Italy defeats Belgium 24:20 in handball European Championship qualifier

The Italian national handball team secured a 24:20 away victory against Belgium in their second qualifying match for the 2028 European Championship. Played in Hasselt, the win allows Italy to maintain a perfect record in the qualification stage following their previous victory against Slovakia.

Leo Prantner was a standout performer for the Azzurri, scoring six goals to lead the team. Other notable contributors included Simon Sirot, who scored twice, and Roberto Conte, who provided strong defensive play. Italy established a 13:11 lead by halftime and extended that advantage to 18:11 shortly after the break.

For Belgium, the loss follows an earlier defeat against Germany, placing their hopes for the 2028 tournament in jeopardy. Despite an energetic start featuring goals from Raphael Kötters and Nick Braun, the Belgian side could not overcome the Italian momentum in the second half.