A strong run in the middle of the second half helped Denmark bounce back in a roller-coaster match against Germany and take their 20th win in history at the Olympics, 28:27, while also snatching a quarter-finals berth in the progress.

PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES – PRELIMINARY ROUND
GROUP A
Germany vs Denmark 27:28 (12:15)

The maths was simple for Denmark – win against Germany and go through to the quarter-finals, with their third win in four matches. But, on the other hand, Germany were skating on thin ice. If they lost the match, their fate would be out of their hands, even they won against Norway, in the last round.

On the other hand, while Denmark were favourites, Germany were a plucky side to play against, regardless of their last results, especially the unexpected loss against the Republic of Korea in the first match at Paris 2024.

And the match was exactly like Germany wanted: a close fight, with the two teams trading blows from the start to the finish. Unlike the match against Sweden, Denmark started better and led throughout the first minutes, but Germany, thanks to a good defence and an improved attacking performance, used a 3:1 run to wrestle back the lead and signal for the first time that Denmark will have to fight for the win.

Germany even opened a two-goal lead, 9:7, but then Denmark went on a 6:1 scoring spree, spurred by line player Rikke Iversen and left wing Emma Friis, whom each scored two goals, to turn the match on its head and open up a 13:10 lead for Denmark, exactly the gap registered at half-time, 15:12.

The Scandinavian side looked to have the upper hand, but once again, Jesper Jensen’s side missed that extra factor to really impose their will on the match. And just like that, Germany crawled back into the game, with Denmark missing too many shots in their attacks and turning the ball over too many times for their own good.

An 8:4 start of the second half, which saw right back Julia Maidhof score four times, seconded by right back Jenny Behrend, with three goals, took Germany back in the lead, 20:19, and it looked like Denmark were struggling to make ends meet in this match.

Yet Germany lent them a helping hand, conceded three suspensions in quick succession, having to play shorthanded for six minutes. What ensued was that Denmark bounced back, with Friis and left back Mie Hojlund scoring at free will – including two open goal shots – to create a 25:21 lead, after a 6:1 run.

That run proved to be costly for Germany, which have mounted a spirited comeback, cutting the gap to a single goal, 28:27, in the last minute, when they stole a ball during Denmark’s last attack, but their subsequent attack saw Behrend, Germany’s top scorer, with six goals, miss a one-on-one shot with Sandra Toft, as Denmark eventually clinched the one-goal win, their 20th in history at the Olympics.

With their third win in four matches, Denmark secured their quarter-finals berth, joining Sweden into the next phase of the competition. On the other hand, Germany are due to face Norway in the last match, but could miss out from the knockout phase even with a win, in a scenario where they end up with the same number of points like the Republic of Korea, which hold the tie-breaker against Markus Gaugisch’s side.