By erome 
Portugal made history today by securing fifth place at the European Handball Championship, their best-ever ranking in the tournamentβs final stages. The thrilling 36-35 victory over Sweden was sealed with a dramatic goal in the final second by Martim Costa.
The match, held in Herning, Denmark, saw both teams tied at halftime, 16-16. Portugal, which had already qualified for the 2027 Handball World Cup, showed resilience and determination in the second half, overcoming Swedenβa five-time European championβto clinch their historic win.
This marks Portugalβs ninth appearance in the final stages of the European Championship and their fourth consecutive participation. The teamβs fifth-place finish surpasses their previous best of sixth place achieved in 2020.
During the preliminary phase, Portugal topped Group B with two wins against Denmark and Romania and a draw with North Macedonia, securing advancement in the competition. In the Main Round, the Portuguese squad finished third in their group, with losses to Germany and France, a draw against Norway, and a key victory over Spain, which earned them a spot in the fifth-place match.
With this historic achievement, Portugal demonstrates its growing strength in European handball, setting a promising path for the 2027 World Cup.