Croatia’s youth handball teams have achieved a remarkable overall ranking of fifth place in Europe according to the European Handball Federation (EHF) standings, highlighting the strength and talent pool present in the country’s younger generation of handball players.

The ranking, based on performances across various age categories in recent competitions, places Croatia behind only Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany, while ahead of other strong handball nations like Iceland, France, and Hungary. This impressive position serves as a motivation boost for Croatian young handball athletes and reflects the effective development programs in place.

Notably, the Croatian junior and cadet women’s teams contributed significantly to this success by securing the fourth position in their category, thanks in large part to a silver medal won at the European Championship. They amassed 128 points overall, just a few points behind Denmark and Montenegro, who share second place, with Spain leading at 144 points.

On the men’s side, the Croatian youth handball teams ranked seventh overall, a respectable achievement, though slightly below expectations, given the belief in their talent. The younger juniors secured a bronze medal in the Open European Championship in Sweden, while some frustration was felt due to injuries and underperformance at specific global tournaments. Spain and Sweden share the top spot in the men’s youth rankings with 204 points, followed by Iceland and the Faroe Islands, showing the competitive nature of European youth handball development.

These rankings underscore the growing prominence of Croatian handball at the youth level, affirming the country’s potential to continue producing world-class talent capable of succeeding internationally. The robust youth results are a promising foundation for future success in senior competitions and contribute to Croatia’s esteemed reputation in European handball.