Crazy goal with big consequences: France’s Elohim Prandi’s remarkable goal in the semi-final of the European Handball Championship against Sweden caused admiration after the game (34:30 nV), but also a lot of discussion. Later the Swedes even protested.
The directly converted free throw by the backcourt player, with which eventual winners France saved themselves into extra time when the game had already expired, was “beyond good and evil,” said Prandi’s teammate Kentin Mahe.
“That’s his extra class that he brings with him with this rocket arm,” added Mahe. However, there will probably be “talks about it, a debate will be created around this action,” the backcourt player suspected and admitted: “You don’t see a goal like that every year, it also feels like he’s jumping to get a better free one to get poor.”
When looking at the slow motion, you could see that Prandi’s foot came off the ground too early and the hit was therefore irregular. The referees Gjorgji Nachevski and Slave Nikolov from North Macedonia, who officiated the World Cup final last year, decided not to use the video evidence.
Sweden protests
Defending champions Sweden later lodged a protest against the 30:34 defeat. This was confirmed by the European Handball Federation. A decision is still pending. The protest is directed against the French goal that made it 27:27.
It was “an incredible goal,” admitted Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Palicka, who had touched the ball. He didn’t want to make any comment about the fact that the hit counted.
Prandi’s direct free throw, which hit the bottom edge of the crossbar into the goal, saved France in extra time. The record world champion prevailed there and is now aiming for his fourth European Championship title on Sunday (5:45 p.m./ARD and Dyn).