Battle for ninth place at Euro: North Macedonia meet Israel
North Macedonia face Israel in Belgrade on 09.08.2026 as they contest the game for ninth place at the cadet European Championship.
09.08.2026 — The North Macedonia men's cadet handball team play their final match at the European Championship in Belgrade today, when coach Goran Kuzmanoski's side meet Israel in the classification game for ninth place.
The two teams are familiar opponents: North Macedonia met the same Israeli selection at the School World Championship held in Skopje, where the home side claimed the gold medal. In that final North Macedonia were convincingly better, winning 38-32 — a result that gives the squad confidence ahead of this encounter.
Running form and qualification gains
After suffering three defeats in the group stage, Kuzmanoski's team responded with a run of four consecutive victories to close the tournament. That streak not only lifted morale but also secured qualification for the European Championship in 2028 and the World Championship in 2027.
The match will be broadcast live on Arena MK and on the EHF TV channel, making it available to supporters at home and abroad.
Coach Goran Kuzmanoski has repeatedly stressed the team's resilience during the competition, and the players arrive in the ninth-place game with momentum and the memory of their earlier triumph over Israel to draw upon.
Regardless of the final placing, the late-tournament recovery and the qualifications already clinched mark a positive outcome for North Macedonia's cadets at the Belgrade European Championship.
Photo: РФМ
