LIVE Italy – Romania, the first friendly before the European Men's Handball Championship

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

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

LIVE » Italy – Romania 20-17

• Break in Trieste! Italy leads 20-17 after the first 30 minutes

• The 20th minute: Italy continue to dominate the match and have a 5 goal lead 10 minutes before the break

• Minute 5: The hosts break away at the start of the match and lead 4-1

• Start of the match in Italy

Before the European Championship, Romania plays three friendly matches. In addition to the duel with Italy, from this evening, the “tricolors” of George Buricea will also play against Hungary, in Gyor, on January 9 and January 10.

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

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

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

• Right wing: Ionuț Stănescu (Wybrzeze Gdansk), Cristian Ghiță (Potaissa Turda)

• Centre: Daniel Stanciuc (Dinamo)

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

• Extreme 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

Romania's program in Group B

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

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

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