The final of the European Handball Championship has been decided. The world champion and host from Denmark booked the ticket for the final against Germany after 31:28 (14:13). The Icelanders put up a spectacular fight against the big favorites.
The Danes had to perform their entire repertoire in front of 15,000 spectators in the sold-out Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning. The handball players from Iceland gave the big title favorites a tough fight and ultimately failed due to a long period of weakness in the second half. The individual class of the Danes, supported by a loud red and white backdrop, made the difference in the end.
In a game with a total of 19 penalty throws, the seven-meter throwers became an important factor. On the Danish side, Johan Hansen was convincing (4 out of 5), whereas Orri Torkelsson, who was safe for a long time, failed twice in the final phase (6 out of 8). Otherwise, Mathias Gidsel impressed again with a flawless record (7 goals and 7 assists). For Iceland, Janus Smarason showed a strong performance with eight goals, while director Gisli Kristjansson remained pale.
Denmark will face Germany in the final of the home European Championship on Sunday (6 p.m., live on ZDF and in the full audio report on sportschau.de), while Iceland will play against Croatia for bronze.
It was a low-scoring first half between Denmark and Iceland, which started off at a fast pace. Ellidi Vidarsson took the early lead for the island nation after just under 42 seconds, which was immediately answered by the world handball player himself. Gidsel came with a lot of speed and took the early penalty throw – Emil Jakobsen scored to make it 1-1 in the 2nd minute.
Iceland’s Magnusson with four goals in the first ten minutes
It was the first of ten seven meters in the first 30 minutes. Both teams missed a surprising amount from the line, missing two out of five attempts each until the break. It wasn’t the game of the two goalkeepers, neither Emil Nielsen nor Viktor Hallgrimsson made many saves. The player in the first few minutes was clearly Omar Ingi Magnusson.
A close and competitive game: Simon Hald against Omar Ingi Magnusson
The SC Magdeburg man scored four goals in the first ten minutes (7:5) and the Danish defense couldn’t get him under control. The second superstar only thawed out late, G. Kristjansson scored his first goal in the 23rd minute to make it 10:10. Previously, his team had an eight-minute phase in which the underdogs were unable to score.
Denmark cannot pull away after the break
This is one of the reasons why Denmark went into the break with a narrow 14:13 lead. But that was gone again after three minutes, with the accurate Torkelsson giving the Icelanders the lead again (15:14). Both coaches then tried a new tactic, but neither the tactical trick of the Danes’ offensive cover nor the Icelanders’ seven-on-six made a preliminary decision.
The introduction of Kevin Möller and an increasingly well-functioning defense ensured a 3-0 run for the world champions. Kiel’s Magnus Landin with his first goal to make it 21:19 (42nd). It was important for Iceland that Hallgrimsson was able to record another save in this phase, the goalkeeper thwarting the Danes’ eighth penalty throw from Hansen, who had previously made no mistakes.
Iceland despairs of the Danish defense
In the 45th minute, Gidsel was able to score for the first time after the break; it was the sixth goal of the evening. But Iceland didn’t let themselves be shaken off and came within two goals through Torkelsson (22:24). And in Smarason they had the most important offensive player in their ranks. The 31-year-old scored seven times, but couldn’t do anything to stop Möller getting hot in the Danes’ goal.
While Möller was there from the field, Nielsen returned from the Icelanders’ tenth penalty and parried against Torkelsson. In return, Landin was able to make it 29:25 (56th) and thus secured the preliminary decision in Herning. Thanks to the Danes’ victory, the final and thus also the re-match of the main round group I is fixed: Germany will fight against Denmark for the European Championship title on Sunday evening at 6 p.m.
