Paris 2024 | 10 things to watch in the last day of the preliminary round in the men's handball competition
03 Aug. 2024
Three more quarter-finals berths are to be delivered in the last matchday of the preliminary round in the men’s handball competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with three other teams joining Germany, Slovenia, Denmark, Norway and Egypt, the teams that have already ensured safe passage.
Hosts and reigning Olympic champions France are due to play a do-or-die match against Hungary in Group B, as they aim to secure their place in the next phase, while in Group A everything will be decided in the last match played in the South Paris Arena 6, when Spain face Croatia.
Next, the men’s and women’s teams move to Lille, where the knockout phase of the two competitions at Paris 2024 throw off on Tuesday.
GROUP A
- 09:00 CEST Sweden vs Japan
- 14:00 CEST Germany vs Slovenia
- 21:00 CEST Spain vs Croatia
GROUP B
- 11:00 CEST Egypt vs Argentina
- 16:00 CEST Hungary vs France
- 19:00 CEST Denmark vs Norway
Hosts to face first must-win match at Paris 2024: Missing a win in their first three matches saw France backed into a corner in the men’s competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. They bounced back with a strong start against Argentina, which eventually became their first win in the competition, but France cannot finish higher than the third place in the group and will likely have to settle for the fourth place. But that can be achieved only if they do not lose against Hungary, a tough proposition, as France’s opponents have lost against Norway by a single goal, and by only three goals against Egypt and Denmark, making them a tough nut to crack.
Croatia and Spain to rekindle rivalry: In the last 25 years, Croatia and Spain have met 27 times in major international competitions, including four times at the Olympic Games. And the head-to-head record works well for Croatia, who won 17 of those matches, including three out of four at the Olympics. Spain have only seven wins, but they have lost the last match, played at the EHF EURO 2024, in January, 29:39. That loss meant that Spain failed to progress to the main round, as Croatia can do the same thing at Paris 2024, provided they win against “Los Hispanos”. Basically, it is a do-or-die battle for a place in the quarter-finals, where Croatia need to win to secure the coveted spot.
Slovenia or Germany for the first place in Group A? The two sides are the only ones to have secured their tickets for the quarter-finals and now they will be playing for the first place in the final group standings. With a superior goal difference, +11, to Slovenia’s +5, Germany can afford a draw. But both teams are aware that winning the group means that they will face the team placed fourth in Group B, with Egypt, France or Hungary being the only possible opponents. Meeting France in the quarter-finals, a do-or-die match, is not an easy proposition, despite the hosts failing to rise the the occasion so far.
Denmark still gunning for milestone: Only two teams in history have secured a five-match winning streak in the preliminary round in the men’s handball competition at the Olympic Games – Iceland and Croatia – both at London 2012. Since then, every team has conceded at least a loss or drew one match. But now, Denmark can deliver another fantastic performance, completing their superb run in other major international competitions. Nikolaj Jacobsen’s side has four wins, the best attack and the best goal difference and can seal the first place provided they do not lose against Norway. However, that five-match winning streak is no easy feat at the Olympic Games, therefore Denmark will be all-in to clinch it.
Sweden to secure quarter-finals spot? The Scandinavian side has battled through thick and thin at Paris 2024, losing against Slovenia and Germany, but securing fantastic wins against Spain and Croatia, including delivering the latter side their worst-ever loss in history at the Olympic Games in the previous match, 27:38. Now, Sweden, which will welcome Jim Gottfridsson, after the centre back has served his one-match ban, and are favourites against a plucky Japan side, which has lost all four matches, but two of them – against Croatia and Slovenia – came by a single goal.
Lucky number 15? Jerzy Klempel’s record of 15 goals in a single match in the men’s handball competition at the Olympic Games came under scrutiny twice in the last two matchdays. First, it was Denmark’s Mathias Gidsel who scored 13 goals against Argentina, only the 10th player in history to reach that tally. Then, one matchday later, Slovenia’s Aleks Vlah scored 14 goals, tying France’s Frederic Volle, who had previously scored 14 goals in a single match at Atlanta 1996. With this progression, we might just witness a historic record.
How far can Egypt go? Making the quarter-finals at Tokyo 2020, and then going into the semis, was a huge feature for Egypt, their maiden quarter-finals berth in history in the competition. Now, the African champions have made back-to-back appearances, having sealed their ticket after the win against Norway. It is another fantastic performance for the “Pharaohs”, who can now finish second, provided they hand Argentina their fifth loss at Paris 2024 and Norway do not win against Denmark.
Can Japan and Argentina avoid finishing without a win? Japan have always secured at least one win in every edition of the Olympics they played in, but, this time around, the draw did not make them any favours. The Asian side conceded four losses so far – two by one goal – and they face Sweden in the last match, which are in a must-win position. On the other hand, Argentina are on a 11-match losing streak at the Olympics, dating back to Rio 2016, when they won against Tunisia, 23:18. After eight years, the South American side want to break that streak, while failing in doing so will mean that Argentina will have back-to-back appearances at the Olympics with five losses in five matches.
Backs still crucial to the game: Eight of the best 11 scorers in the men’s competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after four rounds are backs. The podium is dominated by backs, with Denmark’s Mathias Gidsel (40 goals), Slovenia’s Aleks Vlah (32 goals) and Egypt’s Yahia Omar (29 goals). All of them are qualified for the knockout phase in Lille, on the Stade Pierre Mauroy, therefore the battle for the top goal scorer standings will likely be between them. The first player in the top goal scorer standings featuring on other position than in the backcourt is Spain’s right wing Aleix Gomez, currently sixth, with 26 goals.
The last day in the South Paris Arena 6: As the preliminary round of the men’s handball competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games ends, both the men’s and the women’s teams will move to Lille, where the knockout phases will take place in the Stade Pierre Mauroy, a 27.000-seater arena, which will see one of the highest attendances in history for handball matches. The South Paris Arena 6 was a perfect host for handball matches, with the 5.800-seater usually sold out for the 30 sessions of handball, a lot of decibels and a fantastic setting for the spectators, with players and coaches alike praising the set-up.