XVI EHF European Handball Germany 2024 - FINAL. France vs. Denmark
XVI Europeo de Balonmano de Alemania 2024 - FINAL. Francia vs. Dinamarca
Europeo de Balonmano 2024
La Francia eterna suma su cuarto Europeo en la final ante Dinamarca
A pesar de la diferencia en las porterías forzó otra prórroga y se ganó a pulso el oro
Dinamarca, Francia, Dinamarca... Francia. Después de haber perdido frente al mismo rival hace un año el Mundial, la selección campeona olímpica en Tokio, la francesa, conquistó su cuarto título europeo en otras tantas finales, aunque esta vez tardó diez años. Entró de milagro y con polémica con ese gol bellísimo pero antirreglamentario de Prandi, forzó también la prórroga en este último partido y demostró sus trazas de gran campeón, la selección más exitosa del siglo XXI.
Lo logró con un rendimiento en la portería, nueve paradas, que apenas fue la mitad del de Dinamarca, lo que da más valor a su juego. Fue adaptándose a los desafíos que le planteaba el rival y, sobre todo, se hizo fuerte en su defensa. También llegó más entera físicamente a la recta final del partido y le fueron surgiendo jugadores que resultaron decisivos, como el lateral Prandi, Mem, que no marcó hasta la prórroga y siempre Fàbregas.
FICHA TÉCNICA
33 - Francia: Bellahcene (Desbonnet); Lenne (4), Remili (5), Mem (2), N. Karabatic, Fàbregas (8), Nahi (4) ; Prandi (4), Tournat (1), Mahe (3 p), L. Karabatic, Descat (2 p), Konan.
31 - Dinamarca: Nielsen (N. Landin); Kirkelokke (3), Jakobsen (2), Saugstrup (2), Gidsel (8), Hald, Pytlick (5); Lauge, Lindberg, Mensah, Hansen (9, 7p), M. Landin (1), Damgaard (1), Jorgensen.
Marcador cada cinco minutos: 2-3, 5-4, 6-8, 7-9, 11-10, 14-14; 14-17, 16-17, 18-20, 21-23, 25-25, 27-27 (prórroga), 29-29, 33-31.
Árbitros: Marín Lorente y García Serradilla. Excluyeron a Mem (dos veces), Konan y Fàbregas por Francia y a Gidsel, Mikerlokke y Mensah por Dinamarca.
Incidencias: Final del Europeo masculino. Lanxess Arena de Colonia, 19.750 espectadores.
FRANCE RECLAIM EHF EURO TITLE AFTER 70-MINUTE BATTLE
France are back on top of the continent, having beaten Denmark 33:31 in extra time in the final of the Men’s EHF EURO 2024 in Cologne on Sunday evening.
France fell behind in the first half before levelling the game, then found themselves at a deficit again in the second period, yet fought back to equalise once more and sent the game into extra time. In extra time, France took the edge in the second five minutes and Yanis Lenne netted the final goal to secure the victory.
It is France’s fourth win against Denmark in a total of six title matches between the sides, and the second win versus the Scandinavian side in two EHF EURO finals.
The victory means France now hold the Olympic and European titles simultaneously, at least until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games take place later in the year.
France vs Denmark 33:31 (27:27)(14:14)
the outcome of the final came down to extra time, with Dika Mem netting two goals that opened a two-goal gap for France and Samir Bellahcene making a save in between that prevented Denmark from levelling at the critical moment and created the chance for the win
driven by their defence and an outstanding Emil Nielsen in goal, with eight saves at 57.1 per cent in the first 20 minutes and a total of 15 leading to his Grundfos Player of the Match award, Denmark opened a three-goal lead in the first half before France fought back to level
All-star Team right back for the second straight EHF EURO, Mathias Gidsel, scored Denmark’s first two goals and netted eight in the final to climb the competition’s top scorer ranking and join Portugal’s Martim Costa in first with 54 overall
Denmark took the upper hand again in the second half, leading by two goals latest at the 50-minute mark, but France could not be cast off and regular time ended level with the last goal from All-star Team line player Ludovic Fabregas
Mikkel Hansen became the all-time top scorer of the Men’s EHF EURO during the final, with his nine-goal outing taking him past both Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson and Nikola Karabatic to reach a total of 296 in his career
First EHF EURO title in 10 years
The Men’s EHF EURO 2024 title is France’s first in the competition since 2014 and takes them to four trophies overall where they sit just one behind record winners Sweden. France’s last trophy came following a victory over none other than Denmark in the final, after their first EHF EURO titles in 2010 and 2006.
Across all competitions, it is France’s 13th title. The side already held the record for most titles at the World Championship as well as collectively across the World Championship, EHF EURO and Olympic Games, so this is merely an extension of an already phenomenal history.
