Serbia U18 miss quarter-finals after losses to France and Slovenia

Serbia's under-18 handball team missed the European Championship quarter-finals after two main-round defeats. France won 27-22 before Slovenia beat Serbia 29-24.

Serbia now enters the classification matches for places nine to sixteen. Austria is the next opponent on 6 August in Belgrade.

An unbeaten first group sent Serbia into the main round

Serbia opened the tournament with victories over Turkiye and Italy. A draw with Germany completed the preliminary programme. Those results gave Serbia five points from three matches. Germany took first place, while Serbia advanced in second. The draw with Germany remained in the table after both teams advanced. Serbia therefore carried one point into the next phase.

France and Slovenia joined them in Main Round Group I. Only the top two positions offered quarter-final places. Serbia entered that group without a tournament defeat. The team then faced two opponents that had also advanced from strong groups. The preliminary results kept Serbia in contention. The two later defeats ended that route to the last eight.

France and Slovenia won the two main-round matches

France handed Serbia its first loss of the championship. The match ended 27-22 after sixty minutes. Serbia returned the next day to face Slovenia. The hosts scored two more goals than against France. Slovenia still won 29-24 and took both points. Serbia finished the main round without adding to its carried draw. Both defeats came by five goals. They followed different matches but produced the same margin. France and Slovenia moved into the quarter-final places. Serbia and Germany continued in the lower classification section. Serbia remained active because every team continues after the main round. The next matches determine the final position.

Serbia's under-18 handball team gathers around the national flag.

The Men's 18 EHF EURO includes twenty-four national teams. Matches are spread across three halls in Belgrade. Eight teams entered the quarter-finals after the main round. The remaining sides moved into separate placement paths. Serbia joined the group competing for places nine to sixteen. Results in that section still affect the final tournament ranking. The format gives each team more matches after elimination from medal contention. No team leaves after one knockout defeat. The championship continues through 9 August. Serbia remains in Belgrade for the rest of its programme. The final table will include every participating country. Serbia's remaining results will decide its exact place.

Austria is Serbia's next opponent in Belgrade

Serbia faces Austria on 6 August in the first classification match. The game belongs to the section for places nine to sixteen. Austria followed a different route through the earlier groups. The two teams now meet after missing the quarter-finals. The match gives Serbia a direct chance to respond after consecutive defeats. It also changes the next placement pairing.

A win would move Serbia toward the higher half of this section. A loss would lead to a lower placement match. The result does not reopen the quarter-final route. That part of the competition ended after the Slovenia match. Serbia still has a clear tournament task in front of its home crowd. Austria provides the next confirmed test.

Two main-round defeats changed Serbia's route

Serbia entered the main round after wins over Turkiye and Italy. The draw with Germany completed an unbeaten preliminary programme. Germany and Serbia advanced from the same group. Their 27-27 result moved with them into the next table. France then gave the hosts their first defeat. Slovenia added a second loss one day later. Both matches ended with a five-goal difference. Serbia scored 22 against France and 24 against Slovenia.

The two results left Serbia outside the quarter-final places. The team now enters the classification section. Belgrade hosts the complete championship across three halls. Serbia remains in the same city for the remaining matches. Twenty-four national teams began the tournament. Every team receives a final position after the placement games. Austria is the next confirmed opponent on 6 August. That match begins Serbia's route toward places nine to sixteen.

The final main-round table fixed the next matches

Slovenia finished first in Main Round Group I. France took second place and joined Slovenia in the quarter-finals. Germany placed third after carrying its draw with Serbia. Serbia finished fourth in the same group. The quarter-final route is now closed for both Germany and Serbia. They enter different classification matches on 6 August. Serbia meet Austria at the New Belgrade sports hall. The scheduled start is 14:30 local time.

Faroe Islands face North Macedonia in another match for places nine to sixteen. Portugal meet Sweden in the same section. Poland and Israel complete the four pairings in that classification round. Every winner moves toward places nine to twelve. The losing teams continue toward places thirteen to sixteen. Further placement games follow on 7 and 9 August. Serbia therefore has a confirmed path despite missing the quarter-finals. The Austria result decides the next branch of that path.