The record European Championship in Germany has found a worthy new champion in France. After setting a world record with more than 53,000 spectators and more than a million fans in the halls – a European Championship has never attracted more people to the arenas – France won a high-class and thrilling final against Denmark 33:31 after extra time.
As if they had both When their opponents had to prove that the two best teams in the tournament were actually facing each other in this European Championship final, France and Denmark got going from the first second. What was already a given given the current title constellation: the Olympic champion met the world champion, it couldn’t be better. On the one hand, the ripped-off French, who were happy but not undeservedly eliminated by the defending champions Sweden after extra time – and once again coolly presented their effective, almost calculating handball.
Neither the counterattacks by the Danes, who had meanwhile raced to 9:6, nor the Danish goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, who once again made a great save, were able to unsettle the Olympic champion. At halftime they had Blues the stormy Danes caught up again at 14:14.
Because French goalkeeper Samir Bellahcene also put in a world-class performance, it remained a high-class exchange of blows that was well worth seeing – which the almost 20,000 spectators also appreciated. Of course, after the initial shock of the Germans’ defeat in the game for third place against the Swedes had been digested. Two intense defensive lines, outstanding individual players such as seven-time goalscorer Mathias Gidsel or colleague Mikkel Hansen, who scored eight times, on the Danes’ side. Or the French pivot Ludovic Fabregas with seven goals or playmaker Nedim Remili with five goals.
In the end, little things made the difference; the decisive goal to make it 32:30 was appropriately reserved for Elohim Prandi, who had already kept the new European champions in the tournament with his trick throw against Sweden in the semi-finals.