Macedonia U18 handball team beats Portugal to reach top‑12 at European Championship

The Macedonian U18 men’s handball team defeated Portugal 26‑25 in the European Championship held in Serbia, securing a place among the top‑12 and a qualification spot for the next World Championship. The victory followed earlier wins over Turkey, Italy and the Faroe Islands, putting Macedonia in contention for a ninth‑place match against Israel.

Selector Goran Kuzmanoski praised the squad’s collective spirit, saying there were “no egoists” and that the team functioned as one. He highlighted the high‑level defence and disciplined attack, and singled out Trajche Kostov, who scored the decisive goal despite playing with a broken finger. Kuzmanoski noted the team’s physical and psychological readiness after a demanding schedule of seven matches in five days.

The win marks a significant achievement for the debutant side, which entered the tournament as a debutant and now looks forward to its final placement match.