Since 2023, SG Flensburg-Handewitt fans have also been watching what the Slovenian handball team is doing. With Domen Novak, only one SG player is expected to be present this time when the Slovenians start in Oslo and aim to reach the main round in Malmö. The dream is the medal games in Herning.
Blaž Blagotinšek will be 32 years old on January 17. He has not been able to celebrate his special day with his family for years because he was always with the Slovenian national team at a major tournament. Now the great pivot will most likely be able to do something with his loved ones on his special day. He has decided not to be nominated for the Slovenian team. However, since Blaž Blagotinšek was considered for the 35-player gross squad and has signaled that he will still step in if necessary, a completely game-free January is not guaranteed. Domen Novak definitely has a different starting position. He already arrived in Zreče on New Year's Day. "I always enjoy going to the national team," says the SG right winger. "It's a good squad with good friends." The 27-year-old played in his first major tournament at the 2023 World Championship. He finished sixth at the 2024 European Championship and fourth at the following Olympic Games.
Preliminary round in Oslo
The Slovenians played their first test match at home in Trebnje against Kuwait and won 36:23. A four-nation tournament is scheduled for this weekend in Paris. On Wednesday, the Slovenian squad will travel to Oslo. The preliminary round includes matches against Montenegro (January 16), Switzerland (January 18) and the Faroe Islands (January 20). "We are happy with the draw, we want to reach the main round in Malmö," says Domen Novak. As first or second, the EHF EURO would continue for the Slovenians in southern Sweden. The four main round matches would continue until January 28. The Slovenians would love to change hotels again. The dream is to reach the semi-finals in Herning. What fuels the optimism: The Balkan handballers have caught the supposedly easier half of the tournament.