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.