The final match for group D at the Men’s EURO 2026 saw a thrilling 60 minutes that ended with a narrow victory for Slovenia, 30-27.
The Faroe Islands and their Danish national coach, Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen, needed a win or a point to advance to the intermediate round together with Slovenia.
But the Slovenians were also looking to carry points into the intermediate round and therefore did not hand the Faroes any favours.
After very promising matches against Switzerland and Montenegro, the Faroe Islands were the favorite for the match, and perhaps that added extra pressure on them at the beginning of the match.
The Faroes struggled to get a grip on the game, and from 0-3 constantly lagged behind the Slovenians, who at their peak led by four goals.
However, gradually Bundesliga players Elias Ellefsen à Skipagøtu and Hákun West av Teigum, together with Sävehof's Óli Mittún, came into their own and reduced the gap to 15-16 after 30 minutes.
Well helped along the way by goalkeeper Pauli Jacobsen, the Faroe Islands carried the momentum with them at the start of the second half, but it did not last.
Slovenia, led by leading goal scorer Domen Makuc and a very strong goalkeeper, prevented the Faroes from fulfilling their dream of the main round.
Ahead 28-24 after 55 minutes, the match seemed decided, but then the Slovenians got sloppy, and the tension lasted until the last minute, when Elias Ellefsen à Skipagøtu lost a decisive duel with the goalkeeper at 26-28.
With Slovenia already through to the main round, the group’s second berth in the next stage was to be decided based on the result of the closing game in Oslo. Slovenia’s win means it will be Switzerland joining them in the main round in Malmö, while Slovenia finishes on top of the group and takes two points to the second phase.
