Olympic champion France suffered a defeat that was as unexpected as it was significant at the European Handball Championship. The team of former Bundesliga star Guillaume Gille, who, like two of his players, is currently in quarantine after a positive corona test, lost 21:29 (10:17) to Iceland in Budapest and has to fear for the semi-finals. France superstar Nikola Karabatic scored just one goal in six attempts. The performance of the three-time world handball player was an example of the weak exploitation of chances by the record world champion, who is tied with Iceland with 4:2 points and is suddenly under pressure: only the two best teams reach the semi-finals, France is still playing against Montenegro and the so far strong world champion Denmark.
The Dutch had previously scored their first points in the main round by beating Montenegro 34:30 (18:16). With 2:4 points, both teams have little chance of reaching the semi-finals. Denmark has this in mind before the game in the evening (8.30 p.m.) against vice-European champions Croatia: The world champions of 2019 and 2021 are the only team in the main round group 1 without losing points and can consolidate first place in the table.