2000 European Men's Handball Championship

The 2000 European Men's Handball Championship was the fourth edition of the tournament and was held in Croatia from 21 to 30 January 2000, in the cities of Zagreb and Rijeka.^[1] Sweden won the tournament after defeating Russia in the final, while Spain finished third.

2000 European Men's Handball Championship

Tournament details
Host country	Croatia
Venue(s)	2 (in 2 host cities)
Dates	21–30 January
Teams	12 (from 1 confederation)
Final positions
Champions	Sweden (3rd title)
Runners-up	Russia
Third place	Spain
Fourth place	France
Tournament statistics
Matches played	38
Goals scored	1,867 (49.13 per match)
Attendance	113,750 (2,993 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Oleg Velyky (46 goals)
Awards
Best player	Jackson Richardson
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Qualification

Country	Qualified as	Previous appearances in tournament
Croatia	Host	3 (1994, 1996, 1998)
Sweden	Defending champion	3 (1994, 1996, 1998)
Denmark	Playoff winner	2 (1994, 1996)
France	Playoff winner	3 (1994, 1996, 1998)
Germany	Playoff winner	3 (1994, 1996, 1998)
Iceland	Playoff winner	0 (Debut)
Norway	Playoff winner	0 (Debut)
Portugal	Playoff winner	1 (1994)
Russia	Playoff winner	3 (1994, 1996, 1998)
Slovenia	Playoff winner	2 (1994, 1996)
Spain	Playoff winner	3 (1994, 1996, 1998)
Ukraine	Playoff winner	0 (Debut)

Note: Bold indicates champion for that year. Italic indicates host for that year.

Venues

Two Croatian cities were selected as hosts for the 2000 Championship:

Rijeka	Zagreb Rijeka	Zagreb
Dvorana Mladosti Capacity: 4,000		Dom Športova Capacity: 7,000

Preliminary round

All times are local (UTC+1).

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	France	5	4	1	0	127	110	+17	9	Semifinals
2	Spain	5	4	0	1	128	120	+8	8
3	Croatia (H)	5	3	1	1	122	114	+8	7	Fifth place game
4	Norway	5	1	1	3	106	114	−8	3	Seventh place game
5	Germany	5	0	2	3	110	119	−9	2	Ninth place game
6	Ukraine	5	0	1	4	104	120	−16	1	Eleventh place game

Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
(H) Hosts

21 January 2000 16:30	France	24–21	Norway	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Litvinov, Khudoerko (RUS)
	Gille 6	(14–12)	Berge 6
	4× 4×	Report	2× 6×

21 January 2000 18:30	Germany	24–24	Ukraine	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 2,500 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN)
	Baur 8	(14–11)	Velyky 12
	4× 4×	Report	3× 3×

21 January 2000 21:00	Spain	27–22	Croatia	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 10,000 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE)
	Guijosa 6	(16–11)	Smajlagić 6
	3× 5×	Report	2× 4×

---

22 January 2000 17:00	Norway	21–25	Spain	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 1,600 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY)
	Ellingsen, Penne 5	(9–13)	Dujshevaev, Xepkin 7
	2× 3×	Report	3× 6×

22 January 2000 19:00	Croatia	21–20	Germany	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 9,500 Referees: Migas, Bavas (GRE)
	Saračević 7	(11–12)	Kretzschmar 7
	4× 3×	Report	3× 4×

22 January 2000 21:00	Ukraine	22–24	France	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD)
	Velyky 8	(9–12)	Cazal 8
	3× 3×	Report	3× 4×

---

23 January 2000 17:00	Spain	27–24	Ukraine	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN)
	Guijosa 7	(17–11)	Velyky 10
	3× 1×	Report	3× 4×

23 January 2000 19:00	Germany	19–25	France	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 5,000 Referees: Litvinov, Khudoerko (RUS)
	Kretzschmar 6	(9–15)	Richardson 8
	3× 4× 1×	Report	3× 3×

23 January 2000 21:00	Croatia	27–23	Norway	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 9,500 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD)
	Bilić 8	(15–10)	Oustorp, Penne 5
	3× 10× 1×	Report	4× 3×

---

25 January 2000 17:00	France	28–22	Spain	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE)
	Cazal 8	(16–12)	Masip 9
	3× 5×	Report	2× 3×

25 January 2000 19:00	Germany	22–22	Norway	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY)
	Roos 11	(11–10)	Jensen 7
	3× 6×	Report	2× 2×

25 January 2000 21:00	Ukraine	18–26	Croatia	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Klúcsó, Lekrinszki (HUN)
	Nat 5	(9–13)	Saračević 8
	2× 3×	Report	3× 3×

---

27 January 2000 17:00	Norway	19–16	Ukraine	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 700 Referees: Migas, Bavas (GRE)
	Rasch 6	(12–7)	four players 3
	3× 5×	Report	3× 3×

27 January 2000 19:00	Spain	27–25	Germany	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Boye, Jensen (DEN)
	Guijosa, Masip 6	(12–9)	Baur, Roos 6
	4× 2×	Report	3× 4×

27 January 2000 21:00	France	26–26	Croatia	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 3,500 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER)
	Cazal 8	(12–11)	Kljaić 6
	4× 7×	Report	2× 4×

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Sweden	5	5	0	0	143	115	+28	10	Semifinals
2	Russia	5	4	0	1	128	120	+8	8
3	Slovenia	5	2	0	3	129	131	−2	4[a]	Fifth place game
4	Portugal	5	2	0	3	123	133	−10	4[a]	Seventh place game
5	Denmark	5	2	0	3	126	134	−8	4[a]	Ninth place game
6	Iceland	5	0	0	5	121	137	−16	0	Eleventh place game

Source: EHF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
Notes:

1. Slovenia 2 Pts, +3 GD; Portugal 2 Pts, –1 GD; Denmark 2 Pts, –2 GD

21 January 2000 17:00	Sweden	31–23	Iceland	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Klúcsó, Lekrinszki (HUN)
	Lövgren 7	(18–10)	Bjarnason 5
	3× 4×	Report	3× 8×

21 January 2000 19:00	Portugal	28–27	Slovenia	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER)
	Coelho 6	(12–12)	Lubej 8
	3× 7× 1×	Report	3× 2×

21 January 2000 21:00	Russia	27–26	Denmark	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP)
	three players 5	(11–14)	Jacobsen 6
	3× 2×	Report	3× 3×

---

22 January 2000 17:00	Slovenia	23–27	Russia	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 2,500 Referees: Garcia, Moreno (FRA)
	Pajovič 10	(12–16)	Koksharov 7
	3× 4×	Report	3× 5×

22 January 2000 19:00	Iceland	25–28	Portugal	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP)
	Grímsson 9	(13–14)	Resende 10
	3× 7× 1×	Report	3× 4×

22 January 2000 21:00	Denmark	22–29	Sweden	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER)
	Christiansen, Jeppesen 5	(10–16)	Lövgren 10
	3× 5×	Report	3× 3×

---

23 January 2000 17:00	Sweden	29–21	Portugal	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Migas, Bavas (GRE)
	Petersson 7	(15–9)	Resende 6
	3× 2×	Report	4× 5× 1×

23 January 2000 19:00	Russia	25–23	Iceland	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY)
	Filippov 6	(15–14)	Grímsson 6
	3× 3×	Report	4× 3×

23 January 2000 21:00	Denmark	24–28	Slovenia	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Klúcsó, Lekrinszki (HUN)
	Jacobsen 11	(9–13)	Šerbec 6
	3× 4×	Report	2× 9×

---

25 January 2000 17:00	Sweden	26–24	Slovenia	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 4,000 Referees: Gallego, Lamas (ESP)
	Wislander 7	(11–12)	Pajovič 5
	3× 3×	Report	3×

25 January 2000 19:00	Portugal	20–24	Russia	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD)
	Resende 8	(13–11)	Krivoshlykov, Kulinchenko 6
	3× 2×	Report	3× 2×

25 January 2000 21:00	Iceland	24–26	Denmark	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 800 Referees: Garcia, Moreno (FRA)
	Grímsson 6	(14–13)	Bjerre 6
	3× 4×	Report	3× 3×

---

27 January 2000 17:00	Slovenia	27–26	Iceland	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 2,400 Referees: Litvinov, Khudoerko (RUS)
	Kastelic, Šerbec 5	(17–12)	Grímsson 7
	4× 3×	Report	4× 4×

27 January 2000 19:00	Russia	25–28	Sweden	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Garcia, Moreno (FRA)
	Filippov 10	(15–14)	Wislander 7
	3× 3×	Report	4× 2×

27 January 2000 21:00	Portugal	26–28	Denmark	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Nachevski , Nachevski (MKD)
	Resende 9	(12–13)	Jacobsen 6
	3× 8×	Report	4× 3×

Placement matches

Eleventh place game

29 January 2000 15:00	Ukraine	25–26	Iceland	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 200 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY)
	Velyky 11	(12–13)	Grímsson 9
	2× 3×	Report	3× 4×

Ninth place game

29 January 2000 17:30	Germany	19–17	Denmark	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 350 Referees: Klúcsó, Lekrinszki (HUN)
	Roos 6	(8–10)	Christiansen 6
	2× 7× 1×	Report	3× 6×

Seventh place game

29 January 2000 20:00	Norway	27–30 (ET)	Portugal	Dvorana Mladosti, Rijeka Attendance: 100 Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE)
	three players 5	(10–14)	Tchikoulaev 8
	2× 4×	Report	2× 6×
	FT: 23–23 ET: 4–7

Fifth place game

29 January 2000 21:00	Croatia	24–25	Slovenia	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 10,000 Referees: Garcia, Moreno (FRA)
	Smajlagić 7	(12–12)	three players 6
	3× 6×	Report	3× 7× 1×

Knockout stage

Bracket

	Semifinals				Final
	29 January
	France	23
					30 January
	Russia	30
					Russia	31
	29 January
					Sweden (ET)	32
	Sweden	23
	Spain	21
					Third place
					30 January
					Spain	24
					France	23

Semifinals

29 January 2000 15:00	France	23–30	Russia	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Nachevski, Nachevski (MKD)
	Cazal 6	(10–16)	Koksharov 9
	4× 2×	Report	3× 5× 1×

---

29 January 2000 17:30	Sweden	23–21	Spain	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 7,500 Referees: Bülow, Lübker (GER)
	Vranjes, Wislander 6	(11–12)	Ortega 5
	3× 3×	Report	4× 4×

Third place game

30 January 2000 15:00	Spain	24–23	France	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 4,000 Referees: Pendić, Majstorović (FRY)
	Dujshebaev 7	(13–12)	Gille 6
	2× 3×	Report	3× 2×

Final

30 January 2000 17:30	Russia	31–32 (ET)	Sweden	Dom Sportova, Zagreb Attendance: 7,500 Referees: Migas, Bavas (GRE)
	Filippov 6	(15–9)	Wislander 10
	3× 2×	Report	3× 4×
	FT: 24–24 ET: 3–3, 4–5

Ranking and statistics

Final ranking  Sweden  Russia  Spain 4  France 5  Slovenia 6  Croatia 7  Portugal 8  Norway 9  Germany 10  Denmark 11  Iceland 12  Ukraine

2000 Men's European Champions Sweden Third Title All-Star Team Position Player Goalkeeper  Peter Gentzel (SWE) Right wing  Irfan Smajlagić (CRO) Right back  Patrick Cazal (FRA) Centre back  Jackson Richardson (FRA) Left back  Carlos Resende (POR) Left wing  Rafael Guijosa (ESP) Pivot  Andrei Xepkin (ESP) Most valuable player  Jackson Richardson (FRA) Source: EHF

Top goalscorers Rank Name Team Goals Shots % 1 Oleg Velyky  Ukraine 46 96 48 2 Valdimar Grímsson  Iceland 41 56 73 3 Patrick Cazal  France 40 82 49 Magnus Wislander  Sweden 54 74 5 Carlos Resende  Portugal 38 77 49 6 Stefan Lövgren  Sweden 33 54 61 7 Rafael Guijosa  Spain 32 49 65 Aleš Pajovič  Slovenia 63 51 9 Bertrand Gille  France 30 46 65 Jackson Richardson  France 48 62 Source: EHF

Top goalkeepers (minimum 20% of total shots received by team) Rank Name Team % Saves Shots 1 Tomas Svensson  Sweden 43 52 122 2 David Barrufet  Spain 40 87 215 3 Henning Fritz  Germany 39 22 57 Peter Gentzel  Sweden 54 137 5 Venio Losert  Croatia 38 48 128 Bruno Martini  France 55 143 7 Mirko Bašić  Croatia 37 27 73 Jan Holpert  Germany 38 104 9 Kasper Hvidt  Denmark 35 44 124 Frode Scheie  Norway 38 108 Source: EHF

Shooting statistics

2003 research of Croatian kinesiologists on the efficiency of the shooting at the Championship summarized:^[1]

Almost half of all the shots performed (44.61%) were executed from the back-court players' positions (field shots). The winning teams were considerably more efficient in field shots and in 7m throws than the defeated ones - (43.20%) and (76.53%) as compared to (32.52%) and (65.76%), respectively. (...) The winning teams had more successful field shots, 6m-centre shots and wing shots, and fewer unsuccessful 6m-centre and field shots and 7m throws. Scoring efficiency from a distance and from the 6m line differentiates the successful teams (winners) from the unsuccessful (defeated) ones.