24 January 1998 (aged 26) 1.90 m 82 267 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 11 CB Rasmus Lauge (1991-06-20)20 June 1991 (aged 33) 1.96 m 175 435 Bjerringbro-Silkeborg 12 GK Emil Nielsen (1997-03-10)10 March 1997 (aged 27) 1.95 m 52 6 Barça 15 P Magnus Saugstrup (1996-07-12)12 July 1996 (aged 28) 1.95 m 92 196 SC Magdeburg 19 RB Mathias Gidsel (1999-02-08)8 February 1999 (aged 25) 1.90 m 79 448 Füchse Berlin 20 GK Kevin Møller (1989-06-20)20 June 1989 (aged 35) 2.00 m 82 7 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 21 LB Henrik Møllgaard (1985-01-02)2 January 1985 (aged 39) 1.97 m 226 182 Aalborg Håndbold 22 CB Mads Mensah Larsen (1991-08-12)12 August 1991 (aged 33) 1.88 m 204 327 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 25 P Lukas Jørgensen (1999-03-31)31 March 1999 (aged 25) 1.93 m 43 128 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 26 RW Jóhan Hansen (1994-05-01)1 May 1994 (aged 30) 1.90 m 93 171 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 28 LB Lasse Andersson (1994-03-11)11 March 1994 (aged 30) 1.96 m 72 83 Füchse Berlin 32 LB Jacob Holm (1995-09-05)5 September 1995 (aged 29) 1.94 m 83 212 Paris Saint-Germain 33 P Emil Bergholt (1997-08-25)25 August 1997 (aged 27) 1.90 m 5 6 Skjern Håndbold 34 P Simon Hald (1994-09-28)28 September 1994 (aged 30) 2.03 m 97 100 Aalborg Håndbold 42 OB Thomas Sommer Arnoldsen (2002-01-11)11 January 2002 (aged 22) 1.98 m 17 45 Aalborg Håndbold 43 LB Simon Pytlick (2000-12-11)11 December 2000 (aged 24) 1.93 m 46 206 SG Flensburg-Handewitt 45 RB Emil Madsen (2001-01-01)1 January 2001 (aged 23) 1.94 m 16 31 THW Kiel Coaching staff Role Name Head coach Nikolaj Jacobsen Assistant coach Henrik Kronborg Team manager Keld Vilhelmsen Goalkeeping coach Michael Bruun Doctor Morten Storgaard Bodytherapist Kristoffer Glavind Kjær Physiotherapist Anja David Greve Statistics   Still active national team players are highlighted Most capped players Player Games Position Years Lars Christiansen 338 W 1992–2012 Hans Lindberg 308 W 2003– Niklas Landin Jacobsen 283 GK 2008–2024 Mikkel Hansen 276 OB 2007–2024 Lasse Svan Hansen 246 W 2003–2022 Bo Spellerberg 245 CB 2000–2015 Michael V. Knudsen 244 P 1999–2014 Michael Fenger 234 W 1982–1993 Erik Veje Rasmussen 233 OB 1980–1993 Henrik Møllgaard 226 D, OB 2006–2025 Jesper Nøddesbo 223 P 2001–2017 Kasper Hvidt 219 GK 1996–2010 Kay Jørgensen 213 GK 1966–1980 Frank Jørgensen 212 P 1986–1996 Anders Dahl-Nielsen 209 CB 1973–1984 Mads Mensah Larsen 201 CB 2011– Lars Jørgensen 192 LB 1999–2010 Kasper Nielsen 191 D, OB 1995–2012 Morten Stig Christensen 190 LB 1976-1988 Joachim Boldsen 186 CB 1998–2008 Top scorers Player Goals Average Position Years Lars Christiansen 1503 4.45 W 1992–2012 Mikkel Hansen 1387 5.03 LB 2007–2024 Erik Veje Rasmussen 1015 4.37 LB 1980–1993 Hans Lindberg 809 2.65 W 2003– Michael V. Knudsen 797 3.27 P 1999–2014 Anders Dahl-Nielsen 610 2.92 CB 1973–1984 Christian Hjermind 595 3.50 W 1994–2005 Nikolaj Jacobsen 584 3.95 W 1991–2003 Anders Eggert 581 3.63 W 2003–2021 Lasse Svan Hansen 572 2.33 W 2003–2022 Michael Fenger 541 2.31 W 1982–1993 Søren Stryger 482 3.19 W 1998-2007 Jesper Nøddesbo 450 2.02 P 2001–2017 Morten Stig Christensen 445 2.34 LB 1976-1988 Klavs Bruun Jørgensen 440 2.37 RB 1994-2009 Mathias Gidsel 438 5.62 RB 2020– Rasmus Lauge Schmidt 435 2.49 CB 2010– Morten Bjerre 432 2.34 RB 1992–2005 Lasse Boesen 406 2.55 LB 2000–2012 Joachim Boldsen 405 2.18 CB 1998–2008 As of 11 August 2024. Kit suppliers Between 2003 and 2006, Denmark's kits were supplied by Adidas. Since 2007 the kits have been supplied by Puma. Sponsors The current sponsor of the Danish Handball Team is Norlys. References External links Official website IHF profile