WOMEN
1.The Danish Beach Handball Dream (DEN)
Starting with the 2023 champions in the women's competition, The Danish Beach Handball Dream not only are the current title holders, but also took the trophy home from the ebt Finals in 2023 and 2022. Last year, by not going through the tournament unbeaten, they showed they can be vulnerable but also have great team spirit and dedication, playing until very last second. Now, they are chasing their dream of defending the title, while everyone else dreams of stopping them.
Line Berggren Larsen is perhaps the side's key player – if she is in the team, they will heavily rely on her. One of best players in the world, she was named MVP at the Champions Cup in 2023 and the World Championship in China this year.
2. CATS A.M: Team Almeria (ESP)
The Spanish side lost in last year’s semi-finals before losing the 3rd place match against the German team Beach Bazis, 2:1 – this time, they want a medal! Beach Bazis and 2023 silver medalists OVB Beach Girls will not be there in 2024, so the path really is open for Team Almeria.
Despite last year's shortcomings, they know what it takes to win this tournament, doing so in 2019 and 2020 before succumbing to defeat in the 2021 final. Their experience will surely play its part in 2024.
They hope to call upon Asun Batista, one of the real beach handball stars and always a crucial player for her team. She was MVP at the Women’s EHF Beach Handball EURO 2023 and the EHF Beach Handball Champions Cup 2022.
3. Multichem Szentendrei NKE (HUN)
Another side looking to profit from last year's minor medallists being absent this time are Multichem Szentendrei NKE from Hungary. They came sixth a year ago, following seventh and fourth place finishes in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Will 2024 finally be their year to make it back onto the Champions Cup podium?
We say "back onto", because the highly-experienced team have been there before; winners in 2018 and 2015, they claimed silver (2016) and bronze (2017) in the intervening years. After lifting the Hungarian national championship in August, they will surely feel motivated for the Champions Cup.
They have the players to do it, too, such as Emese Toth – still an outstanding beach handball defensive specialist and the only player who has been involved in all national and international titles won by Szentendrei NKE; she proved she is in great form recently as she was named MVP at the national championship.