The 2004 EHF European Women's Handball Championship was held in Hungary from 9–19 December, it was won by Norway after beating Denmark 27–25 in the final match.
Venues The 2004 European Championship was held in the following cities: Debrecen (Preliminary Group A, Main Group 2) Zalaegerszeg (Preliminary Group B) Békéscsaba (Preliminary Group C) Győr (Preliminary Group D, Main Group 1) Budapest (Final Round)
Qualification Country Qualified as Previous appearances in tournament1 Host 5 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) Semifinalist of 2002 European Championship 5 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) Semifinalist of 2002 European Championship 5 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) Semifinalist of 2002 European Championship 2 (2000, 2002) Semifinalist of 2002 European Championship 5 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) Playoff winner 5 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) Playoff winner 2 (2000, 2002) Playoff winner 2 (1994, 1996) Playoff winner 2 (1994, 2002) Playoff winner 5 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) Playoff winner 5 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) Playoff winner (2000, 2002) Playoff winner 1 (2002) Playoff winner 2 (1998, 2002) Playoff winner 3 (1994, 1996, 2002) Playoff winner 5 (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002)
1 Bold indicates champion for that year. Italic indicates host for that year. 2 as FR Yugoslavia
Competition format Preliminary Round: 16 teams are divided into four groups. They play each other in a single round robin system, so each team plays three matches. A win is worth two points, while a draw is worth one point. The top three teams from each group advance to the Main Round. Main Round: 12 teams are divided in two groups. They play against the teams they didn't play in the Preliminary Round, so each team plays 3 matches. All points from the Preliminary Round, except the points gained against the 4th place team in the preliminary group, are carried forward into the Main Round. Same round robin rules apply as in the Preliminary Round. Top 2 teams from each group advance to the semifinals, while the third placed team from each group advances to the 5th-6th Place Play-off, and the fourth placed team to the 7th-8th Place Play-off. Final Round: 8 teams play in the final weekend of the championships. 3rd place teams from the Main Round play in the 5th-6th Place Play-off, and 4th place team to the 7th-8th Place Play-off. Other teams play in the semifinals. Losers of the semifinals advance to the 3rd-4th Place Play-off, and winners advance to the final.
Squads
Preliminary round
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Main round
Group I
Group II
Final round
Bracket
Semifinals
Seventh place game
Fifth place game
Third place game
Final
Ranking and statistics
Final ranking 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
2004 Women's European Champions Norway2nd title
Team roster Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk, Kristine Lunde, Kari Mette Johansen, Isabel Blanco, Vigdis Hårsaker, Randi Gustad, Elisabeth Hilmo, Karoline Dyhre Breivang, Gro Hammerseng, Katja Nyberg, Ragnhild Aamodt, Camilla Thorsen, Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth, Gøril Snorroeggen, Kjersti Beck, Terese Pedersen and Katrine Lunde.Head coach: Marit Breivik.
All-Star Team Goalkeeper: Left wing: Left back: Pivot: Centre back: Right back: Right wing: Most valuable player: Chosen by team officials and EHF experts: EHF
Top goalscorers Rank Name Team Goals Shots % 1 Bojana Radulovics 72 123 59 2 Tatjana Logvin 63 111 57 3 Elena Avadanii 46 62 74 4 Grit Jurack 43 86 505 Lyudmila Bodniyeva 42 49 86Olena Reznir 84 50 7 Liudmila Postnova 41 84 49 8 Gro Hammerseng 38 55 69 9 Mette Sjøberg 37 72 5110 Leila Lejeune 35 61 57Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth 60 58 Source: EHF
Top goalkeepers RankNameTeam%SavesShots1 Nataliya Borysenko 41 48 117Karin Mortensen 87 2103 Madeleine Grundström 39 51 132Katrine Lunde 54 1385 Kjersti Beck 38 58 152Irina Sirina 37 97 7 Alexandra Gräfer 36 52 1438 Luminița Dinu 35 59 168Natalia Petrakova 33 93Paula Rădulescu 41 117Sergeja Stefanišin 64 181Larysa Zaspa 56 159 Source: EHF