What a demon station of the top favorite: Denmark runs up in the semi-finals of the handball World Cup against Portugal in top form and in the end clearly wins with 40:27 (20:16). Goalkeeper Emil Nielsen (15 parades) and world handball player Mathias Gidsel (nine goals) end the Portuguese fairy tale at this tournament.
The team around the talented Costa brothers Martim and Francisco was in the round of the last four for the first time after it had been eliminated in the quarter-finals of Germany after extra time. The Portuguese against Denmark were still able to keep up for 30 minutes – but in the second half, a class difference became clear.
Costa brothers deregistered, Nielsen is overrun
The previously outstanding Costa brothers ended the game with four goals in total, each hit twice, the Portuguese goalkeepers only caught eight of the 48 throws on their goal – while on the other hand, Nielsen shone again. Immediately after half-time, Denmark with seven Nielsen parades and an 11: 4 run moved from 20:17 to 31:21 within 15 minutes-the rest of the game was like a show run by the Danish superstars, which have been unbeaten for 36 World Cup games And now have the chance of the historic fourth World Cup title in series.
In this form, the Danes are clear favorite in the final against Croatia on Sunday (6 p.m., in the live ticker on sportschau.de). Portugal will hit France in the game for third place at 3 p.m.
The first World Cup semi-final in the association history could not have started for Portugal. In the third minute, the outsider suddenly only stood on the field with three field players after three time penalties. One kept the overview in the turbulent initial phase – circuit runner Lukas Jørgensen (SG Flensburg -Handewitt) used the big gaps in the opposing defense and scored two quick goals. At the back, Denmark Emil Nielsen Pedro Portela skillfully bought the first seven meter and secured the early 6-2 lead (6th).
Denmark starts with a lot of speed – Portugal stays on it
The speed game at the World Cup has so far been a great strength of both teams and this was shown by Portuguese after a short acclimatization phase. First Victor Iturriza stolen the ball, then Luís scored the connection to 6: 8 (11th). The little catch -up was ended two minutes later – by Nielsen and his second seven meter parade, this time against Francisco Costa. On the other hand, Emil Jakobsen did better and hit Gustavo Capdeville by lifting.
Portugal’s coach Paulo Pereira then took his previously hapless goalkeeper (2/15 parades) from the field and sent the 20-year-old Diogo Marques into play. Pereira’s team was able to shorten a three-goal deficit twice, scored for the interim 12:13 (21st) and 14:15 (25th), but had to be teared off again until the siren. Above all, the back room series with Pytlick, Liege and Gidsel did not get the Portguines under control. The trio scored eleven goals of the 20 goals until the 20:16 halftime point.
Routinier Rasmus Liege turns on after the break
The first goal of the second half still belonged to Iturriza before the 11: 4 run of the Danes destroyed all hopes for a happy ending of the Portuguese fairy tale at this tournament. In the 55th minute, coach Nikolaj Jacobsen changed his starting line -up – and yet Denmark continued to expand his lead. The strong right winger Niclas Kirkeløkke scored in the 56th minute to 38:25. Emil W. Madsen, of course, also made the 40-goal brand full of the game and had the hall in Oslo really cheered again.