Romania, clearly defeated by Hungary! The penultimate test before the European handball championship

• The European Championship, hosted by Denmark, Norway and Sweden, takes place from January 15 to February 1;

• Romania's opponents in the final tournament will be Denmark, the host country of the world champion of the last four editions, Olympic champion and European vice-champion, Portugal and North Macedonia.

One week remained fixed until Romania's debut in Euro 2026, against Portugal. After the limit failure in front of Italy, score 34-35, the preparations moved to Hungary.

Romania lost the friendly in Hungary

In the first of the two tests against Hungary, played in Gyor, with over 3,500 fans in the stands, Romania started well. Midfielder Cristi Ghiță confirmed the good evolution from the beginning of the week and scored twice from long distance. Stanciuc missed a throw from 7 meters, but enjoyed the trust of George Buricea. He got his revenge on the second attempt.

The goal made the difference in the first half. The Romanian national team chose the veteran Mihai Popescu, the one who impressed against Italy. Today was not as inspiring. The time-out tips didn't help either, and the gap continued to grow to 7 goals in the 19th minute.

Popescu blocked two shots, Romania scored twice consecutively with the extremes. The defense worked in the bottom half. The attack couldn't find the lanes anymore. At halftime, the score was 16-11 in favor of Hungary.

The start of the second half was marked by the lack of ideas from the tricolor offensive. Only 3 goals in a quarter of an hour, forced throws from long distance and complicated positions. The dynamist Rosta had no mercy on colleagues Stanciu, Militaru and Dedu. He had 6 goals entering the last 15 minutes.

Another 7 meters blocked in front of Stanciuc, now by Bartucz, a miss by Szasz, from the pivot, a speedy penetration by Botea. Succession of moments leading the difference to 10 goals, 30-20. And today, the best tricolor handball player was Daniel Stanciuc, scorer of 8 goals. It ended 33-23, a test from which coach George Buricea will have a lot to learn.

Before the final tournament, Romania will have one more test, on Saturday, in the same arena, against the same opponent.

Romania's schedule in Group B from Euro 2026:

• January 16, 19:00 » Portugal vs. Romania

• January 18, 21:30 » Romania vs. Denmark

• January 20, 19:00 » North Macedonia vs. Romania

FINAL » Hungary – Romania 33-23

• Final match. The Hungarians beat us by score (33-23)

• Min. 60: The Hungarians advance again to 10 goals. 33-23

• Min. 57: The same Botea scores again. 31-21

• Min. 56: Botea escapes on the counterattack and scores a beautiful goal. 30-20

• Min. 55: Stănescu scores again. 29-19

• Min. 53: Staniuc tries the goal and scores. 28-18

• Min. 52: Strong shot and goal for Hungary. 28-17

• Min. 50: Another goal scored by the hosts. 27-16

• Min. 46: Ten goals advantage for the Hungarians. 25-15

• Min. 45: Stănescu scores a beautiful goal from distance. 23-15

• Min. 44: We manage to score through Dedu. 22-14

• Min. 41: The Hungarians score again. 22-13

• Min. 38: Stanciuc scores from 7 meters. 21-13

• Min 37: We manage to score through Cumpanici. 20-12

• Min. 37: The score takes on proportions. 20-11

• Min. 36: The hosts score in an empty net. 19-11

• Min. 33: Hungary scores from 7 meters. 17-11

• The second half began

• Hungary leads Romania 16-11 at halftime.

• Min. 30: Goal after a 5 minute break! The Hungarians score 6 goals between them and the Romanians.

• Min. 25: Stanciuc scores from 7 meters. 15-10

• Min. 23: Grigore also scores. 13-9

• Min. 22: Vereș escapes alone with the goalkeeper and scores. 13-8

• Min 20: Szasz scores for Romania, after a long drought. 12-6

• Min. 17: The hosts put on a show. 11-5

• Min. 14: Another goal scored by Rodriguez. 9-5

• Min. 12: The hosts escape on the counterattack and score. 8-5

• Min. 10: The Hungarians distance themselves. 7-5

• Min. 9: Rodriguez throws and scores. 5-4

Image from Romania – Hungary / PHOTO: https://m4sport.hu/

• Min. 8: We take the lead after a nice throw. 3-4

• Min. 5: Superb combination, and the Hungarians take the lead again. 3-2

• Min. 4: Ghita throws directly into the vinclu. 2-2

• Min. 3: Botea equals a long throw. 1-1

• Min. 2: The Hungarians open the scoring. 1-0

• Start of match. About 3,500 fans are in the hall.

Romania's team, for the preparation matches before EC 2026:

• Goalkeepers: Cătălin Haidu (Flensburg), Ionut Iancu (Dinamo), Mihai Popescu (Potaissa Turda)

• Far right: Sorin Grigore (CSU Suceava), Ionuț Nistor (Dinamo)

• Enter right: Ionuț Stănescu (Wybrzeze Gdansk), Cristian Ghiță (Potaissa Turda)

• Center: Daniel Stanciuc (Dinamo)

• Left Integers: Tudor Botea (Minaur Baia Mare), Andrei Buzle (Dinamo), Ștefan Cumpănici (Minaur Baia Mare), Robert Militaru (Dinamo), Răzvan Trif (Poli Timisoara), Dan Racoțea (Górnik Zabrze)

• Far left: Alexandru Andrei (Poli Timisoara), Denis Vereș (Potaissa Turda)

• Pivots: Călin Dedu (Dinamo), Robert Nagy (Minaur Baia Mare), Andras Szasz (Poli Timisoara).

• Andrei Drăgan, Dan Vasile, Demis Grigoraș, Gabriel Ilie, Liviu Caba and Erik Pop are absent for medical reasons