France Achieves Record-Breaking Victory Against Ukraine at Men's EHF EURO 2026

Historic Win for Les Bleus in Oslo

The French national handball team, Les Bleus, delivered a commanding performance against Ukraine on January 17, 2026, securing a 46:26 victory in the Men's EHF EURO 2026 preliminary round. The match, held at the Telenor Arena in Bærum, Oslo, Norway, saw France establish two new tournament records.

New EHF EURO Records Set

France's 20-goal margin of victory against Ukraine marks their largest ever win at the EHF EURO, surpassing their previous record of 36:21 against Slovenia in 2002. Furthermore, the 46 goals scored by France set a new benchmark for the most goals by a single team in an EHF EURO match. This record was broken just two days after France had scored 42 goals against Czechia in their opening game.

Match Dynamics and Key Performers

Despite an initial strong start from Ukraine, who were briefly ahead in the first 10 minutes, France quickly took control after a timeout, embarking on a 6:1 run. By halftime, France had established a 12-goal lead, which they extended to 20 by the final whistle. A total of 12 French players contributed to the score sheet. Leading the charge for France were:

• Melvyn Richardson (6 goals)
• Benoît Kounkoud (6 goals)
• Dylan Nahi (6 goals)

Melvyn Richardson was awarded the Player of the Match. For Ukraine, Dmytro Artemenko was the top scorer with 8 goals.

Tournament Context and Progression

This decisive win in Group C's second round secured France's place in the second round of the tournament. The Men's EHF EURO 2026, the 17th edition of the championship, is co-hosted by Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, running from January 15 to February 1, 2026. France, as the defending champions, continue to demonstrate their formidable presence in European handball.