Top favorites Denmark suffered their first tournament defeat with a B team. Opponent Slovenia secured third place with the win.
Top favorite Denmark somewhat surprisingly suffered its first defeat at the European Handball Championship before the possible duel with hosts Germany. The Olympic silver medalist lost to Slovenia 25:28 (14:17) at the end of the main round in Hamburg. The team around stars Mikkel Hansen and Mathias Gidsel was already assured of first place ahead of Sweden and thus the semi-final game against the runners-up in Group 1 with the German team.
First point for the Netherlands
Coach Nicolaj Jacobsen therefore spared some top players like Hansen for long stretches or like Gidsel completely – and got the reward for it. The Danes’ best throwers were Flensburg’s Lukas Jörgensen and Niclas Kirkelökke (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) with six hits. Of the Slovenians, who took the hoped-for third place, Kristjan Horzen from VfL Gummersbach was also the most successful with six goals.
The Netherlands had previously scored their first point at the end of the main round. Oranje defeated the favored Portuguese 33:33 (17:15). Both teams had no chance of advancing before the game.
For the Netherlands, Rutger ten Velde from the German second division club TuS N-Lübbecke scored each of his seven attempts. The best throwers for Portugal were Martim Costa and Luis Frade with eight hits each.
In the evening (8.30 p.m.) Sweden will face the Norwegians, who have also already failed.