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Reigning world champions advance to EHF EURO 2022 semi-finals

27 Jan. 2022

Reigning world champions advance to EHF EURO 2022 semi-finals

60 of the 65 scheduled games have now elapsed at the Men’s EHF EURO 2022, with the final weekend in Budapest looming after an action-packed two weeks of handball in Hungary and Slovakia.

Only four teams are still in the race for the gold medal, as France, Denmark, Spain and Sweden secured their semi-finals berths, despite conceding losses throughout the tournament.

Reigning world champions Denmark were the first team to progress to the semi-finals, after winning six out of six to start the tournament, with dominating performances from backs Mikkel Hansen and Mathias Gidsel.

Hansen, the MVP of the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship, scored 39 goals, being Denmark’s top scorer at the EHF EURO 2022, despite being rested against France in the last match of the main round. Gidsel, who missed only one shot in the first six matches, added 35 goals, as the Scandinavian side secured their semi-final berth.

However, Denmark did not win Group I of the main round, after their last-gasp loss against reigning Olympic champions France. ‘Les Bleus’ were in a must-win situation after their previous loss against Iceland and found themselves five goals down, with 11 minutes to go.
 


France mounted an astonishing comeback, powered by left wing Hugo Descat and right back Dika Mem, who scored eight goals each, to take a 30:29 win that enabled them to win the group and eliminate Iceland, who will now head to the 5/6 Placement Match in Budapest on Friday.

In Group II, everything was decided on the last day of the main round phase, as reigning European champions Spain and a pair of Scandinavian powerhouses, Norway and Sweden, fought until the last seconds for a semi-final berth.

Spain, who had a 17-game unbeaten streak in the competition snapped by Norway, were the first team to qualify from the group after their 28:27 victory against the co-hosts of the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, Poland, but they did not know whether they would win the group or not, needing Sweden not to lose against Norway.

The two Scandinavian sides produced a game for the ages, which included one of the best comebacks in history at the EHF EURO. Down six in the first half and four with six minutes to go, Sweden were on a tear and finished the match on a 5:0 run, spearheaded by a flurry of saves from goalkeeper Peter Johannesson and a clever game management from centre back Jim Gottfridsson.

With a 24:23 incredulous win that left Norway in tears, Sweden secured their spot in the final weekend in Budapest – for only the second time in 20 years.

In the semi-finals scheduled Friday, Denmark and Spain will rekindle their rivalry, as they will meet in the penultimate act of a major competition for the third time in the space of a year. Denmark secured a 35:33 win at the IHF Men’s World Championship last January, doubling down with a 27:23 win at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Meanwhile, France will look to overpower Sweden and avenge their 26:32 loss in the Egypt 2021 semi-finals last January, eyeing their comeback to the final of the EHF EURO for the first time since 2014.

EURO semi-finalists


Iceland were the surprise package of the competition, but finished third in the group after a painful loss against Croatia in the main round, yet they still boast the top scorer of the tournament, right back Omar Ingi Magnusson, who scored 49 goals, three more than Poland’s right wing, Arkadiusz Moryto, and four more than Dutch right back Kay Smits.

Spain and France also secured their spot at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, joining hosts Poland and Sweden, reigning champions Denmark, Bahrain, Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia (and the winner of the 5/6 Placement Match at the Asian Men’s Championship) as well as the four South American teams, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.

The winners of the 5/6 Placement Match between Iceland and Norway will also earn safe passage to Poland/Sweden 2023, with the game scheduled for Friday.

For more information, visit eurohandball.com.

Photos: EHF / kolektiff / Jozo Cabraja, Jure Erzen, Uros Hocevar