Budapest (AP) – Defending champion Spain is again playing for Europe’s handball crown. The champion of 2018 and 2020 beat world champion Denmark 29:25 (13:14) in front of 7286 spectators in Budapest in the European Championship semi-finals and can continue to dream of the title hat-trick.
The winner’s best thrower was Aleix Gomez with eleven goals. Superstar Mikkel Hansen scored eight goals for Denmark.
The Danes got off to a better start and were up four goals in the first half – also because goalkeeper Niklas Landin was in great shape at first. However, as the game progressed, his opponent Gonzalo Perez de Vargas was in top form, allowing the Spaniards to close the gap to one goal by the break. Ten minutes after the change, the defending champion took the lead for the first time at 17:16 and didn’t give it up until the end.
Norway had previously secured fifth place in a handball crime thriller against Iceland and thus secured a direct ticket for the 2023 World Cup in Sweden and Poland. Thanks to a last-second goal from Harald Reinkind from the German record champions THW Kiel, the 2020 European Championship bronze medalist won 34:33 (27:27, 16:12) after extra time. The best thrower for the winner was Kiel’s top star Sander Sagosen with eight goals, while Omar Ingi Magnusson from Bundesliga leaders SC Magdeburg scored ten times for the Icelanders.
Like Denmark, France, Spain and the two organizers, the Norwegians are sure to be at the World Championships next year. The other European starting places will be awarded in playoff games. The pairings will be drawn in Budapest on Saturday.