After the loss in the opening Euro-2026 match against Armenia (1:2) and victory in the second match over Lithuania (4:1), Oleksandr Kosenko's team needs only to beat the Czech Republic at home in their final group stage match to advance to the quarter-finals.

The opponent is currently ranked 10th in UEFA and has qualified for the European Championship for the ninth time in its history.

The team has participated in four World Championships, reaching the 1/8 final twice in 2012 and 2021, where they were eliminated by an aggressor nation (0:3) and Spain (2:5).

The Czech Republic national team is a two-time bronze medalist at European Championships (2003, 2010). At Euro-2003 in Italy, the Czechs lost to Ukraine in the semi-finals (1:5), and although there was no match for third place, they won the bronze based on additional criteria. At Euro-2010 in Hungary, the Czechs lost to Spain in the semi-finals (1:8) and beat Azerbaijan for third place (5:3).

The Ukrainian national team has faced this opponent twice at European Championships. As mentioned above, Ukraine won in the semi-finals of Euro-2003 (5:1), while their opponents celebrated victory in the group stage of Euro-2005 (2:1).

Furthermore, today's opponents have played nine friendly matches against each other.

24.02.2006. Czech Republic — Ukraine — 2:3

25.02.2006. Czech Republic — Ukraine — 4:4

04.06.2008. Ukraine — Czech Republic — 3:0, extra time

09.02.2015. Ukraine — Czech Republic — 5:1

10.02.2015. Ukraine — Czech Republic — 3:4

29.01.2019. Czech Republic — Ukraine — 4:0

30.01.2019. Czech Republic — Ukraine — 2:4

05.11.2024. Czech Republic — Ukraine — 2:3

06.11.2024. Czech Republic — Ukraine — 2:6

In eleven direct encounters with the Czech Republic, Ukraine has seven wins, one draw, and three losses. The goal difference is 37–24.

Composition of the Czech Republic team

Golekeepers: Michal Gula («Oddez», Poland), Jan Zejhulka («Slavia»).

Field players: Pavel Drzod, David Drzod, Radim Zaruba, Michal Saida, Tomas Kudelka (all — «Grudim»), Jiri Zapotoczny, Francisco Miku, Michal Golij, Adam Knobloch, Tomasz Wynk (all — «Interobal»), Joao Miku («Portimonense», Portugal), Adam Ruiyla («Ervel», France).

Head coach: Marek Kopcysky.

Czech Republic matches at Euro-2026. Group V

22.01.2026

Lithuania — Czech Republic — 3:3 (3:2)

Goals: Baranauskas (13), Rastutis (17), Derendyaev (19) — Saida (10, 15), F. Miku (40).

25.01.2026

Armenia — Czech Republic — 5:4 (3:1)

Goals: Sanoyan (3), Khromikh (7, 31), Kudelka (19, own goal), Petrosyan (31) — P. Drzod (2), F. Miku (25), D. Drzod (38, 40).

Ukraine national team matches in the group stage of Euro-2026

22.01.2026

Armenia — Ukraine — 2:1

25.01.2026

Ukraine — Lithuania — 4:1

28.01.2026

Czech Republic — Ukraine (20:30)

Euro-2026 with handball. Group stage

Group A: Latvia, Croatia, Georgia, France.

Group B: Lithuania, Armenia, Czech Republic, Ukraine.

Group C: Slovenia, Belarus, Spain, Belgium.

Group D: Italy, Hungary, Portugal, Poland.  

The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals

1. Winner of Group B — second place in Group A

2. Winner of Group A — second place in Group B

3. Winner of Group C — second place in Group D

4. Winner of Group D — second place in Group C

Semi-finals

5. Winner of Quarter-final 2 — winner of Quarter-final 4

6. Winner of Quarter-final 1 — winner of Quarter-final 3

Match for third place

7. Winner of match 5 — winner of match 6

Final

8. Winner of match 5 — winner of match 6

Reminder, Euro-2026 will take place from January 21 to February 7 on the courts in Riga, Kaunas, and Ljubljana.