(Un)informed Handball Hour
A handball podcast hosted by Chris O'Reilly, Brian Campion, and Alex Kulesh, featuring discussions and interviews with guests about the sport of handball.
Episodes
Episode 331 - South America and Europe share the spoils at the Beach Handball World Championship, recap with Ebiye Udo-Udoma
In a thrilling conclusion to a brilliant week of beach handball, Argentina are women's world champions, while Germany sit atop the men's game. Ebiye Udo-Udoma is back with us to help us break down the conclusion of the championships, what lessons will be learned and gives us some breaking news about his return to the court with Lewis Howes' Los Angeles Team Handball. For the video breakdown early
Episode 330 - Filip's farewell, Björn Pazen on the end of Jicha's reign at Kiel, reaction to the new Champions League
Filip Jicha's time with THW Kiel came to an end this week. We reflect on this era which began with trophies galore and ended with their worst season in decades. Inevitable? Unfortunate? We discuss with Björn Pazen. Friday saw the draw for next season's EHF Champions League, which has a new format on the men's side. 24 teams and immediate jeopardy, what more do you want?
Episode 329 - Barca are kings of Europe again, a slice of history, Nielsen's showdown with Gidsel
We're well used to Barcelona winning this title over the years but this one felt a little different. With the German sides favoured by most and Aalborg the hipster tip for the trophy, the Catalan club reminded us all what it takes to get through this weekend, surviving Saturday's semi-final slog before a masterclass in the final against Berlin. Emil Nielsen's early showdowns with Gidsel and Anders
Episode 328 - Men's FINAL4 preview, Knorr on his debut appearance and memories
The four contenders have arrived in Cologne, ready to clash in one of the most tightly contested FINAL4s in years. All four sides have a real say in the destination of the Champions League trophy this weekend and that's what makes these weekends truly special. We discuss the two semi-finals and figure out where the difference will be made, before making our predictions. We hear from Aalborg's Germ
Episode 327 - Metz on top with brilliant Bouktit, wacky wildcards, FINAL4 bonanza continues
Metz claimed their first Women's Champions League title with a pair of brilliant performances led by an unstoppable Sarah Bouktit. We look back at their weekend in Budapest, try to make sense of the World Championship wildcards and unpack the conclusion of the Bundesliga season. Our buildup to Cologne continues this week with our mystery interview on patreon.com/handballhour first, followed by a f
Episode 326 - Women's EHF FINAL4 preview with Anne Mette Hansen and Aleksa Pavicevic
All eyes on Budapest this weekend as the Women's EHF FINAL4 rolls into town. Reigning champions Györ are favourites but must overcome a Brest team at the end of an era and with recent history at this stage on their side, while Metz will look to overcome their semi-final hoodoo against CSM Bucuresti, buoyed by returning to the sport's pinnacle event. Aleksa Pavicevic joins us to preview the party.
Episode 325 - Business time for the European Leagues and the European League
Crunchtime across Europe as major league titles are being won in France and Germany, while deciders await in Denmark, Hungary and Poland. We discuss PSG denying Nantes and big news at the top and bottom of Denmark's top flight, while Tim Dettmar joins us to look at the Bundesliga run in and the German-heavy EHF Finals in Hamburg this weekend.
The Morning Club - 15 May: World Championship qualifiers update, John Ryan in Iowa for the North American tournament
It's national team week for the men with places at next January's World Championship in Germany on the line. Plenty of intrigue among the 10 European play-offs, while it comes down to USA vs Greenland in Iowa on Saturday. Team Handball News' John Ryan joins us to chat about the tournament, how Team USA is shaping up and the new residency project players in action at this weekend's club championshi
Episode 324 - First leg reflections in the CL Quarter-finals with Björn Pazen, Talant Dujshebaev leaves Kielce after 12 years
With Björn Pazen in the forest, Chris at the beach and Alex at home, we dive into the week's Champions League first leg encounters, which gave us a surprising lack of surprise results. We also look at the sudden departure of Talant Dujshebaev from Kielce, bringing an end to a 12-year era, consider his most memorable times and what's next.
Episode 323 - Szeged rip up Gottfridsson's contract, Zoltan Szendrei and Ola Selby react
Less than a season into a 3-year contract, Jim Gottfridsson's time at Szeged has come to an abrupt end and it has been anything but amicable. Gottfridsson has called it unilateral, unjustified and unlawful, Szeged have said they acted legally and little else. We speak to Nemzeti Sport's Zoltán Szendrei and Handbollskanalen's Ola Selby to get their reactions and the mood in both the Hungarian and S
Episode 322 - Champions League reviews with Danijela Vekic, halftime in the men's playoffs, women's elite eight is set
Danijela Vekic joins us to discuss the latest action in Europe's top flight competitions. We're halfway through the men's playoffs, where we've already seen Sporting and GOG let big advantages slip from their grasp as all but one of the contests are delicately poised. The women's Champions League has been whittled down to eight contenders with a new face among the mix. In the round's headline clas
Episode 321 - Is Simon Pytlick the Britney Spears of handball? Talant takes the reins in France, Veszprém players threatened by the doctor
With the recent international week offering little in the way of drama, we filled our gossip cup with stories off the court in the past few days, including Simon Pytlick's revelations about the breakdown in trust with Flensburg, French coaches displeasure with a non-Frenchman taking over France's national team and Veszprem's players being told there will be consequences if they don't reach the clu
Episode 320 - Katie Timmermann on social media fame for the US women and the road to LA28, Aleksa Pavicevic on the Women's Champions League and international week
A social media post by Coach Jackie J launched the US women's team and their open tryout into the spotlight in January. We speak to national team player and former pro basketballer Katie Timmermann about the whirlwind start to 2026 and her path to a home Olympic Games. Aleksa Pavicevic joins us to break down the group phase of the Women's Champions League and the hard-fought play-offs to come, plu
The Morning Club - 4 March: Handball in the Winter Olympics? Eric Willemsen on the rumoured radical proposal for the sport's Olympic future
A recent report from Duncan Mackay suggested radical plans are being discussed for the future of the Olympic Games, where the likes of the sliding sports and Nordic combined could be dumped out of the Winter games, while handball and indoor volleyball could be among the sports shifted over from the Summer games. We speak to Associated Press journalist Eric Willemsen, who covers both winter sports
Episode 319 - Bundesliga update with Tim Dettmar as Magdeburg finally lose, the race for Europe and to survive takes shape
It took until the 21st round but German Bundesliga leaders Magdeburg have finally lost. Tim Dettmar joins us to discuss whether the loss to Kiel actually brings a sense of relief and whether the chasing pack has what it takes to catch up. We also look at the broader race for Europe with Lemgo and Gummersbach joining the big dogs and whether Andreas Palicka's move to Wetzlar will be enough to save
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - 2 February: Denmark complete the triple crown on home soil, final review and Alternative Awards with Nedzad Smajlagic
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - 2 February: Denmark complete the triple crown on home soil, final review and Alternative Awards with Nedzad Smajlagic Denmark are champions of Europe for the first time in 14 years and they did it in style! We look back on the final day of action with the help of Nedzad Smajlagic, then we reminisce on the whole tournament the best way we know how - with our Alternative Award
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - 29 January: Semi-finals set after Germany deliver and Malmö's Royal Rumble concludes
One of the most memorable main rounds in recent memory comes to an end with a classic showdown in one group and a proper slog in the other. We look back at the last couple of days, full of drama, some controversy and big moments, before looking ahead to two beautifully matched semi-finals. To enjoy our bonus episodes and ad-free listening throughout the championship and beyond, join us on patreon.
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - 25 January: Main Round taking shape, talking Switzerland's rollercoaster ride with Andy Schmid and Noam Leopold
The big three in Main Round Group I took control in Herning on Saturday, does that group need another surprise or two to live up to the hype? Meanwhile, one point separates five teams in Group II ahead of some crucial showdowns. We speak to legendary playmaker Andy Schmid about his plunge into the cold water as Switzerland's head coach and to his rising star on the left wing, Noam Leopold, about t
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - 23 January: All about Iceland with Björgvin Páll Gustavsson and Snorri Guðjónsson
It's been 16 years since Iceland last made it through to the semi-finals of a major championship and there's plenty of belief that the wait could end this month. Following a perfect start to the championship, we check in with two men who were part of their 2008 Olympic silver and EURO 2010 bronze medal teams - goalkeeper Björgvin Páll Gustavsson and head coach Snorri Guðjónsson about their approac
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - 20 January: Germany scrape through, Faroe Islands break through and Switzerland collapse
The opening days of the championship have thrown up some mad days! We look back at Germany's 48-hour fluctuation from early elimination and disgrace to qualification with two points in hand, Faroe Islands' display of belonging and dominance, plus Switzerland's inexplicable collapse against Slovenia. We also hear from EHF commentator Alex Mair on the groups in Sweden and whether much-hyped Iceland
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - Preview Part 2: Rasmus Boysen on the major contenders, hosts and fan favourites from Groups B, C and E
Everyone's favourite handball nerd Rasmus Boysen joins us for our second EHF EURO 2026 preview pod, featuring Groups B, C and E. We delve into the championship's host nations, fan favourites Portugal and Netherlands and compare the two perennial top contenders in Denmark and France. The full extended episode, plus bonus episodes throughout the tournament, can be enjoyed on patreon.com/handballhour
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - Preview Part 1: Looking ahead to Groups A, D and F with Björn Pazen and Zika Bogdanovic
The Men's EHF EURO 2026 begins next week and we're here with the first of our two big preview podcasts. Björn Pazen and Zika Bogdanovic join us to discuss the big storylines from Groups A, D and F. We discuss major medal candidates Germany and Iceland, where Spain and Hungary sit on the current pecking order and whether this is a golden opportunity for Switzerland and Faroe Islands to make a big b
Men's EHF EURO 2026 - Fantasy League Special: Players to look out for and sign for your Handball Hub fantasy league team
Ahead of the Men's EHF EURO 2026, we've teamed up with Handball Hub to run our fantasy league. You can finally participate in a league on your phone without the need for Google Translate. We've delved into the players and their values as we build our fantasy teams and consider which men will have a championship to remember this month. All are welcome to join our league, with prizes to be won for o
Episode 311 - Holiday handball in Germany, France and London?
After a December focused fully on the Women's World Championship, we wrap up the year with a catch up on the men's game with big Bundesliga games and transfer rumours galore. We take a look at the upcoming changes to the French league and Champions League, while German and Dutch national team players are in London this week for very different reasons.
The Morning Club - 24 December: Christmas throwback with Katrine Lunde and her life in handball
Katrine Lunde bowed out at the very top of the handball world this month, winning her fifth world championship gold as the all-star goalkeeper and hanging up the Norway jersey at the age of 45. Back in 2022, we spoke to Katrine about her life in handball, the people and moments that made her who she is and what has kept her going strong through all these years. Whether you've heard this one before
Episode 310 - Challenging Hassan for the IHF Presidency with leading candidate Gerd Butzeck and Handbollskanalen's Ola Selby
Hassan Moustafa has some opposition in his hopes to extend his IHF Presidency beyond 25 years. For the first time since 2009, the upcoming IHF Congress will see him challenged by Gerd Butzeck, Franjo Bobinac, and Tjark de Lange. We spoke to the most outspoken and leading challenger Gerd Butzeck about his campaign and key points on Olympic status, women's handball and global development. And hear f
Women's World Championship 2025 - 15 December: Lunde leaves with fifth world title for Norway, Alternative Awards time with Marcio Menino and Danijela Vekic
Norway were pushed all the way by a brave and spirited Germany performance but when everyone else looked shaky, Katrine Lunde stood firm in goal with a match-winning performance to sign off on a truly legendary career. We pay tribute to her and the other heroes of the championship with our Alternative Awards and look back at the final with help from Marcio Menino and Danijela Vekic.
Women's World Championship 2025 - 11 December: Medals in sight, defence on top and who needs a right back?
While the quarter-finals were fairly straightforward affairs, they bring up some interesting trends that we dive into ahead of the final weekend of the World Championship. Defence leading the way, the demise of the right back and focusing on player growth among the topics as we bask in the business end of the tournament. To enjoy the rest of our coverage of the championship before anyone else, as
Women's World Championship 2025 - 9 December: We're off to the quarter-finals with Maike Elger on Germany's run and Laura Agena and the Dutch side of the draw
We can finally start looking forward to the quarter-finals, beginning on Tuesday in Dortmund. Co-hosts Germany are on the hunt for their first world medal since 2007 and Maike Elger, who has been covering the championship for Sportschau in Germany, speaks to us about the tournament so far, the promotion of the team in German media and what they're capable of in the knockout rounds. And Laura Agena
Women's World Championship 2025 - 2 December: Pernille Brandenborg on captaining Faroe Islands to a historic first victory and Aleksa Pavicevic on the big stories of the preliminary round
We begin a new week and a new month with a real World Championship treat. Faroe Islands captain Pernille Brandenborg joins us to speak about a historic first victory at this level against 2019 finalists Spain, the long journey with this team since her debut in 2016 and the reward of taking on hosts Germany on Tuesday night in the main round. Aleksa Pavicevic, creator of the brilliant @womenshandba
Women's World Championship 2025 Preview Part 2: Group by group breakdowns
It's part 2 of our Women's World Championship preview, where we look at the standout teams and interesting stories from groups B to H before the fun begins on Wednesday.
Women's World Championship 2025 Preview Part 1: Where women's handball stands, Group A deep dive, Japan's Clare Gray on her tournament aspirations
We begin Women's World Championship week with our preview of the tournament. We discuss where the sport currently stands in the midst of a surge in popularity in other women's sports, before diving into the first of the eight preliminary round groups. And we speak to Japan's Clare Francis Gray as she prepares for her second World Championship, hearing her thoughts on the team's development, new co
Episode 303 - Super Saturday in the Bundesliga with Tim Dettmar
Saturday evening in the Bundesliga makes for compulsory viewing with Berlin hosting Kiel and Flensburg taking on Magdeburg. Tim Dettmar of the 3. Halbzeit (3rd half) podcast joins to help us preview this Super Saturday and the big news so far in this Bundesliga season.
The Morning Club - 23 October: A new look for the Champions League, Jicha stays at Kiel
Confirming the news we shared last month, the Men's Champions League will have a new look next season. We dive into the new structure, what it means and what we think of it. And over on Patreon: Filip Jicha has signed a new contract with Kiel, ending speculation about his future. Better the devil you know?
Episode 302 - Who's hot and who's not in the Men's Champions League, Scott Harrington on handball life on Faroe Islands
We're just a month into the new Champions League season but we're already getting a glimpse at the bigger picture as we put the spotlight on three teams which have impressed us so far and three we are worried about. Patreon subscribers got a chance last week to hear from Scott Harrington, perhaps the most-established native English-speaking coach in world handball, now you get to as well. Sitting
Episode 301 - Bundesliga chat with Björn Pazen on Berlin's woes, Kiel are back and Magdeburg look unstoppable
As is tradition, we dive into our full Bundesliga coverage with a few rounds under the belt to get a feel for what's actually happening in handball's strongest domestic league. Björn Pazen joins us to discuss the contrasting fortunes of the league's top dogs and who might emerge as this season's surprise package.
Episode 300 - Celebrating 300 episodes with Brian Campion's comeback, comparing the handball landscape now to when we began
We launch the new handball season with a celebratory episode, reaching episode 300 of the podcast! In the eight years since we began, the handball world has changed a lot, so we look back at our first episodes to compare and contrast how things were and where we are today. Plus, we welcome Brian Campion back to the mic to celebrate with us.
The Morning Club - 5 September: Emergency pod as Berlin is rocked
As if the Bundesliga needs drama like this to garner attention! In one of the sport's most shocking turn of events in years, if not ever, Stefan Kretzschmar and Jaron Siewert have departed Fuchse Berlin. We dive into the timeline, the background and plenty more as we come to terms with a this news in an emergency morning club.
The Morning Club - 4 August: Anja Althaus on taking on Tobias Reichmann and the state of women's handball in Germany, part 1
With HB Ludwigsburg filing for insolvency just over a year after reaching the Champions League final, the women's handball community has been dealt another major blow. Following Tobias Reichmann's column stated that women's handball should dream less, accept the reality and lower expectations, former German international and current team manager Anja Althaus bit back and led the charge in calling
Episode 299 - Beach handball special with Severin Henrich, Labrina Tsakalou, Liam Harrison and Gabriella Horvath
During and after the beach handball EURO in Türkiye, Chris had the chance to speak to an array of fascinating people in the beach handball community, to get their thoughts on the latest major championship, their personal perspectives and the sport in a wider sense. We hear from Germany's gold medal winner Severin Henrich, Greece's Labrina Tsakalou, Malta's Liam Harrison and EHF Beach Handball Comm
The Morning Club - 11 July: Tales from the Beach Handball EURO with Malta's Liam Harrison and EHF's Gabriella Horvath
We're in Türkiye for the EHF Beach Handball EURO 2025 and with the tournament at the halfway mark, it's a great time to check in with a couple of the protagonists. Liam Harrison is making his EURO debut with Malta and speaks about the experience so far, how the national team and sport have developed at home and what his hopes are for the future. Gabriella Horváth is both an EHF Executive Committee
Episode 298 - Mighty Mittun, Faroes grab major medal, the modern handball players shape and CL group draws
We look back at the Men's Junior World Championship and the lessons it has taught us about the present and future stars of the sport, plus we unpack the Champions League group phase draw.
Episode 297 - Echoes of 2023 as Zombie Magdeburg emerge victorious
SC Magdeburg are Champions League winners and while they may have made it look easy on Sunday, they've done it the hard way this season. We look back at their triumph over Berlin in the final and how they got there, from a losing record in the group phase, squeaking past Veszprém and Barca and the subtle but massive improvements since last year.
Episode 296 - Men's EHF FINAL4 preview with Björn Pazen, Vincent Gerard's Barça adventure
The biggest weekend of the handball calendar is upon us and we celebrate with a big preview of the showdown in Cologne with Björn Pazen and an interview with Vincent Gerard. The Champions League winner and Olympic gold medallist retired after Paris 2024 and battling through a tough season to even get there, but accepted the call from Barça after their own injury problems between the posts. We spea
The Morning Club - 6 June: Finals everywhere, Sporting's big statement, Lewis Howes chasing dreams
This is a teaser of our latest Morning Club episode, which is available in full exclusively on patreon.com/handballhour It's the wonderful time of the season where we're treated to multi-game league finals in countries like Hungary, Poland and Denmark, which are serving up plenty of drama and entertainment. Ahead of their impending first league title, Berlin announced a spicy new signing but the b
Episode 295 - Györ on top again, Lunde's magic, semi-final curse unbroken
Györ are the queens of Europe once again following a weekend where they did not trail for a single minute. We look at their journey to gold and where they had the edge over their Danish opponents, bask in the brilliant glow of Katrine Lunde and wonder where it all went wrong for the two teams still haunted by the semi-final curse.
Episode 294 - Women's EHF FINAL4 preview with Bruna de Paula, Adrian Costeiu and Danijela Vekic
It's time to discover the best women's team in Europe and we look forward to the FINAL4 by chatting to reigning champion Bruna de Paula as she and Györ aim to defend their crown in Budapest. We get Danijela Vekic and Adrian Costeiu together for the first time on the pod to discuss the four contenders, considering what makes Györ favourites again, how newcomers Odense will be a threat and whether E
Episode 293 - Moller's MVP weekend in Hamburg, Palmarsson retires
Flensburg retained their European League title over the weekend, thanks in no small part to a dominant performance by Kevin Møller in goal. We look back at the action and where the title was won and lost. Aron Palmarsson has announced his retirement at the age of 34, is this kind of player a dying breed? We discuss this and the postponed European Cup final in Skopje.
Episode 292 - Dainis Kristopans on his long and winding handball road and fighting for titles with Melsungen
It's a massive week in the history of MT Melsungen as they compete for a European League title this weekend in Hamburg, then head to Berlin for a Bundesliga title eliminator on Thursday, so who better to speak about it than their biggest man - Dainis Krištopāns. We speak to Dainis about his unusual journey in handball, from Latvia via Slovakia, his development as an all-round player, the greatest
Episode 291 - Countdown to Cologne commences
Now that we know the semi-final lineup for the FINAL4, the countdown to Cologne can truly begin. We discuss both those who made it and fell at the final hurdle, plus Chris' own injury that will require no late-season replacements.
The Morning Club - 25 April: Quarter-finals deliver the goods, men's and women's CL chat with Danijela Vekic
Berlin and Barça put one foot on the train to Cologne thanks to world-class performances from their star right backs, while two quarter-final ties remain delicately poised. Danijela Vekic joins us to look back at the midweek matches and ahead to the second leg matches in the Women's Champions League. This is a teaser of the episode with the full show and every Morning Club episode available on pat
Episode 290 - Sporting chasing history and more quarter-final fun with Marcio Menino live from Nantes
The Men's Champions League Quarter-finals are upon us and we look forward to them with Marcio Menino, who is in Nantes as Sporting look to make history. Is this finally Veszprém's year? Do Barça have reasons to be nervous? Can Gidsel avoid the fate of Denmark's previous great? These questions and more are pondered in your preview podcast.
Episode 289 - Veronika Malá talks Ludwigsburg's revenge and trick shots, Kiel's cup hangover and Barça stumble
Ludwigsburg winger Veronika Malá joins us ahead of a big quarter-final weekend in the Women's Champions League, where her side take on Györ in a repeat of last year's final. As well as looking ahead to the weekend's games, we reflect on Kiel's cup triumph, followed by a loss to Berlin and visit Spain, where Barça have suffered a pair of rare losses, putting their title celebrations on hold.
Episode 288 - Champions League play-offs recap with Sascha Staat and Kevin Domas
The play-off round of the EHF Champions League concludes tonight and with the unusual situation of the round being filled with clubs from Europe's top two leagues, we get some French and German perspectives from Kevin Domas and Sascha Staat to break down what we've seen an look forward to some more tasty encounters to come.
Episode 287 - The Bucharest derby and more women's playoff fun with Adrian Costeiu
Knockout handball is here! The road to Budapest and the Women's EHF FINAL4 begins with the play-off round this weekend and we chat to Adrian Costeiu with two tight contests and a Romanian derby to look forward to.
Episode 286 - Champions League round up, discover the Emerging Nations and EURO games to watch this week
The group phase of the Men's Champions League has come to an end, so we rate the competition to date. Handball hipsters gather round for the IHF Emerging Nations, where handball worlds truly collide, plus we give you the five EHF EURO qualifiers you should watch this week.
The Morning Club - 7 March: Heidi Warren and Mark Hawkins on the eve of Great Britain's EURO qualifiers campaign
Just under a year ago, Great Britain's women were thrown into the spotlight with a surprise wildcard into the Olympic Qualification Tournaments. Since then, the team has pressed on behind the scenes and begin their EHF EURO 2026 Qualification campaign this weekend against Bosnia Herzegovina and Estonia. Home-grown talent Heidi Warren and coach Mark Hawkins, 2012 Olympian and one of our very first
Episode 285 - DJ Gidsel stays in Berlin, Sagosen's Aalborg return
Mathias Gidsel has committed his future to Fuchse Berlin and gets a nice pay rise for his loyalty. Is a residency at Berghain part of the deal for DJ Gidsel and will his star sidekick join him? Sander Sagosen has decided to leave the Kolstad project and return to the scene of his big breakthrough. Can he rediscover his form at Aalborg and where do Kolstad go from here?
Men's World Championship 2025 - Final review: Unstoppable Denmark, reactions from Jørgensen and Šoštarić, status among the sport's greatest teams
In our final review, we look back at Denmark's dominant final win over Croatia and where that puts them among the sport's top teams of all time. We also hear from Denmark's Lukas Jørgensen and Croatia's Mario Šoštarić on the fiery gold medal clash. Our traditional Alternative Awards are out at the end of the week on Patreon, where the real MVPs are celebrated through the likes of the Swiss Army
Men's World Championship 2025 - 30 January: Tears, drama and buzzer-beaters galore in the Quarter-finals with Danijela Vekic, Thibaut Briet and Marcio Menino
Men's World Championship 2025 - 30 January: Tears, drama and buzzer-beaters galore in the Quarter-finals with Danijela Vekic, Thibaut Briet and Marcio Menino
Men's World Championship 2025 - 28 January: Quarter-final preview with Björn Pazen
We're into the knockout phase of the World Championship with four tantalising quarter-finals coming our way on Tuesday and Wednesday. Björn Pazen joins us from Croatia to run through the contests and break down the key battles.
Men's World Championship 2025 - 25 January: Sergio Arenillas on Brazil's breakthrough, Dule and Croatia rise again
Brazil have reached the quarter-finals of the Men's World Championship for the first time and they've done it the hard way, battling through a group with Spain, Sweden and Norway. Brazilian commentator Sergio Arenillas joins us to speak about the surprise breakthrough and what makes this team so special. We also look at Portugal's latest stellar performance, Egypt's nailbiter and Croatia's resurre
Men's World Championship 2025 - 21 January: Kay Smits on his Netherlands return, an eventful week and future, Main Round preview
We're off to the main round at the World Championship and as things are beginning to heat up, we look at the big stories from recent days, including mixed fortunes for the host nations and which teams are truly emerging as medal contenders. And we speak to Dutch star Kay Smits about his return to the national team after a layoff due to a heart inflammation, his side's progress in recent years and
Men's World Championship 2025 - Preview Part 2: Looking at the Nordics with Albin Falk Hansson, Chile's adventures with Erwin Feuchtmann and prediction time
The 2025 IHF Men's World Championship begins today, so we bring you our second big preview ahead of tonight's opening matches. 5:00 - Albin Falk Hansson previews the Nordic sides' chances 42:10 - Quickfire previews on the chasing pack 52:00 - Erwin Feuchtmann on his World Championship adventures with Chile 1:14:20 - Our final predictions Join us on patreon.com/handballhour to enjoy bonus content t
Men's World Championship 2025 - Preview Part 1: Kevin Domas on France, Spain and African sides, John Ryan on Pan American hopes
In the first of our World Championship previews, we speak to Kevin Domas about how France and Spain look after the departure of some legends and which players to look out for among the French-influenced African sides. John Ryan joins us to look at the quintet of Pan American sides, highlighted by the preliminary round clash between Brazil and USA. Join us on patreon.com/handballhour for bonus epis
Episode 276 - Krickau kicked out, the Mach is back and more from the Bundesliga with Sascha Staat
Handball doesn't stop during the holiday season and neither will we. We dive back into the German Bundesliga drama with Kreis Ab's Sascha Staat as we discuss Nicolej Krickau's sacking at Flensburg, Maik Machulla's move to Löwen, Kiel's run of good form and how long Melsungen can keep setting the pace at the top of the league.
Women's EHF EURO 2024 - Final Review: Norway storm to gold, Thorir bows out, our alternative awards
Norway left no doubt about their status as the best side in world handball with a convincing final victory over Denmark, driven by an unstoppable second half performance. We break down the gold medal match, look at a lovely moment between the coaches, celebrate Hungary's bronze and dive into our alternative awards.
Women's EHF EURO 2024 - 12 December: Semi-finals preview, Grace Zaadi on her return to top form with France
The big three are back in the semi-finals, no surprises there, but their special guest is Hungary this time. We preview the two semi-finals and hear from Grace Zaadi, who speaks about returning to the front line of France's attack, post-Olympics motivation and taking on their classic foes Norway and Denmark this weekend.
Women's EHF EURO 2024 - 5 December: Zsofi Szemerey on Hungary's perfect start and rise to starting keeper, looking ahead to the Main Round
From third choice at the Olympics to outstanding goalkeeper at a home EURO, it's been a breakout tournament so far for Zsofi Szemerey. She speaks to us about Hungary's perfect start to the tournament, her move abroad in the summer, and the road to a potential medal. And we look ahead to the main round and try to figure out who the genuine semi-final contenders are.
Women's EHF EURO 2024 - 2 December: Opening days exceed expectations, Djurdjina Jaukovic on an impressive return and Montenegro's perfect start
We're two rounds in to the championship and there has been little for the naysayers to complain about so far. Good atmospheres, results for the home nations and the newcomers in the expanded 24-team competition proving they belong. We delve into what has stood out to us so far and speak to Montenegro's Djurdjina Jaukovic, who has returned from an 11-month injury absence in style and has led her te
Women's EHF EURO 2024 - 28 November: Preview Part 2, talking title contenders with Courtney Gahan, Fulya Öktem and Alex Mair
In our second preview pod, we look at some of the major contenders for the title, together with EHF journalist Courtney Gahan and commentator Alex Mair, while Fulya Öktem joins us to chat about debutants Türkiye. We also look at the player you should all be picking in the Holdet Fantasy league and throw some predictions your way!
Women's EHF EURO 2024 - 27 November: Preview Part 1, focus on the hosts with Inés Rein and Danijela Vekic
It's the eve of the largest Women's EHF EURO to date and we have a large preview to go with it! In the first of our bumper previews with five expert guests, we turn the light on the home nations with some help from EHF journalist Danijela Vekic and former Austrian international-turned-TV expert Inés Rein. The second preview will be out on Thursday for all to enjoy, or already on Wednesday if you'r
Episode 267 - Krisis in Kristiansand and Norway's new era with Anja Borg, Kiel flop in the Nordderby
With the Women's EHF Champions League going into its winter break, we reflect on one of the season's major stories, the demise and sudden reprieval of Vipers Kristiansand. TV2 Norway's Anja Borg breaks down the story of the 3-time champions' financial peril and looks ahead to a period of transition for Norway's national teams. We also check in on the Bundesliga, where Flensburg piled on to Kiel's
Episode 266 - Machulla's shock sacking as Aalborg admit mistake
TV2's Lars Bruun-Mortensen joins us to discuss the surprise sacking of Maik Machulla as Aalborg coach. Last season's Champions League finalists have developed a unique culture over the years, which seemingly did not fit with Machulla's practices and vision. Was it the right call to pull the plug after just four months and what next for the Danish side?
Episode 265 - Palmarsson's return to Veszprem, checking in with the Women's Champions League
Aron Palmarsson's transfer to Veszprem last week caught us all by surprise. Filling in for the injured Yehia Elderaa, how will the Icelandic superstar fit in with a club he left under acrimonious circumstances seven years ago? Teddi 'Ponza' Palmason joins us to speak about the move, what we can expect and making his senior handball debut with him many moons ago. And we catch up on the Women's Cham
Episode 264 - Bundesliga with Björn Pazen, The league of dark horses, Schmeichel's love for handball keepers
The German Bundesliga is off to an intriguing start, proving once again to be a league full of dark horses. Björn Pazen joins us to sort through the top teams' start to the season and the surprise early retirement of Paul Drux. We also discuss Peter Schmeichel's lasting love of handball, as he spoke about it on the Overlap this week. He admires the art of goalkeeping and how it influenced his tec
Episode 263 - Champions League launch party, first impressions, callout for the VELUX Men
In classic Handball Hour fashion, we like to get a look at the teams in action before sharing some insights, but only a little look, to ensure we get carried away far too early. It's the Men's EHF Champions League launch party as we celebrate the start of the new European season, reacting to the opening two rounds and the new EHFTV. And we're on the search for your very own VELUX Men - who are you
Episode 262 - The price is right: Summer transfers lowdown with Rasmus Boysen
Rasmus Boysen joins us to reel through the summer's major men's transfers, unveiling which of the big moves he reckons is the best of 2024.
Paris 2024 - Final chapter: The lost tapes
Here it is, the long-awaited final round-up from Paris. Alex's recording took a while to reach civilisation as he recorded on a post-Olympics detox in the wilderness, which was followed by Chris' post-Olympics detox at Edinburgh Fringe. Sorry for the delay and thanks for joining us for a brilliant 3 weeks. Normal service resumes shortly with the new season right around the corner!
Paris 2024 - 8 August: Extra-time drama and knockout heartbreak
The quarter-finals of the Olympic handball tournament left us with so much to unpack with drama in so many of the men's games. Ola Selby joins us for a chat about the remarkable victories for Spain, Germany and Denmark, heartbreak for their opponents and a preview of both competitions' semi-finals. Join us on patreon.com/handball for bonus content from this episode and throughout Paris 2024.
