The Spanish team are probably the most unlucky team at the European Championships. They have taken part in the finals on three occasions, but remain without victory. Their last appearance in the finals was in 2006 against France. The greatest success of Spanish handball was – without a doubt – winning the 2005 World Championship in Tunis. The team has not changed substantially: Iker Romero, Hombrados and the others will probably be there in Norway, just as their coach Juan Carlos Pastor.

Heiner Brand’s team will have the greatest confidence before the European Championship. The players showed their enthusiasm and character on home court and have become World Champions. Germany already has all kinds of medals from the European Championships (gold from Slovenia 2004, silver from Sweden 2002 and bronze from Italy 1998). The greatest question is whether such great results can be repeated by Hens, Fritz, Kehrmann and the others.

There is only one free place for the Olympic qualification groups. The Hungarian team are candidates for this position, but it will be a very hard job. Coach László Skaliczky was missing some of the key players at the qualification matches. With these handballers coming from the German and Spanish championship, they will have a chance to make it. The first steps will be against Spain, Germany and Belarus in the group phase, which will be decisive for them.

The team of coach Spartak Mironovich have done a great job to qualify for Euro 2008. This will be the first European Championship for the Belarus after 1994. In fact, they had a difficult road leading to Norway. It started with a Qualification Round in Brest. Belarus have beaten Slovakia (the Slovaks also qualified for Euro2008) to reach the play-offs on top of the group. The Swiss team came next, but it was no problem after a 9-goal home victory. German first division player, Ivan Brouka, was the leader at home, while Siarhei Harbok at the second leg. The opponents will have to pay lot of attention to the young player of Kronau/Östringen, Harbok.