ASMedia's Sports Arena — Football

Slovenia Smashes European Handball Record in 41-40 Thriller Over Montenegro

A historic 81-goal showdown rewrites Euro handball history. Now, Slovenia eyes the main round—but Switzerland and the Faroe Islands stand in their way.

, and ASMedia

2026 January 17 . 5:20 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of men playing a game of handball, with one of them jumping and holding a... — The image shows a group of men playing a game of handball, with one of them jumping and holding a ball in his hand. In the background, there is a goal post and a banner with the text "Ligue 1 - Bordeaux vs Marseille" indicating that this is a match between the two teams.

Slovenia Smashes European Handball Record in 41-40 Thriller Over Montenegro

Slovenia’s men’s handball team has set a new European Championship record after a thrilling 41-40 win over Montenegro. The two sides combined for 81 goals, surpassing the previous high set in 2016. The victory also boosts Slovenia’s chances of reaching the main round in the tournament.

The match saw both teams attack relentlessly, with Slovenia narrowly edging out Montenegro. Their combined total of 81 goals smashed the earlier record of 39, which had stood since Belarus defeated Iceland in 2016.

Slovenia’s next fixtures will be against Switzerland and the Faroe Islands. A strong performance in these games could secure their place in the next stage of the competition. No details have been released about Slovenia’s coaching staff or their preparations for the 2026 European Championship in Oslo.

The record-breaking win puts Slovenia in a favourable position to advance. Their high-scoring form will be tested in the upcoming matches against Switzerland and the Faroe Islands. The team now looks ahead to securing their spot in the main round.