After two exceptional semi-finals played to the dying seconds – both of which were decided by just one goal in favour of the winning team – the finals of the women’s handball competition at the Games of the XXXI Olympiad have arrived. 

The trophy match will be the first major international final since 2013 without Norway, after they were defeated in their semi-final by Russia, who will play for the gold medal against France. France beat the Netherlands in their semi-final, making the bronze-medal game a rematch of the 2015 IHF Women’s World Championship final in Denmark just eight months ago. 

The final is set to be yet another close 60-minute contest, as Russia and France already faced each other at Rio 2016 in a group phase match that ended with a 26:25 win for Russia. That game was France’s only defeat at the 2016 Olympic Games, while Russia enter the final unbeaten. 

Neither of these teams has won the Olympic title before, though Russia claimed the silver medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing, while France’s highest-ever ranking was fourth in 2004. 

Prior to their Group B match at Rio 2016, Russia and France met just once at the Olympic tournament, when they played the quarter-final at Beijing 2008. That match also ended with a one-goal score line, promising a thrilling final to decide a first-ever women’s Olympic title for either nation. 

“It’s extraordinary. I don’t have the words to describe how I feel because I am so proud of my team and my staff. We can see this gold medal and we are going to bring it back home,” said Alexandra Lacrabere after their 24:23 semi-final victory against the Netherlands, before correctly identifying who would win the second semi-final played several hours later:

“I think we are going to be playing against Russia. We played them before in the knock-out stage and made a few mistakes so we are going to learn from those mistakes and win this time.”

If France do claim the title, they will put their nation on track to become only the third country ever to win both the men’s and women’s handball titles at one Olympic Games after the Soviet Union did so in 1976 – results Russia inherit when considering past accomplishments from IHF member federations – and Yugoslavia recorded the feat in 1984. The France men’s side earned their place in the final on August 19, also securing a one-goal win in the dying seconds of the match against Germany. 

Rematch of Denmark 2015 final to decide bronze medal

The bronze medal game will be a tough one for two teams who hoped for more at Rio 2016, though it must be said that while the Netherlands entered the competition as the silver medallists from the 2015 World Championship, the 2016 Olympics still represent their first ever successful qualification – and playing for the bronze medal on debut at the Games is certainly an achievement. 

“Maybe we expected too much from ourselves,” said back Lois Abbingh after the Netherlands lost their semi-final to France. “We didn't do that well in the preliminary matches. The Olympic Games is totally different from any European or World Championship. I think if we win a medal, even if it is a bronze, it will be amazing for us.”

For two-time Olympic champions Norway, who beat the Netherlands 31:23 in the final at Denmark 2015 and also hold the European title, contesting the bronze-medal match is more disappointing. 

“It's going to be hard and will take a little bit of time before we can change our minds but we are going to have to – we really want to get a medal, it means a lot,” said goalkeeper Katrine Lunde after the semi-final loss to Russia, with Amanda Kurtovic adding: 

“The bronze final is not what we expected but now we will win it, there is no way we are going to lose this. I am not going home with fourth place.”

Match schedule for Saturday 20 August in Future Arena
Bronze-medal match: Netherlands vs Norway 11:30 local time
Final: France vs Russia 15:30 local time