Handball, Men's EHF Euro 2024: France defeat Denmark in extra-time final thriller after Sweden clinch Paris 2024 quota berth

Ludovic Fabregas starred as the Olympic champions edged out world champions Denmark 33-31 in Cologne. Earlier, Sweden defeated hosts Germany to take third place.

Olympic champions France needed extra time to defeat perennial rivals Denmark 33-31 and claim their fourth European men's handball title at EHF EURO 2024 in Cologne on Sunday (28 January).

Denmark goalkeeper Emil Nielsen was named player of the match, but it was Ludovic Fabregas who swung the match France's way with eight goals from 10 attempts and some excellent work in defence.

Mikkel Hansen scored nine times to become the top scorer in European Championship history, but Denmark had to settle for silver just as they did in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic final.

Sweden secured third place with a 34-31 victory over hosts Germany and, with it, a quota spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

France tough it out again to claim European crown

Having defeated defending champions Sweden in extra time in Friday's semi-finals, France repeated the trick in a nail-biting championship decider.

Les Bleus went into an early 6-4 lead but Nielsen pulled off a number of fine saves as Denmark scored five goals without reply.

Then it was French goalie Samir Bellahcene's turn to shine as France levelled at 9-9.

In a thrilling end-to-end encounter, the sides went into half-time locked at 14 goals apiece.

Defences were on top early in the second half as Hansen's prowess from the 7m-line saw the Danes edge ahead. But France managed to stay in touch and Fabregas scored his sixth goal of the game to tie the match at 23-23.

In a frantic finale, Kentin Mahe scored from 7m to put France in front for the first time in the second half. Then came a Hansen netbuster before replacement goalie Niklas Landin, so often the scourge of France in the past, denied Dylan Nahi.

Another long-range Hansen strike put Denmark back into the lead and saw him equal Nikola Karabatic - who had limited gametime for the French - as the leading scorer in the history of the European Championships.

After another Mahe 7m success, Mathias Gidsel shot home to restore the Danes' advantage.

Nedim Remili could only hit the post in the last two minutes with the French still one behind, but a Denmark turnover allowed Fabregas to make it 27-27 with just 30 seconds left. That was the end of the scoring in regulation time.

Having failed to find the net in five previous attempts on goal, Dika Mem finally got off the mark five minutes into extra time. Bellahcene then kept out a fierce Hansen effort before Mem scored again to give France a precious two-goal cushion.

Moments after setting up Mem, Fabregas stuck out a hand to thwart a Danish attack as time started to ebb away for the reigning world champions.

Hansen struck again from 7m to close the gap to one and break Karabatic's European Championship record, but Elohim Prandi put France one in front inside the final minute. Gidsel hit back, but France had possession inside the last 10 seconds and Yanis Lenne applied the finishing touch.

Sweden survive German fightback to take bronze

Earlier, Sweden were indebted to goalkeeper Andreas Palicka as they defeated Germany 34-31 in the third-place playoff.

Palicka made 19 saves from 43 shots, while centre back Felix Klaar weighed in with eight goals from 10 attempts.

The Swedes were leading 9-6 when the game was suspended due to a medical emergency in the crowd. Both team doctors went into the stands to assist, and one gave a 'thumbs up' sign before the casualty was stretchered out of the Lanxess Arena.

That break did not interrupt the dethroned champions' flow as right wing Sebastian Karlsson helped them jump out into a 14-7 advantage which became 18-12 at half-time.

Roared on by the home crowd, Germany improved after the interval. Renars Uscins and Juri Knorr enjoyed greater success in attack as they closed the gap to three.

A couple of quick goals from Claar put Sweden back in charge but the Germans were not finished and a goal on the fast break from Christoph Steinart reduced the deficit to just two inside the last eight minutes before the excellent Uscins made it 29-30 moments later.

After Hampus Wanne had scored for Sweden, Germany goalkeeper Andreas Wolff made a fine save before Palicka replied in kind.

And after Karlsson - who finished with seven goals from 11 attempts - cleverly lobbed Wolff to open the gap to three again with a couple of minutes to go, the Swedes were able to see out the win.

With France and world champions Denmark - both of whom already had Olympic quota spots - contesting the final, the one Paris 2024 berth up for grabs in the tournament went to the winner of the third-place playoff.

• How to qualify for handball at Paris 2024

Handball

10 - 28 Jan

Handball | Olympic Qualifier | European Men's Championship - Germany

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