Men's EHF EURO 2026 post-match flash quotes: 21 January

HERNING – Comments from players and coaches matches in preliminary round group E at the Men's EHF EURO 2026 on Wednesday.

NETHERLANDS vs GEORGIA 31:26 (18:15)

Staffan Olsson (SWE) – NED head coach

On the win against Georgia:

“I feel really proud of how we performed today and for our circumstances since we had a tough tournament, also that we are playing without Dani Baijens, and that the whole team was showing character. We were hoping and knowing because Georgia was playing fantastic the first 20 minutes, but we were still a little bit calm and we did what we should do.”

Rutger ten Velde (NED) – left wing

On the win:

“It was so important for us to get a good draw for the World Championship. I think how we played this tournament this was maybe the maximum we could do, and that we did that makes me quite satisfied.”

On the match:

“We were patient. We knew it was going to be a tight game, they showed that also against Croatia and even against Sweden the first 40 minutes. So we knew we had to fight until the end. I think we have a bit more strength in the depth of the team to win in the end, and we did that.”

Tite Kalandadze (GEO) – Georgia head coach

On the defeat:

“Everyone said that our fighting spirit was very good. We never left it, so our performance was better. Unfortunately we lost all the games.”

On what he told his players at half-time:

“We went to the locker room and I asked my players just to fight for each ball. We came to the second half, but with their physicality – and this is the huge difference – we couldn’t go to the end. But we tried our best and the game was very close to the end because we were fighting to the end."

Giorgi Tskhovrebadze (GEO) – right back

On the tournament:

“Of course it is disappointing to lose all three games, but I think we showed character, we were energetic.

“The first game I think we should have won, even if it’s Croatia who are one of the best teams here, it doesn’t matter, we were plus-six. We have to find something for the future games, not to lose these kinds of games. It doesn’t matter who we play, it can be Sweden, it can be France, it doesn’t matter, when you win like this in the start you have to keep going and don’t stop.

“In the second game against Sweden we played 25 minutes like a draw, they did like plus five. Of course it’s disappointing, but we have to take this experience, we have to take all the mistakes we did, discuss it together and take it into future games.

“We have to of course learn more how to play in the critical moments, more precision.

“Overall I think it was a good tournament from us. Of course we didn’t win, it’s really disappointing because I wanted to win and surprise again the whole of European handball, because we are kind of underdogs and I want to break this circle.

“Overall I’m proud of the boys, I think we give it our all, we’re all dead.”

On the defeat to the Netherlands:

“We were really playing like a draw, and there was a small moment that they went through.

“It’s unfortunate. We came here to win, even if it’s the last game and we lost the last two games. We gave it our all and I guess today they were the better team and they deserved to win.”

Photo © kolektiff images