View source for 2006 European Men's Handball Championship

{{Short description|2006 edition of the European Men's Handball Championship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox international handball competition
| tourney_name = EHF European Men's Handball Championship
| year = 2006
| yearr = 
| other_titles = Handball-Europameisterschaft 2006 {{in lang|de}}''<br />Championnat d'Europe de handball 2006 {{in lang|fr}}''<br />Campionato europeo di pallamano 2006 {{in lang|it}}
| image = 2006 Men ́s European Handball Championship Logo.svg
| size = 250px
| caption = Logo of the EC 2006
| country = Switzerland
| dates = 26 January – 5 February
| num_teams = 16
| confederations = 1
| venues = 5
| cities = 5
| champion = FRA
| count = 1
| second = ESP
| third = DEN
| fourth = CRO
| matches = 47
| goals = 2784
| attendance = 182600
| top_scorer = {{hbicon|SLO}} [[Siarhei Rutenka]]<br>(51 goals)
| player = {{hbicon|CRO}} [[Ivano Balić]]
| previous = 2004 European Men's Handball Championship
| next = 2008 European Men's Handball Championship
}}
The '''2006 EHF [[European Men's Handball Championship]]''' was the seventh edition of the tournament and held in [[Switzerland]] from 26 January to 5 February 2006, in the cities of [[Basel]], [[Bern]], [[Lucerne]], [[St. Gallen]] and [[Zürich]]. [[France men's national handball team|France]] won the tournament, going through unbeaten after an early defeat to [[Spain men's national handball team|Spain]]. France's defence conceded the fewest goals per game in the entire tournament, with 192 conceded goals in eight matches. The hosts [[Switzerland men's national handball team|Switzerland]] were knocked out at the first group stage, while [[Denmark men's national handball team|Denmark]] finished third and [[Croatia men's national handball team|Croatia]] fourth to qualify directly for the [[2007 World Men's Handball Championship|2007 World Championship]], along with France.

==Qualification==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Country !! Qualified as !! Previous appearances in tournament
|-
| {{hb|SUI}} || Host || 2 ([[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
|{{hb|CRO}} || Semifinalist of [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004 European Championship]]|| 6 ([[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]], [[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]], [[1998 European Men's Handball Championship|1998]], ''[[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]]'', [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|DEN}} || Semifinalist of [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004 European Championship]] || 5 ([[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]], [[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]], [[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|GER}} || Semifinalist of [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004 European Championship]] || 6 ([[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]], [[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]], [[1998 European Men's Handball Championship|1998]], [[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], '''[[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]]''')
|-
|{{hb|SLO}} || Semifinalist of [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004 European Championship]]|| 5 ([[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]], [[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]], [[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], ''[[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]]'')
|-
| {{hb|RUS}} || Fifth place of [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004 European Championship]] || 6 ([[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]], '''[[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]]''', [[1998 European Men's Handball Championship|1998]], [[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
|{{hb|FRA}} || Playoff winner || 6 ([[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]], [[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]], [[1998 European Men's Handball Championship|1998]], [[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|HUN}} || Playoff winner|| 4 ([[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]], [[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]], [[1998 European Men's Handball Championship|1998]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|ISL}} || Playoff winner || 3 ([[2000 European Women's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|NOR}} || Playoff winner || 1 ([[2000 European Women's Handball Championship|2000]])
|-
| {{hb|POL}} || Playoff winner || 2 ([[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|POR}} || Playoff winner || 4 (''[[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]]'', [[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|SCG}} || Playoff winner || 4 ([[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]], [[1998 European Men's Handball Championship|1998]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|SVK}} || Playoff winner || 0 (Debut)
|-
| {{hb|ESP}} || Playoff winner || 6 ([[1994 European Men's Handball Championship|1994]], ''[[1996 European Men's Handball Championship|1996]]'', [[1998 European Men's Handball Championship|1998]], [[2000 European Men's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|-
| {{hb|UKR}} || Playoff winner || 3 ([[2000 European Women's Handball Championship|2000]], [[2002 European Men's Handball Championship|2002]], [[2004 European Men's Handball Championship|2004]])
|}

Note: '''Bold''' indicates champion for that year. ''Italic'' indicates host for that year.

==Preliminary round==
===Group A===
This group was played in the [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]] (capacity: 4,500). Poland qualified first, winning the first match and then drawing the second against Switzerland despite an equaliser with 15 seconds to go, and two hours later they were joined by Slovenia, who came back from a two-goal deficit in the last ten minutes to beat Ukraine by 33–31. Switzerland and Ukraine thus played off for the last place in the main round, and the Swiss got behind from the start, trailing by 21–14 at half time. Ten minutes into the second half, Ukraine were 28–16 up, before allowing Switzerland somewhat back into it near the end. They still won 37–30, however, qualifying for the second round with zero points. Slovenia beat Poland 33–29 to carry forward four points, while Poland got two.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=SLO|name_SLO={{hb|SLO}}
|team2=POL|name_POL={{hb|POL}}
|team3=UKR|name_UKR={{hb|UKR}}
|team4=SUI|name_SUI={{hb|SUI}}
|win_SLO=3|draw_SLO=0|loss_SLO=0|gf_SLO=95|ga_SLO=85
|win_POL=1|draw_POL=1|loss_POL=1|gf_POL=93|ga_POL=88
|win_UKR=1|draw_UKR=0|loss_UKR=2|gf_UKR=92|ga_UKR=96
|win_SUI=0|draw_SUI=1|loss_SUI=2|gf_SUI=86|ga_SUI=97|status_SUI=H

|col_A=green1|text_A=
|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A
|update=complete|source=[http://history.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/round/1/Final+Round EHF]
}}

{{handballbox
|date=26 January 2006
|time=17:30
|team1={{hb-rt|POL}}
|score=33–24
|team2={{hb|UKR}}
|HT=19–13
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/02.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Karol Bielecki|Bielecki]] 8
|goals2=[[Sergey Shelmenko|Shelmenko]], [[Mykola Stetsyura|Stetsyura]] 7
|twomin1=2
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=1
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
|attendance=3,000
|referee=Višekruna, Stanojević
|refnat=SRB
}}
{{handballbox
|date=26 January 2006
|time=20:15
|team1={{hb-rt|SLO}}
|score=29–25
|team2={{hb|SUI}}
|HT=16–13
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/01.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Siarhei Rutenka|Rutenka]] 7
|goals2=[[Thomas Gautschi|Gautschi]] 7
|twomin1=4
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=4
|yellow2=2
|red2=
|stadium=[[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
|attendance=3,500
|referee=Kékes, Kékes
|refnat=HUN
}}
----
{{handballbox
|date=28 January 2006
|time=16:15
|team1={{hb-rt|SUI}}
|score=31–31
|team2={{hb|POL}}
|HT=16–17
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/04.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Martin Engeler|Engeler]] 9
|goals2=[[Piotr Obrusiewicz|Obrusiewicz]] 6
|twomin1=3
|yellow1=4
|red1=
|twomin2=4
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
|attendance=3,500
|referee=Arnaldsson, Viðarsson
|refnat=ISL
}}
{{handballbox
|date=28 January 2006
|time=18:30
|team1={{hb-rt|UKR}}
|score=31–33
|team2={{hb|SLO}}
|HT=17–16
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/03.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Ruslan Prudius|Prudius]] 7
|goals2=[[Siarhei Rutenka|Rutenka]] 9
|twomin1=11
|yellow1=3
|red1=1
|twomin2=8
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
|attendance=2,800
|referee=Dolejš, Kohout
|refnat=CZE
}}
----
{{handballbox
|date=29 January 2006
|time=14:00
|team1={{hb-rt|SLO}}
|score=33–29
|team2={{hb|POL}}
|HT=16–10
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/05.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Siarhei Rutenka|Rutenka]] 10
|goals2=[[Karol Bielecki|Bielecki]] 9
|twomin1=6
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=6
|yellow2=2
|red2=
|stadium=[[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
|attendance=2,800
|referee=Hansson, Olsson
|refnat=SWE
}}
{{handballbox
|date=29 January 2006
|time=16:15
|team1={{hb-rt|SUI}}
|score=30–37
|team2={{hb|UKR}}
|HT=14–21
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/06.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Martin Engeler|Engeler]], [[Marco Kurth (handballer)|Kurth]] 6
|goals2=''three players'' 7
|twomin1=3
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=4
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
|attendance=3,500
|referee=Laursen, Nielsen
|refnat=DEN
}}

===Group B===
The matches in this group were played in [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]] (capacity 8,500). Germany became the first team to qualify, drawing their first match with Spain before overcoming Slovakia (who ended up by conceding 100 goals, the most in the group stage) in their second game. Spain followed soon after, beating France by 29–26 after a 17–9 lead at half time, but the French were also through as they would be ahead of Slovakia on head-to-head if the two were to end on two points each. Thus, their last match with Germany only determined how many points they would carry forward to the main round; France risked going through with nil, but after prevailing 27–25 they finished the group in second place and took two points.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=ESP|name_ESP={{hb|ESP}}
|team2=FRA|name_FRA={{hb|FRA}}
|team3=GER|name_GER={{hb|GER}}
|team4=SVK|name_SVK={{hb|SVK}}
|win_ESP=2|draw_ESP=1|loss_ESP=0|gf_ESP=94|ga_ESP=82
|win_FRA=2|draw_FRA=0|loss_FRA=1|gf_FRA=88|ga_FRA=75
|win_GER=1|draw_GER=1|loss_GER=1|gf_GER=87|ga_GER=84
|win_SVK=0|draw_SVK=0|loss_SVK=3|gf_SVK=72|ga_SVK=100

|col_A=green1|text_A=
|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A
|update=complete|source=[http://history.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/round/1/Final+Round EHF]
}}

{{handballbox
|date=26 January 2006
|time=15:45
|team1={{hb-rt|GER}}
|score=31–31
|team2={{hb|ESP}}
|HT=16–15
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/07.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Pascal Hens|Hens]] 9
|goals2=''three players'' 6
|twomin1=5
|yellow1=4
|red1=
|twomin2=2
|yellow2=2
|red2=
|stadium=[[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
|attendance=5,900
|referee=Laursen, Nielsen
|refnat=DEN
}}
{{handballbox
|date=26 January 2006
|time=18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|FRA}}
|score=35–21
|team2={{hb|SVK}}
|HT=19–9
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/08.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Joël Abati|Abati]] 6
|goals2=''three players'' 
|twomin1=2
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=4
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
|attendance=4,800
|referee=Arnaldsson, Viðarsson
|refnat=ISL
}}
----
{{handballbox
|date=28 January 2006
|time=14:00
|team1={{hb-rt|SVK}}
|score=26–31
|team2={{hb|GER}}
|HT=15–18
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/09.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Radoslav Antl|Antl]] 6
|goals2=[[Andrej Klimovets|Klimovets]] 7
|twomin1=3
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=6
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
|attendance=6,300
|referee=Višekruna, Stanojević
|refnat=SRB
}}
{{handballbox
|date=28 January 2006
|time=16:15
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=29–26
|team2={{hb|FRA}}
|HT=17–9
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/10.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Iker Romero|Romero]] 10
|goals2=[[Nikola Karabatić|Karabatić]] 10
|twomin1=3
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=2
|yellow2=4
|red2=
|stadium=[[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
|attendance=5,900
|referee=Kékes, Kékes
|refnat=HUN
}}
----
{{handballbox
|date=29 January 2006
|time=15:15
|team1={{hb-rt|GER}}
|score=25–27
|team2={{hb|FRA}}
|HT=11–13
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/11.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Andrej Klimovets|Klimovets]] 6
|goals2=[[Michaël Guigou|Guigou]] 6
|twomin1=4
|yellow1=2
|red1=
|twomin2=4
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
|attendance=6,600
|referee=Dolejš, Kohout
|refnat=CZE
}}
{{handballbox
|date=29 January 2006
|time=17:30
|team1={{hb-rt|ESP}}
|score=34–25
|team2={{hb|SVK}}
|HT=15–10
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/12.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Rubén Garabaya|Garabaya]] 8
|goals2=[[Martin Straňovský|Straňovský]] 9
|twomin1=5
|yellow1=2
|red1=1
|twomin2=6
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
|attendance=5,450
|referee=Reisinger, Kaschütz
|refnat=AUT
}}

===Group C===
The matches in this group were held in the [[Sursee Stadthalle]] in [[Sursee]]/[[Lucerne]]. Denmark and Iceland opened with wins, and with a draw in the second round both teams qualified for the main round. Serbia and Montenegro joined them due to the head-to-head encounter rule; despite finishing level on points with Hungary after losing to Denmark in the last match, Serbia and Montenegro had beaten Hungary and thus finished ahead. Iceland lost their last match, but nevertheless carried through three points to the main round, as did Denmark.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=DEN|name_DEN={{hb|DEN}}
|team2=ISL|name_ISL={{hb|ISL}}
|team3=SCG|name_SCG={{hb|SCG}}
|team4=HUN|name_HUN={{hb|HUN}}
|win_DEN=2|draw_DEN=1|loss_DEN=0|gf_DEN=90|ga_DEN=82
|win_ISL=1|draw_ISL=1|loss_ISL=1|gf_ISL=95|ga_ISL=94
|win_SCG=1|draw_SCG=0|loss_SCG=2|gf_SCG=89|ga_SCG=93
|win_HUN=1|draw_HUN=0|loss_HUN=2|gf_HUN=84|ga_HUN=89

|col_A=green1|text_A=
|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A
|update=complete|source=[http://history.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/round/1/Final+Round EHF]
}}
{{Handballbox
|date=26 January 2006
|time=18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|SCG}}
|score=31–36
|team2={{hb|ISL}}
|HT=11–16
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/14.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Milorad Krivokapić (handballer)|Krivokapić]] 7
|goals2=[[Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson|Sigurðsson]] 10
|twomin1=9
|yellow1=4
|red1=
|twomin2=6
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Sursee Stadthalle|Stadthalle]], [[Sursee]]
|attendance=2,500
|referee=Falcone, Rätz
|refnat=SUI
}}
{{Handballbox
|date=26 January 2006
|time=20:15
|team1={{hb-rt|DEN}}
|score=29–25
|team2={{hb|HUN}}
|HT=12–8
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/13.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Joachim Boldsen|Boldsen]] 6
|goals2=[[Dániel Buday|Buday]] 9
|twomin1=5
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=3
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Sursee Stadthalle|Stadthalle]], [[Sursee]]
|attendance=2,500
|referee=Vakula, Ljudovik
|refnat=UKR
}}
----
{{Handballbox
|date=27 January 2006
|time=18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|HUN}}
|score=24–29
|team2={{hb|SCG}}
|HT=12–13
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/16.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Gergő Iváncsik|Iváncsik]] 6
|goals2=[[Žikica Milosavljević|Milosavljević]] 8
|twomin1=5
|yellow1=2
|red1=1
|twomin2=9
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Sursee Stadthalle|Stadthalle]], [[Sursee]]
|attendance=2,500
|referee=Hansson, Olsson
|refnat=SWE
}}
{{Handballbox
|date=27 January 2006
|time=20:15
|team1={{hb-rt|ISL}}
|score=28–28
|team2={{hb|DEN}}
|HT=15–14
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/15.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson|Guðjónsson]] 10
|goals2=[[Joachim Boldsen|Boldsen]], [[Per Leegård|Leegård]] 6
|twomin1=4
|yellow1=4
|red1=
|twomin2=4
|yellow2=4
|red2=
|stadium=[[Sursee Stadthalle|Stadthalle]], [[Sursee]]
|attendance=2,500
|referee=Lemme, Ullrich
|refnat=GER
}}
----
{{Handballbox
|date=29 January 2006
|time=18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|HUN}}
|score=35–31
|team2={{hb|ISL}}
|HT=16–14
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/18.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Dániel Buday|Buday]], [[Gyula Gál|Gál]] 9
|goals2=[[Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson|Guðjónsson]] 10
|twomin1=3
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=5
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Sursee Stadthalle|Stadthalle]], [[Sursee]]
|attendance=2,400
|referee=Bord, Buy
|refnat=FRA
}}
{{Handballbox
|date=29 January 2006
|time=20:15
|team1={{hb-rt|DEN}}
|score=33–29
|team2={{hb|SCG}}
|HT=19–12
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/17.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Søren Stryger|Stryger]] 9
|goals2=[[Dragan Sudžum|Sudžum]] 5
|twomin1=6
|yellow1=2
|red1=
|twomin2=8
|yellow2=4
|red2=
|stadium=[[Sursee Stadthalle|Stadthalle]], [[Sursee]]
|attendance=2,500
|referee=Breto, Huelin
|refnat=ESP
}}

===Group D===
This group was played out in the [[Wankdorfhalle]], [[Bern]]. Russia became the first team to qualify for the main round when they beat Portugal on 27 January. Croatia joined them later that day with a 32–28 win over Norway, and Norway and Portugal played off for the last main round spot on Sunday 29 January. Norway won that match by ten goals, thus proceeding to the main round with zero points; Russia got a full score with four points, despite nearly throwing away a five-goal lead in the last five minutes against Croatia.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2

|team1=RUS|name_RUS={{hb|RUS}}
|team2=CRO|name_CRO={{hb|CRO}}
|team3=NOR|name_NOR={{hb|NOR}}
|team4=POR|name_POR={{hb|POR}}
|win_RUS=3|draw_RUS=0|loss_RUS=0|gf_RUS=89|ga_RUS=82
|win_CRO=2|draw_CRO=0|loss_CRO=1|gf_CRO=85|ga_CRO=79
|win_NOR=1|draw_NOR=0|loss_NOR=2|gf_NOR=86|ga_NOR=83
|win_POR=0|draw_POR=0|loss_POR=3|gf_POR=80|ga_POR=96

|col_A=green1|text_A=
|result1=A|result2=A|result3=A
|update=complete|source=[http://history.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/round/1/Final+Round EHF]
}}

{{Handballbox
|date=26 January 2006
|time=17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CRO}}
|score=24–21
|team2={{hb|POR}}
|HT=11–11
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/19.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Mirza Džomba|Džomba]] 8
|goals2=[[Ricardo Costa (handballer)|R. Costa]] 6
|twomin1=5
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=6
|yellow2=4
|red2=
|stadium=[[Wankdorfhalle]], [[Bern]]
|attendance=2,000
|referee=Reisinger, Kaschütz
|refnat=AUT
}}
{{Handballbox
|date=26 January 2006
|time=19:10
|team1={{hb-rt|RUS}}
|team2={{hb|NOR}}
|score=24–21
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/20.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Vitali Ivanov|Ivanov]] 7
|goals2=[[Alexander Buchmann|Buchmann]] 7
|twomin1=7
|yellow1=2
|red1=
|twomin2=9
|yellow2=3
|red2=1
|HT=12–10
|stadium=[[Wankdorfhalle]], [[Bern]]
|attendance=2,000
|referee=Breto, Huelin
|refnat=ESP
}}
----
{{Handballbox
|date=27 January 2006
|time=18:00
|team1={{hb-rt|POR}}
|score=32–35
|team2={{hb|RUS}}
|HT=12–18
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/22.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Ricardo Costa (handballer)|R. Costa]] 6
|goals2=[[Eduard Kokcharov|Kokcharov]], [[Alexey Peskov|Peskov]] 6
|twomin1=5
|yellow1=4
|red1=
|twomin2=7
|yellow2=4
|red2=
|stadium=[[Wankdorfhalle]], [[Bern]]
|attendance=2,400
|referee=Falcone, Rätz
|refnat=SUI
}}
{{Handballbox
|date=27 January 2006
|time=20:15
|team1={{hb-rt|NOR}}
|score=28–32
|team2={{hb|CRO}}
|HT=14–20
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/21.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Kristian Kjelling|Kjelling]] 6
|goals2=[[Ivano Balić|Balić]] 8
|twomin1=6
|yellow1=4
|red1=
|twomin2=4
|yellow2=2
|red2=
|stadium=[[Wankdorfhalle]], [[Bern]]
|attendance=2,500
|referee=Bord, Buy
|refnat=FRA
}}
----
{{Handballbox
|date=29 January 2006
|time=17:00
|team1={{hb-rt|CRO}}
|score=29–30
|team2={{hb|RUS}}
|HT=12–17
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/23.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Ivano Balić|Balić]] 9
|goals2=[[Alexey Rastvortsev|Rastvortsev]] 10
|twomin1=5
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=6
|yellow2=3
|red2=
|stadium=[[Wankdorfhalle]], [[Bern]]
|attendance=2,500
|referee=Lemme, Ullrich
|refnat=GER
}}
{{Handballbox
|date=29 January 2006
|time=19:10
|team1={{hb-rt|POR}}
|score=27–37
|team2={{hb|NOR}}
|HT=12–17
|report=[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/2/24.pdf Report]
|goals1=[[Carlos Carneiro (handballer)|Carneiro]] 7
|goals2=[[Frank Løke|Løke]] 8
|twomin1=5
|yellow1=3
|red1=
|twomin2=5
|yellow2=4
|red2=
|stadium=[[Wankdorfhalle]], [[Bern]]
|attendance=2,000
|referee=Ljudovik, Vakula
|refnat=UKR
}}

==Main round==
Results from the first group stage were carried forward into the main round.
The first and second placed teams from each group advance to the semifinals. The third placed team of each group advance to play for the fifth place in the tournament.

===Group I===
The matches in this group were played in St. Jakobshalle, Basel. Slovenia had gone through their group with four points from their two matches, but lost initially to France, who were second after two matches. Indeed, Group B teams dominated this group; all nine matches in the second round were won by teams from Group B, and Germany's 36–22 win over Ukraine in the first round of main round play was the largest all tournament. Ukraine were thus knocked out of the semis with two games to play.

Germany continued on the winning path the following day, taking a four-goal lead at half-time against Slovenia in a rerun of the 2004 final, before Slovenia pegged them back to 27–27 midway through the second half. The following nine minutes gave the Germans a five-goal advantage, with keeper [[Henning Fritz]] conceding one goal in those nine minutes, and with five minutes to spare Slovenia could only come back to a three-goal deficit. Nevertheless, Germany were still third in the group, as France beat Poland by ten goals and Spain were eventually pegged back to 31–29 by Ukraine after conceding five goals without reply in the last seven minutes. However, Ukraine missed a penalty shot from  and Spain prevailed.

The final round of matches opened with Germany beating Poland by eight goals, winning the first half by 16–7 and controlling from there, as their keeper [[Johannes Bitter]] saved 21 shots. By contrast, the two Polish keepers had an aggregate of six saves. However, Germany needed either France or Spain to lose their matches, and France would not oblige; they beat Ukraine by 30–20 to qualify for the semi-finals. Spain needed a draw against Slovenia to qualify, and the teams were within two goals of each other for most of the first half. The Spanish goalkeeper made four saves in the final five minutes of the first half, allowing Spain to get a 19–16 lead, and Slovenia never came closer than two goals after that. Spain thus qualified for the semi-finals in first place, ahead of France, while Germany played off for fifth place and a spot at the 2008 European Championship.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2
|show_positions=n

|team1=ESP|name_ESP={{hb|ESP}}
|team2=FRA|name_FRA={{hb|FRA}}
|team3=GER|name_GER={{hb|GER}}
|team4=SLO|name_SLO={{hb|SLO}}
|team5=POL|name_POL={{hb|POL}}
|team6=UKR|name_UKR={{hb|UKR}}
|win_ESP=4|draw_ESP=1|loss_ESP=0|gf_ESP=164|ga_ESP=144
|win_FRA=4|draw_FRA=0|loss_FRA=1|gf_FRA=148|ga_FRA=125
|win_GER=3|draw_GER=1|loss_GER=1|gf_GER=160|ga_GER=137
|win_SLO=2|draw_SLO=0|loss_SLO=3|gf_SLO=162|ga_SLO=169
|win_POL=1|draw_POL=0|loss_POL=4|gf_POL=132|ga_POL=154
|win_UKR=0|draw_UKR=0|loss_UKR=5|gf_UKR=126|ga_UKR=163

|col_A=green1|text_A=
|result1=A|result2=A
|col_B=blue1|text_B=
|result3=B
|update=complete|source=[http://history.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/round/1/Final+Round EHF]
}}

{{Handballbox
| date = 31 January 2006
| time = 15:15
| team1 = {{hb-rt|UKR}}
| goals1 = [[Sergiy Shelmenko]] 5<br>[[Yuriy Petrenko]] 5 (1)
| twomin1 = 4
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|GER}}
| goals2 = [[Florian Kehrmann]] 9 (1)<br>[[Pascal Hens]] 5
| twomin2 = 4
| yellow2 = 2
| score = 22–36
| HT = 13–15
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 2000
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/063/Ukraine+-+Germany report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 31 January 2006
| time = 17:30
| team1 = {{hb-rt|SLO}}
| goals1 = [[Miladin Kozlina]] 8<br>[[Siarhei Rutenka]] 6 (1)
| twomin1 = 5
| yellow1 = 3
| red1 = 1
| team2 = {{hb|FRA}}
| goals2 = [[Luc Abalo]] 8<br>[[Joel Abati]] 5<br>[[Nikola Karabatic]] 5<br>[[Bertrand Gille (handballer)|Bertrand Gille]] 5
| twomin2 = 3
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 30–34
| HT = 11–20
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 1900
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/061/Slovenia+-+France report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 31 January 2006
| time = 20:00
| team1 = {{hb-rt|POL}}
| goals1 = [[Marcin Lijewski]] 5<br>[[Karol Bielecki]] 5 (1)
| twomin1 = 5
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|ESP}}
| goals2 = [[Albert Rocas]] 11 (5)<br>[[Alberto Entrerríos]] 7<br>[[Rolando Urios]] 5
| twomin2 = 3
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 25–34
| HT = 15–16
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 1800
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/062/Poland+-+Spain report]
}}
----
{{Handballbox
| date = 1 February 2006
| time = 15:15
| team1 = {{hb-rt|SLO}}
| goals1 = [[Siarhei Rutenka]] 10 (5)<br>[[Renato Vugrinec]] 7
| twomin1 = 3
| yellow1 = 2
| red1 = 1
| team2 = {{hb|GER}}
| goals2 = [[Christian Zeitz]] 8<br>[[Torsten Jansen]] 7 (1)<br>[[Florian Kehrmann]] 7
| twomin2 = 7
| yellow2 = 2
| score = 33–36
| HT = 16–20
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 3100
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/064/Slovenia+-+Germany report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 1 February 2006
| time = 17:45
| team1 = {{hb-rt|POL}}
| goals1 = [[Marcin Lijewski]] 7 (2 pen)<br>[[Dawid Nilsson]] 6
| twomin1 = 1
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|FRA}}
| goals2 = [[Olivier Girault]] 7 (2)<br>[[Luc Abalo]] 5
| twomin2 = 1
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 21–31
| HT = 9–18
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 3000
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/066/Poland+-+France report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 1 February 2006
| time = 20:00
| team1 = {{hb-rt|UKR}}
| goals1 = [[Sergiy Shel'menko]] 5<br>[[Mykola Stesyura]] 5
| twomin1 = 5
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|ESP}}
| goals2 = {{Interlanguage link|Juan García (handballer)|lt=Juan García|es|Juanín García}} 10 (4)<br>[[Julio Fis]] 6
| twomin2 = 3
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 29–31
| HT = 13–17
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 3000
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/065/Ukraine+-+Spain report]
}}
----
{{Handballbox
| date = 2 February 2006
| time = 15:15
| team1 = {{hb-rt|POL}}
| goals1 = [[Karol Bielecki]] 8 (4 pen)<br>[[Leszek Starczan]] 5
| twomin1 = 2
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|GER}}
| goals2 = [[Florian Kehrmann]] 9 (1)<br>[[Torsten Jansen]] 6<br>[[Pascal Hens]] 5
| twomin2 = 2
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 24–32
| HT = 7–16
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 3100
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/067/Poland+-+Germany report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 2 February 2006
| time = 17:45
| team1 = {{hb-rt|UKR}}
| goals1 = ''four players'' 3
| twomin1 = 4
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|FRA}}
| goals2 = [[Joel Abati]] 7 (2)<br>[[Michael Guigou]] 5
| twomin2 = 4
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 20–30
| HT = 10–16
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 3000
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/068/Ukraine+-+France report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 2 February 2006
| time = 20:00
| team1 = {{hb-rt|SLO}}
| goals1 = [[Siarhei Rutenka]] 9 (2)<br>[[Uroš Zorman]] 5
| twomin1 = 6
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|ESP}}
| goals2 = [[Alberto Entrerríos]] 8<br>[[Rolando Urios]] 8<br>[[Albert Rocas]] 6 (1)<br>[[Iker Romero]] 6
| twomin2 = 5
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 33–39
| HT = 16–19
| stadium = [[St. Jakobshalle]], [[Basel]]
| attendance = 3100
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/069/Slovenia+-+Spain report]
}}

===Group II===
This group's matches took place in the Kreuzbleichhalle, St. Gallen.

Iceland took an early lead in this group after beating Russia 34–32 in the first match, which sent Russia down from first to third place. Croatia went second in the group after beating Denmark, left winger [[Goran Šprem]] settling the match when he scored two seconds before the end, while Norway were the only team without a point in this group after losing their match with Serbia and Montenegro. With 25 seconds remaining, [[Kristian Kjelling]] scored a penalty to equalise, but [[Milorad Krivokapić (handballer)|Milorad Krivokapić]] scored his only goal of the match just as the buzzer sounded to give Serbia and Montenegro the victory.

Russia quickly recovered from the loss against Iceland, with their keeper [[Alexei Kostygov]] saving 14 of 34 shots as Serbia/Montenegro were beaten 29–21, and went top of the table ahead of Croatia – who beat Iceland by one goal, though Iceland's last two goals came in the very last minute. In the last match on 1 February, Denmark kept their semi-final hopes alive with a 35–31 win over Norway, to stay within one point of the leaders.

The following day saw Croatia become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals when they beat Serbia and Montenegro by 34–30; the teams followed each other until 20–20 ten minutes into the second half, when wingers [[Goran Šprem]] and [[Mirza Džomba]] scored five of six successive Croatian goals. Goalkeeper [[Vlado Šola]] saved 19 of 43 shots from Serbian players. Iceland needed a win against Norway, who had failed to win a match thus far in the tournament, and led 16–14 at half time after Norway threw away the ball on their last attack of the half and Iceland countered in a last goal. Norway came back, equalising eight minutes into the second half, and with ten minutes to go they took a three-goal lead which they never relinquished, eventually winning 36–33 to knock Iceland out of the championship. Norwegian back player [[Kjetil Strand]] scored 19 goals in the match, eight more than any other player had done in a match thus far in the tournament, and more than half of Norway's goals.

The final match between Russia and Denmark was now a virtual quarter-final. Russia gained a 6–3 lead after ten minutes, but were pegged back, and by the end of the half it was 13–13. In the second half, Russia suffered three two-minute suspensions within a minute, and during the three-minute period of Danish numerical superiority they went from 19–17 to 22–17. The lead never shrunk below five goals again, Denmark eventually scoring 22 goals in the second half to win 35–28 and qualify for the semi-finals in second place.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|res_col_header=Q
|winpoints=2
|show_positions=n

|team1=CRO|name_CRO={{hb|CRO}}
|team2=DEN|name_DEN={{hb|DEN}}
|team3=RUS|name_RUS={{hb|RUS}}
|team4=ISL|name_ISL={{hb|ISL}}
|team5=SCG|name_SCG={{hb|SCG}}
|team6=NOR|name_NOR={{hb|NOR}}
|win_CRO=4|draw_CRO=0|loss_CRO=1|gf_CRO=155|ga_CRO=146
|win_DEN=3|draw_DEN=1|loss_DEN=1|gf_DEN=161|ga_DEN=147
|win_RUS=3|draw_RUS=0|loss_RUS=2|gf_RUS=143|ga_RUS=140
|win_ISL=2|draw_ISL=1|loss_ISL=2|gf_ISL=159|ga_ISL=156
|win_SCG=1|draw_SCG=0|loss_SCG=4|gf_SCG=137|ga_SCG=157
|win_NOR=1|draw_NOR=0|loss_NOR=4|gf_NOR=141|ga_NOR=150

|col_A=green1|text_A=
|result1=A|result2=A
|col_B=blue1|text_B=
|result3=B
|update=complete|source=[http://history.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/round/1/Final+Round EHF]
}}

{{Handballbox
| date = 31 January 2006
| time = 15:45
| team1 = {{hb-rt|ISL}}
| goals1 = [[Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson]] 11<br>[[Ólafur Stefánsson]] 8
| twomin1 = 4
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|RUS}}
| goals2 = [[Eduard Kokcharov]] 8 (4)<br>[[Vasily Filippov]] 7<br>[[Oleg Frolov]] 5
| twomin2 = 6
| yellow2 = 2
| score = 34–32
| HT = 17–15
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 2200
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/077/Iceland+-+Russia report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 31 January 2006
| time = 18:00
| team1 = {{hb-rt|DEN}}
| goals1 = [[Søren Stryger]] 8 (3)<br>[[Joachim Boldsen]] 6
| twomin1 = 6
| yellow1 = 2
| team2 = {{hb|CRO}}
| goals2 = [[Petar Metličić]] 10<br>[[Blaženko Lacković]] 6
| twomin2 = 4
| yellow2 = 2
| score = 30–31
| HT = 14–15
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 3000
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/076/Denmark+-+Croatia report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 31 January 2006
| time = 20:15
| team1 = {{hb-rt|SCG}}
| goals1 = [[Ratko Nikolić]] 6
| twomin1 = 5
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|NOR}}
| goals2 = [[Kjetil Strand]] 9<br>[[Kristian Kjelling]] 5 (2)
| twomin2 = 5
| yellow2 = 4
| score = 26–25
| HT = 15–16
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 2900
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/078/Serbia+Montenegro+-+Norway report]
}}
----
{{Handballbox
| date = 1 February 2006
| time = 15:45
| team1 = {{hb-rt|SCG}}
| goals1 = 
| twomin1 = 4
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|RUS}}
| goals2 = [[Denis Krivoshlykov]] 8<br>[[Timur Dibirov]] 5
| twomin2 = 5
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 21–29
| HT = 8–14
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 2800
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/080/Serbia+Montenegro+-+Russia report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 1 February 2006
| time = 18:00
| team1 = {{hb-rt|ISL}}
| goals1 = [[Ólafur Stefánsson]] 8<br>[[Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson]] 8
| twomin1 = 6
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|CRO}}
| goals2 = [[Ivano Balić]] 9<br>[[Blaženko Lacković]] 9
| twomin2 = 11
| yellow2 = 3
| red2 = 2
| score = 28–29
| HT = 13–13
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 3500
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/081/Iceland+-+Croatia report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 1 February 2006
| time = 20:15
| team1 = {{hb-rt|DEN}}
| goals1 = [[Jesper Jensen (handballer)|Jesper Jensen]] 8 (5)<br>[[Lars Rasmussen (handballer)|Lars Rasmussen]] 7 (4)
| twomin1 = 6
| yellow1 = 3
| red1 = 1
| team2 = {{hb|NOR}}
| goals2 = [[Kristian Kjelling]] 9<br>[[Håvard Tvedten]] 7<br>[[Frank Løke]] 6
| twomin2 = 9
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 35–31
| HT = 17–15
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 3000
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/079/Denmark+-+Norway report]
}}
----
{{Handballbox
| date = 2 February 2006
| time = 15:45
| team1 = {{hb-rt|SCG}}
| goals1 = [[Marko Krivokapić]] 7 (4)<br>[[Milorad Krivokapić (handballer)|Milorad Krivokapić]] 5<br>[[Momir Ilić]] 5 (2)
| twomin1 = 7
| yellow1 = 3
| red1 = 2
| team2 = {{hb|CRO}}
| goals2 = [[Goran Šprem]] 9<br>[[Ivano Balić]] 8
| twomin2 = 5
| yellow2 = 3
| red2 = 1
| score = 30–34
| HT = 16–16
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 3500
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/083/Serbia+Montenegro+-+Croatia report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 2 February 2006
| time = 18:00
| team1 = {{hb-rt|ISL}}
| goals1 = [[Ólafur Stefánsson]] 9 (4)<br>[[Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson]] 6<br>[[Snorri Guðjónsson]] 5
| twomin1 = 7
| yellow1 = 3
| red1 = 1
| team2 = {{hb|NOR}}
| goals2 = [[Kjetil Strand]] 19 (8)<br>[[Frank Løke]] 7
| twomin2 = 7
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 33–36
| HT = 16–14
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 3500
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/082/Iceland+-+Norway report]
}}
{{Handballbox
| date = 2 February 2006
| time = 20:15
| team1 = {{hb-rt|DEN}}
| goals1 = [[Michael Knudsen]] 10<br>[[Søren Stryger]] 6<br>[[Lars Christiansen (handballer)|Lars Christiansen]] 5 (1)
| twomin1 = 5
| yellow1 = 2
| team2 = {{hb|RUS}}
| goals2 = [[Vasily Filippov]] 6<br>[[Vitali Ivanov]] 5<br>[[Eduard Kokcharov]] 5 (5)
| twomin2 = 6
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 35–28
| HT = 13–13
| stadium = [[Kreuzbleichhalle]], [[St. Gallen]]
| attendance = 3500
| report = [http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/match/1/084/Denmark+-+Russia report]
}}

==Final round==
These took place in the largest stadium to be used in the tournament, the [[Hallenstadion]] in [[Zürich]] (capacity 11,500). The first match was the fifth-place play-off, determining the final direct qualifying spot for the [[2008 European Men's Handball Championship]]; the other semi-finalists had already qualified directly. Russia took a two-goal lead through [[Oleg Frolov]] when he gave them 6–4 in the ninth minute, and Germany failed to catch up before half-time, though they won the last eight minutes 5–3. Russia went into the break with an 18–16 lead, but failed to score for eight minutes midway through the second half, while [[Christian Zeitz]] scored four successive goals for Germany to take them into a three-goal lead, which they kept for the remainder of the match despite [[Eduard Kokcharov]] scoring two penalties with five minutes to go. Zeitz ended up with 12 goals, eight of which came in the second half.

In the first of the two semi-finals, France faced Croatia, and after Croatia won the first 20 minutes by 10–8 the French goalkeeper [[Thierry Omeyer]] shut the goal. Nine saves were recorded before half-time, as France went into a 12–10 lead, and a further two in the first five minutes of the second half allowed France to build a four-goal lead. They never gave it away again, as [[Michael Guigou]] netted six times in the second half to ensure a 29–23 victory.

Spain became the second team from preliminary group B to qualify for the final, coming back from a 15–16 deficit at half time when [[Iker Romero]] scored four successive goals for Spain to bring them from 20–19 to 24–20. Denmark came within one goal, when [[Lars Rasmussen (handball player)|Lars Rasmussen]] netted on a fast break, but three Spanish goals and two saves followed, and the Danes never came back in the match.

Denmark won the third place play-off, however, coming back from 2–5 down to lead 16–9 at half time against Croatia and eventually winning by five goals, before France went into the final against the defending World Champions Spain. France had lost the group stage match by three goals, and Spain took a 4–1 lead after five minutes, before a four-minute rally from France brought them back in the lead. Spain were catching up for the most part of the first half, equalising four times but not taking the lead until [[Iker Romero]] scored a penalty shot in the 21st minute. France then won the last nine minutes of the half by 6–1, and went into the break with a four-goal lead.

Coming out of the break, Spain came within two goals, trailing by 20–22 when ten minutes had passed. However, they then went nearly fifteen minutes without a goal, which included a period of playing with six men against four. When [[Rolando Urios]] finally scored, France still led by 28–21 with six minutes to go, and France eventually won the match by 31–23 to win their first European Championship.

===Bracket===
{{Round4-with third
|RD1 = Semi-finals
|RD2 = Final
|Consol = Bronze Match
<!--Date-Time|Team 1|Score 1|Team 2|Score 2 -->
<!--Semifinal -->
|4 February – 14:15 ([[Zürich]])|'''{{hb|FRA}}'''|'''29'''|{{hb|CRO}}|23
|4 February – 17:00 ([[Zürich]])|'''{{hb|ESP}}'''|'''34'''|{{hb|DEN}}|31
<!--Final -->
|5 February – 16:00 ([[Zürich]])|'''{{hb|FRA}}'''|'''31'''|{{hb|ESP}}|23
<!--3rd/4th Place -->
|5 February – 13:30 ([[Zürich]])|{{hb|CRO}}|27|'''{{hb|DEN}}'''|'''32'''
}}

===Semifinals===
{{Handballbox
| date = 4 February 2006
| time = 14:15
| team1 = {{hb-rt|FRA}}
| goals1 = [[Michael Guigou]] 10 (6)<br>[[Jerome Fernandez]] 5<br>[[Bertrand Gille (handballer)|Bertrand Gille]] 5
| twomin1 = 6
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|CRO}}
| goals2 = [[Mirza Džomba]] 10 (5)
| twomin2 = 5
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 29–23
| HT = 12–10
| stadium = [[Hallenstadion]], [[Zürich]]
| attendance = 11300
| report = [http://statistics.eurohandball.com/reports/?m=061111040 Report]
}}
----
{{Handballbox
| date = 4 February 2006
| time = 17:00
| team1 = {{hb-rt|ESP}}
| goals1 = [[Iker Romero]] 10 (1)<br>[[Rolando Urios]] 5<br>[[Albert Rocas]] 5 (3)
| twomin1 = 1
| yellow1 = 2
| team2 = {{hb|DEN}}
| goals2 = [[Michael Knudsen]] 7
| twomin2 = 2
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 34–31
| HT = 15–16
| stadium = [[Hallenstadion]], [[Zürich]]
| attendance = 10800
| report = [http://statistics.eurohandball.com/reports/?m=061111044 Report]
}}

===Fifth place game===
{{Handballbox
| date = 4 February 2006
| time = 11:45
| team1 = {{hb-rt|GER}}
| goals1 = [[Christian Zeitz]] 12<br>[[Pascal Hens]] 10
| twomin1 = 7
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|RUS}}
| goals2 = [[Eduard Kokcharov]] 10 (7)<br>[[Oleg Frolov]] 7
| twomin2 = 5
| yellow2 = 3
| red2 = 1
| score = 32–30
| HT = 16–18
| stadium = [[Hallenstadion]], [[Zürich]]
| attendance = 6500
| report = [http://statistics.eurohandball.com/reports/?m=061111046 report]
}}

===Third place game===
{{Handballbox
|bg=#CC9966
| date = 5 February 2006
| time = 13:30
| team1 = {{hb-rt|DEN}}
| goals1 = [[Lars Møller Madsen]] 9<br>[[Jesper Jensen (handballer)|Jesper Jensen]] 5<br>[[Søren Stryger]] 5 (1)
| twomin1 = 5
| yellow1 = 2
| team2 = {{hb|CRO}}
| goals2 = [[Blaženko Lacković]] 6<br>[[Mirza Džomba]] 6 (4)<br>[[Denis Špoljarić]] 5
| twomin2 = 3
| yellow2 = 3
| score = 32–27
| HT = 16–9
| stadium = [[Hallenstadion]], [[Zürich]]
| attendance = 11000
| report = [http://statistics.eurohandball.com/reports/?m=061111050 report]
}}

===Final===
{{Handballbox
| bg = gold
| date = 5 February 2006
| time = 16:00
| team1 = {{hb-rt|ESP}}
| goals1 = [[Juanín García]] 6
| twomin1 = 3
| yellow1 = 3
| team2 = {{hb|FRA}}
| goals2 = [[Nikola Karabatic]] 11<br>[[Joel Abati]] 6
| twomin2 = 3
| yellow2 = 3
| red2 = 1
| score = 23–31
| HT = 13–17
| stadium = [[Hallenstadion]], [[Zürich]]
| attendance = 11400
| report = [http://statistics.eurohandball.com/reports/?m=061111054 report]
}}

==Ranking and statistics==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Final ranking===
{| class="wikitable" width="250px"
|- 
|align=center|{{gold1}}|| {{Hb|FRA}}
|- 
|align=center|{{silver2}}|| {{Hb|ESP}}
|- 
|align=center|{{bronze3}}|| {{Hb|DEN}}
|-
|align=center|4|| {{Hb|CRO}}
|-
|align=center|5|| {{Hb|GER}}
|-
|align=center|6|| {{Hb|RUS}}
|-
|align=center|7|| {{Hb|ISL}}
|-
|align=center|8|| {{Hb|SLO}}
|-
|align=center|9|| {{Hb|SCG}}
|-
|align=center|10|| {{Hb|POL}}
|-
|align=center|11|| {{Hb|NOR}}
|-
|align=center|12|| {{Hb|UKR}}
|-
|align=center|13|| {{Hb|HUN}}
|-
|align=center|14|| {{Hb|SUI}}
|-
|align=center|15|| {{Hb|POR}}
|-
|align=center|16|| {{Hb|SVK}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===All-Star Team===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position !! Player
|-
| Goalkeeper || {{flagathlete|[[Thierry Omeyer]]|FRA}}
|-
| Right wing || {{flagathlete|[[Søren Stryger]]|DEN}}
|-
| Right back || {{flagathlete|[[Ólafur Stefánsson]]|ISL}}
|-
| Centre back || {{flagathlete|[[Ivano Balić]]|CRO}}
|-
| Left back  || {{flagathlete|[[Iker Romero]]|ESP}}
|-
| Left wing || {{flagathlete|[[Eduard Koksharov]]|RUS}}
|-
| Pivot || {{flagathlete|[[Rolando Uríos]]|ESP}}
|-
| [[Most valuable player]] || {{flagathlete|[[Ivano Balić]]|CRO}}
|}
<small>Source: [https://men2020.ehf-euro.com/about-ehf-euro/ehf-euro-history/ehf-euro-2006/ EHF]</small>
{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Top goalscorers===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
! Rank !! Name !! Team !! Goals !! Shots !! %
|-
| 1 || align=left|[[Siarhei Rutenka]] || align=left|{{hb|SLO}} || 51 || 81 || 63
|-
| 2 || align=left|[[Albert Rocas]] || align=left|{{hb|ESP}} || 45 || 56 || 80
|-
| 3 || align=left|[[Eduard Koksharov]] || align=left|{{hb|RUS}} || 44 || 58 || 76
|-
| 4 || align=left|[[Ivano Balić]] || align=left|{{hb|CRO}} ||43 || 74 || 58
|-
| 5 || align=left|[[Snorri Gudjónsson]] || align=left|{{hb|ISL}} || 42 || 67 || 63
|-
| rowspan=3|6 || align=left|[[Nikola Karabatic]] || align=left|{{hb|FRA}} || rowspan=3|40 || 72 || 56
|-
| align=left|[[Iker Romero]] || align=left|{{hb|ESP}} || 71 || 56
|-
| align=left|[[Søren Stryger]] || align=left|{{hb|DEN}} || 62 || 65
|-
| rowspan=2|9 || align=left|[[Florian Kehrmann]] || align=left|{{hb|GER}} || rowspan=2|39 || 66 || 59
|-
| align=left|[[Michael Knudsen]] || align=left|{{hb|DEN}} || 51 || 76
|}
<small>Source: [http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/3/TOPGK1.pdf EHF]</small>
{{col-2}}

===Top goalkeepers===
''(minimum 20% of total shots received by team)''

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
! Rank !! Name !! Team !! % !! Saves !! Shots
|-
| 1 || align=left|[[Johannes Bitter]] || align=left|{{hb|GER}} || 39 || 35 || 90
|-
| rowspan=2|2 || align=left|[[José Javier Hombrados]] || align=left|{{hb|ESP}} || rowspan=2|38 || 54 || 143
|-
| align=left|[[Thierry Omeyer]] || align=left|{{hb|FRA}} || 99 || 258
|-
| rowspan=3|4 || align=left|[[Kasper Hvidt]] || align=left|{{hb|DEN}} || rowspan=3|36 || 85 || 237
|-
| align=left|[[Beno Lapajne]] || align=left|{{hb|SLO}} || 36 || 100
|-
| align=left|[[Pascal Stauber]] || align=left|{{hb|SUI}} || 30 || 84
|-
| rowspan=5|7 || align=left|[[David Barrufet]] || align=left|{{hb|ESP}} || rowspan=5|35 || 77 || 219
|-
| align=left|[[Ole Erevik]] || align=left|{{hb|NOR}} || 24 || 68
|-
| align=left|[[Michal Meluš]] || align=left|{{hb|SVK}} || 13 || 37
|-
| align=left|[[Vlado Šola]] || align=left|{{hb|CRO}} || 95 || 275
|-
| align=left|[[Sławomir Szmal]] || align=left|{{hb|POL}} || 67 || 191
|}
<small>Source: [http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/3/3/TOPGK1.pdf EHF]</small>
{{col-end}}

==References==
*{{cite web|title=2006 Men's European Championship|url=http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/round/1|author=eurohandball.com|access-date=24 January 2011|archive-date=24 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124130339/http://www.eurohandball.com/ech/men/2006/round/1|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web|title=Men Handball European Championship 2006 |url=http://todor66.com/handball/Europe/Men_2006.html |author=todor66.com |access-date=24 January 2011|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619224101/http://todor66.com/handball/Europe/Men_2006.html |archive-date=19 June 2011 }}

==External links==
*[http://home.eurohandball.com/ehf_files/specificHBI/ECh_Analyses/2006/SUI/1/RANK1.pdf Results]

{{European Handball Championship}}
{{Portal bar|Switzerland|Sports}}

[[Category:2006 in handball|European Handball]]
[[Category:2006 in Swiss sport|H]]
[[Category:International handball competitions hosted by Switzerland|H]]
[[Category:European Men's Handball Championship]]
[[Category:January 2006 sports events in Europe|European Men's Handball Championship]]
[[Category:February 2006 sports events in Europe|European Men's Handball Championship]]
[[Category:2006 European Men's Handball Championship| ]]