Three Scandinavian powerhouses and defending champions in medal fight

On Thursday, the rematch of the EHF EURO 2022 final between record European champions Norway and record Olympic champions Denmark and the rematch of the Tokyo 2020 semi-final France versus Sweden will decide the two teams to go for gold on Saturday.

France are the only team with a clean record of six wins from the same number of matches. After finishing on top of their preliminary round group B, the hosts had some problems in the quarter-final against Germany, losing an early 9:3 lead and allowing the Germans to level the result at 15:15. But in the end, France will continue their mission after a 26:23 victory. “It was really a tough game, as we knew that they would never give up. They kept pushing us, kicking us, but our defence was so stable,” said France goalkeeper Laura Glauser.

The France versus Germany quarter-final saw a new world record: 26,548 spectators attended the match in Stade Pierre Mauroy Arena in Lille — 6,500 more than in the previous world record of 20,022 fans in the sold-out MVM Dome at the Women’s EHF FINAL4 2023 in Budapest. “It was unbelievable. I've never experienced this in my career. We have never played in an arena with 27,000 people and didn't imagine there would be so many fans. When they started singing the French national anthem, it was so touching,” said Glauser.

After finishing group A with equal records of four wins and one defeat each, Norway, Sweden and Denmark all climbed the next step on the ladder. Norway did not have any problems at all with Brazil, the only non-European team in the quarter-finals, taking the biggest ever quarter-final victory in the history of women’s competition at the Olympic Games — a 32:15 result to reach their fifth consecutive Olympic semi-final. In Rio and Tokyo, they lost the semi-finals against Russia and finished third both times, after winning the title in Beijing and London. 11 of 12 court players made it onto the scorer list against Brazil, topped by Marit Jacobsen with six goals. 

Denmark ended their 20-year wait for an Olympic semi-final with a 29:25 win against the Netherlands, who were eliminated in the same stage in Tokyo. The 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic champions turned a 3:7 deficit into a 11:10 half-time lead and then had the upper hand until the end, thanks to 17 saves from goalkeeper Althea Reinhardt and six goals each from Anne Mette Hansen and Emma Friis. Now the Danes hope to avenge the last four defeats in crucial matches against Norway –the EHF EURO 2020 semi-final, the EHF EURO 2022 final, the 2023 World Championship semi, as well as the 18:27 result in the group phase at Paris 2024.

Another goalkeeper was the hero of the day in the closest of all quarter-finals: Sweden’s Johanna Bundsen saved an incredible number of 22 shots against Hungary. “I wasn't that satisfied after the game but when there are 22 saves, I think I should be happy about that. 42% is very good,” said Bundsen after the overtime thriller. In regular time, the match went back and forth. Hungary’s Petra Vamos netted for 29:28 in the final minute, but with the last attack, Nina Koppang equalised for Sweden and secured overtime. Then, the Scandinavians were unleashed, scored a 5:0 run and made it to their second Olympic semi after Tokyo with a 36:32 win. And, like in Tokyo, their opponents will be France.

After netting 11 times against Sweden in the quarter-final, Hungarian Katrin Klujber currently leads the top scorer list with 38 goals, ahead of Dutch wing Angela Malestein, with 34. The top scorer still in the competition is Sweden’s Nathalie Hagman, with 30 goals, equal with Netherlands back Dione Housheer. 

Five Scandinavians lead the goalkeeper ranking in terms of save rate after the quarter-finals: Norwegian legend Katrine Lunde has saved at a sensational 44% up to now, ahead of Bundsen, Reinhardt and fellow Norwegian Silje Solberg (all on 38%). Fifth ranked is Sweden’s Evelina Eriksson (37%).

Two of the nine European teams competing at Paris 2024 failed to qualify for the quarter-finals: Spain and Olympic debutants Slovenia.

Quarter-final results:

Denmark vs Netherlands 29:25 (11:10)
France vs Germany 26:23 (13:10)
Hungary vs Sweden 32:36 (29:29)(15:16)
Norway vs Brazil 32:15 (16:8)

Semi-final schedule:
Thursday, 8 August

16:30 CEST: Sweden vs France
21:30 CEST: Norway vs Denmark

Final ranking of positions five to 12:

5. The Netherlands
6. Hungary
7. Brazil
8. Germany
9. Angola
10. South Korea
11. Slovenia
12. Spain

Photos: © IHF/kolektiff