Bob Hanning missed the early qualification for the 2026 European Championship with Italy’s handball players.
The managing director of Füchse Berlin, a national coach of the Azzurri since spring, conceded the first defeat of his term at 29:33 (14:16) against the Olympic third of Spain. The ticket for the European Championship finals in Denmark, Sweden and Norway is still within reach.
Andrea Parisini was the best shooter for Hanning’s team on Thursday evening with eleven goals. With 6: 4 points, the Italians, who have dreamed of the first European Championship participation since 1998, had to take first place to the Spaniards (8: 2) in qualification group 4.
On Sunday (6:00 p.m.) there will be a final for Italy on the last match day in Serbia (also 6: 4).
Another defeat could also be enough for handball developments to be at an EM for the second time.
In addition to the two best teams of each group, four best group thirds for the tournament in the coming winter (January 15 to February 1, 2026) qualify.
Italy had caused a sensation with the historical main round of the world at the World Cup at the beginning of the year. After the tournament, Hanning from Riccardo Trillini took over the office of coach.
For the 57-year-old, it is the first stop as a national coach. At the first games under his direction, Italy had won two victories against Latvia.