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SportsPortugal U-18 handball team prepares for European Championship at Scandiberian tournament
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The Portuguese U-18 national handball team is in the final phase of preparation for the upcoming European Championship, participating in the Scandiberian tournament in Kiruna, Sweden. The team will face Sweden, Norway, and Spain in consecutive days, testing their evolution against opponents with different playing styles. Coach Nuno Santos highlighted the need for adjustments in attack and defensive duels, as well as effective minute management to ensure player readiness. Portugal previously won the same tournament in March with victories over Sweden and Norway and a draw with Spain. After the Scandiberian tournament, Portugal will travel to Belgrade, Serbia, for the U-18 European Championship, where they are placed in Group C alongside the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Israel. The group stage matches are scheduled from July 29 to August 1, 2026.
Source report
Portugal will face Sweden, Norway, and Spain in Kiruna, Sweden.
By Alexandre Reis
The U-18 national team is in the final stretch of preparation for the European Championship, competing in the Scandiberian tournament against Sweden (this Friday), Norway (Saturday), and Spain (Sunday) in Kiruna, Sweden.
In March, Portugal won the same tournament with victories against Sweden (36-28) and Norway (32-21), and a draw with Spain (33-33).
Beyond repeating those results, the Kiruna tournament will allow the team to assess its evolution against opponents with different characteristics, in a context marked by short recovery between games — similar to the demands Portugal will face at the European Championship.
Coach Nuno Santos identified attack and defensive duels as areas that still need adjustments. Minute management will also be crucial to ensure all players are ready to contribute during the continental competition.
"Sweden and Norway are teams with some similarities. They are based on a 6:0 defense, look a lot for the counterattack, and invest heavily in individual duels and outside shots. Spain has different characteristics. It is a more technically and tactically rich team, with a more hybrid defense. When it adopts that system, it also seeks to quickly transition to the counterattack and, offensively, has many arguments and a game with a lot of detail."
After the Scandiberian tournament, Portugal will travel to Belgrade (Serbia), where it is part of Group C of the U-18 European Championship, facing the Czech Republic (July 29), Croatia (July 30), and Israel (August 1).
[See the squad here.]
U-18 European Championship Schedule — Group C
| Date | Time | Match | |------|------|-------| | 29.07.2026 | 4:00 PM | Portugal vs Czech Republic | | 30.07.2026 | 4:00 PM | Portugal vs Croatia | | 01.08.2026 | 11:00 AM | Israel vs Portugal |
Source
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Portugal U-18 Handball Team Prepares for European Championship in Scandiberian Tournament