The handball players from Denmark successfully started their mission to win their first European Championship gold since 2012 in front of their home crowd. The two exceptional talents in the backcourt particularly shone in the 36:24 (17:12) win: Mathias Gidsel and Simon Pytlick.
The world champion was already in strong form during the win over North Macedonia and thrilled the around 15,000 fans in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning. After initial difficulties at the start, it was primarily Füchse Berlin’s future backcourt that gradually increased their lead and remained almost error-free.
Gidsel and Pytlick shine with seventeen goals and hardly any errors
World handball player Mathias Gidsel hit eight of his nine throws. Pytlick, close friend and counterpart in the left backfield, even made nine of his eleven attempts. The Danes are also the clear favorites against Romania in the second group game of Group B, whereas North Macedonia has to fight against the strong Portuguese for a place in the main round.
Especially at the beginning of the first half, the outsider held up well and took the lead through Marko Mitev (1-0). After that, the game developed like most of the Danes’ games in recent years. The world champion won the ball from a strong defense and overran the opponent with incredible speed. Gidsel twice, Pytlick twice and Rasmus Lauge once and the score was 8:3 (10th) for the hosts.
North Macedonia cannot be shaken off by the world champions
However, North Macedonia was by no means intimidated by the strong phase of the Danes. Coach Kiril Lazarov’s team didn’t get hectic, but stayed within striking distance through long attacks and good shots from the backcourt. Particularly worth seeing: Martin Serafimov’s Kempa finish to make it 9:13 (20th). The opponent’s strong phase caused coach Nikolaj Jacobsen to call a timeout, and the game remained relatively close until halftime (17:12).
A constant in the Danish team: Rasmus Lauge scored three times in the first half
The Danes wanted to correct this feeling immediately at the start of the second half. With three quick goals, Gidsel and Co. pulled ahead to 22:14 (35th). Afterwards, both teams missed a few chances and Denmark then tried to achieve success with the seventh field player. This tactical trick led to goalkeeper Emil Nielsen’s much-celebrated flying show in the 41st minute, when he was able to spectacularly clear a throw at his orphaned goal.
Gidsel and Pytlick turn up the heat in the second half
When Flensburg’s Lukas Jorgensen (44th) made it a 10-goal difference (27:17) for the first time, it was clear to even the most loyal North Macedonians that their first European Championship defeat was sealed. Nevertheless, the Lazarov team tried to keep up with the Danish tempo game and was rewarded. Thanks to Serafimov, the team repeatedly achieved their own successes, so that an entertaining final phase developed. The world handball player himself set the final point: Gidsel with a counterattack to make it 36:24.
