Denmark – France 32:41 (end)
final
Denmark
32:41 (16:23)
France
Sunday 10.08.2014, 17:30 • EHF European Championship
     
    Welcome. This game starts at 17:30 CET.
     
    This is the final game of the 2014 Men's European Handball Championship between host Denmark and France. France enters the final with a perfect 7-0 record, while France is 6-1, having lost once in the Main Round. In the semifinals, Denmark beat Croatia 29-17, while France beat Spain 30-27.

    These two teams have dominated European handball lately, alternating the last four championships. France won in 2006 and 2010, while Denmark won in 2008 and 2012, so they are the defending champions.
    Mie Østergaard: Talk about the handball fever in Denmark - 40 pages in the local paper!
     
    Starting Lineups:

    Denmark: Spellerbeg Bo, Lindberg Hans, Mortensen Casper Ulrich, Mollgaard Jensen Henrik, Green Krejberg Jannick, Nöddesbo Jesper Brian, Sondergaard Sarup Kasper, Thomesen Klaus, Svan Hansen Lasse, Christiansen Mads, Larsen Mads Mensah, Knudsen Michael V, Hansen Mikkel, Landin Jacobsen Niklas, Toft Hansen Rene, Mogensen Thomas.

    France: Nyokas Alix Kevynn, Sorhaindo Cedric, Dumoulin Cyril, Narcisse Daniel, Joli Guillaume, Anic Igor, Fernandez Jerome, Abalo Luc, Karabatic Luka, Grebille Mathieu, Guigou Michael, Karabatic Nikola, Honrubia Samuel, Gerard Vincent, Accambray Wiliam.

    Referees: Oscar Raluy Lopez (ESP), Angel Sabroso Ramirez (ESP).
     
    The crowd is assembled and overwhelmingly pro-Denmark, which is no surprise, and everybody is eagerly anticipating the start.
     
    First the Danes are being introduced to a thunderous roar of the crowd. You can see the starting lineups listed already.
     
    And now here comes the French team, getting booed by most of the crowd, though there are some French fans in attendance.
     
    Now are the national anthems of the two countries, Denmark first, with all the fans singing along, followed by the French anthem "La Marseillaise".
     
    We're ready to start now.

    Denmark is wearing white shirts with blue shorts, while France is in all blue.
     
    1
    Game started. (0:0)
     
    1
    Denmarks's first shot is stopped, then the French come back and score the first goal, Karabatic. 0-1 (0:0) (0:1)
     
    2
    Once again, a save by Nyokas followed by a French goal at the other end, Guigou. 0-2 (0:0) (0:2)
     
    3
    A yellow card there on Karabatic for grabbing the shirt of the Danish player. The Danes with a lot of possession so far but unable to score yet. (0:0) (0:2)
     
    4
    The French mtake a 3-0 lead but the Danes answer right back with their first goal, Hansen and it's 1-3. (0:0) (0:3)
     
    5
    France answer right back with their 4th goal on their 4th shot by Daniel Narcisse. (1:4) (1:4)
     
    5
    And then once again Denmark with the quick response, Mads Larsen. (2:4) (2:4)
     
    6
    On a free throw Nacrisse scores on the 5th French shot. What efficiency. (2:5) (2:5)
     
    7
    Another save by Nyokas, then the French go back to the attack and a penalty is called on Toft. 2-minute suspension. (2:5) (2:5)
     
    8
    Guigou scores on a penalty shot, 6 shots on 6 goals. (2:6) (2:6)
     
    8
    Then Guigou with the steal and the breakaway, no chance for Landin. (2:7) (2:7)
     
    9
    Mogensen shorthanded cuts the Danish deficit, then a French shot misses the net. That will do it for the rest of the power play. (3:7) (3:7)
     
    10
    Hansen at one end, then the teams exchange steals and Karabatic restore's France's 4-goal lead. (4:8) (4:8)
     
    11
    Lindbergh with the chance but the whistle goes, so it's no goal. Then a timeout is called by France. (4:8) (4:8)
    Lindbergh with the chance
     
    11
    What an exchange there! First another save by the French goalie, then Karabatic with a shot on the counter that goes off the crossbar, but Guigou puts in the rebound and he collides with Landin, who thinks the goal shouldn't count. (4:9) (4:9)
     
    13
    A Danish shot is blocked, a French shot misses but they get the ball back again and Karabatic scores. (4:10) (4:10)
     
    14
    A goal for Narcisse, France's 11th goal on 11 shots and Toft gets his second 2-minute suspension on the play. (4:11) (4:11)
     
    15
    French move the ball around on the power play but Green makes a big save. First Danish save. (4:11) (4:11)
    Green makes a big save
     
    16
    The French don't capitalise on the power play but Abalo scores right after it finishes. (4:12) (4:12)
     
    17
    Another Danish shot is blocked and Porte scores the other way for France. Team Timeout Denmark. (4:13) (4:13)
     
    18
    After the timeout it's Toft that scores the first Danish goal in a while. (5:13) (5:13)
     
    19
    Karabatic with an offensive foul, then Jensen scores the second Danish goal in a row. (6:13) (6:13)
     
    20
    Porte scores for France, then a turnover and France gets the ball back again. Play is stopped to clean up moisture on the floor, but France retains possession. (6:14) (6:14)
     
    20
    Karabatic indeed scores, the Danes come back quickly and Magnusen scores from a sharp angle. (7:15) (7:15)
     
    20
    Timeout France. (7:15) (7:15)
    Danish fans before the match
     
    21
    Another French goal and then Omeyer with another save for France. (7:16) (7:16)
     
    22
    Yet another French goal, Forte. (7:17) (7:17)
     
    23
    Mikkel Hansen on the free-throw for Denmark. (8:17) (8:17)
     
    23
    Abalou scores for France to restore the 10-goal lead, (8:18) (8:18)
     
    24
    Two-minute suspension for Alou, the a power-play goal for Denmark. (9:18) (9:18)
     
    24
    Another French goal shorthanded, Porte is 5/5. (9:19) (9:19)
     
    25
    Power-play goal Denmark, Lindbergh with his 2nd. (10:19) (10:19)
     
    26
    Save Landin and back the other way another goal for Landin. (11:19) (11:19)
     
    26
    Gigou with another goal, then a Denmark attempt is blocked. (11:20) (11:20)
     
    27
    Two quick goals for Denmark. Christiansen, then a steal and Hansen scores. (13:20) (13:20)
    Hansen scores
     
    28
    The teams exchange goals, Abalou for France and then Hansen for Denmark. (14:21) (14:21)
     
    28
    Big collision on the play and Karabatic is down and needs assistance. He hit his head on the floor it seems, but he's staying in the game. (14:21) (14:21)
    Karabatic needs assistance
     
    28
    Abalou with his 2nd goal on this penalty kill. (14:22) (14:22)
     
    29
    Spellerberg cuts it to 7 for Denmark. (15:22) (15:22)
     
    30
    An exchange of saves by the goalies at each end. (15:22) (15:22)
     
    30
    Hansen cuts it to 6 now. (16:22) (16:22)
     
    30
    1st halftime finished. (16:23)
     
    Porte with the buzzer-beating goal before halftime to make it a 7-goal difference at the break.
     
    France scored the first 3 goals and had a 10-goal lead at one time. Denmark cut it to 6 goals in the last minute and France leads 23-16 at the half.

    Best scorers fot the first half:

    Denmark: Hansen 5, Lindbergh 2, Larsen, Morgensen, Toft, Jensen, Magnusen, Christiansen, Landin, Spellerberg.

    France: Guigou 5, Karabatic N. 4, Abalo 4, Karabatic L. 3, Narcisse 3, Forte 3, Omeyer, Nyokas
    Vincent Bouton: Good match for France!
     
    The teams are on the floor and the second half will start shortly.
     
    31
    Start of 2nd half. (16:23)
     
    31
    Narcisse scores on France's 1st shot of the 2nd half. (16:24) (16:24)
     
    31
    Another French save for Omeyer and then Abalo scores the other way. (16:25) (16:25)
     
    32
    Hansen gets Denmark's first goal of the 2nd half. (17:25) (17:25)
     
    33
    Gigou scores on a penalty. (17:26) (17:26)
    Gigou scores
     
    34
    Lindberg scores his 4th on 5 attempts. (18:26) (18:26)
     
    35
    Karabatic and Mollgaard trade goals. (19:27) (19:27)
     
    36
    Omeyer with yet another save, 10th of the game. That's the reason France has such a big lead. (19:27) (19:27)
    Omeyer makes a save
     
    37
    Hansen scores short-side, 8/9. (20:27) (20:27)
     
    37
    Porte gets that one back for France through the legs, 7 for him. (20:28) (20:28)
     
    38
    Christiansen with a long shot and a goal. (21:28) (21:28)
     
    39
    The teams trade saves, Green for Denmark and then another one for Omeyer. (21:28) (21:28)
    Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik and Prince Felix attended the handball final match between Denmark and France today.
     
    40
    Gigou for France, Hansen for Denmark and a push in the back by Abalou earns him a 2-minute suspension. (22:29) (22:29)
     
    41
    Shorthanded goal France, another one for Gigou. (22:30) (22:30)
     
    43
    Denmark a power-play goal, then the goalies exchange saves again while the Danish power play continues. (24:30) (24:30)
     
    43
    France back at full strength, Abalou's shot saved by Green. (24:30) (23:30)
     
    44
    Mollgaard goes bottom corner to bring Denmark back within 6. (24:30) (24:30)
     
    45
    Two quick goals for France to go back up by 8, Gigou with the second. (24:32) (24:32)
     
    46
    Team Timeout Denmark. (24:32) (24:32)
     
    46
    Spellerberg hits the goalpost, then he gets the ball back and he's knocked down. Fans want a call but play continues. (24:32) (24:32)
     
    46
    Porte with the goal, then on the Danish counter he collides with Mollgaard and goes down heavily. (24:33) (24:33)
    Mollgaard
     
    46
    Porte is up and he will continue playing. Play resumes. (24:33) (24:33)
     
    47
    Quite an exchange, France with the offensive foul, then a turnover to get the ball back and Green makes the big save. (24:33) (24:33)
    Turnover
     
    48
    Sondergaard with the goal for Denmark, his 1st of the game. (25:33) (25:33)
     
    49
    Danes get a turnover but they can't capitalise, as the shot is blocked and France has the ball back. (25:33) (25:33)
     
    49
    Gigou again on the penalty, 10 for him in the game, and the lead is now 9 with just 11+ minutes to go. (25:34) (25:34)
    Gigou scores
     
    50
    2-minute suspension for Mollgaard for a push to the back of Narcisse. French power play. (25:33) (25:33)
     
    50
    Another blocked Danish shot, 2-on-1 the other way and Narcisse with the goal to make it a difference of 10. You have to think it's over. (25:35) (25:35)
     
    51
    Spellerberg gets 1 back for Denmark, but France will gladly trade goals back and forth at this point. (26:35) (26:35)
     
    51
    Narcisse the pass to Sorhaindo for the goal and it's France by 10 again. (26:36) (26:36)
     
    52
    Mogensen goes through the legs for the goal. (27:36) (27:36)
     
    53
    Abalou for France, Mollgaard for Denmark, France by 9. (28:37) (28:37)
     
    54
    Abalou and Lindberg, as they continue to trade goals to the French delight. (28:37) (28:37)
     
    55
    Karabatic the goal and Dumoulin the save to keep the 10-point lead. (29:39) (29:39)
     
    56
    Noddeso scores for Denmark up high. (30:39) (30:39)
     
    57
    Noddeso again on the breakaway but it's too little, too late for Denmark. (31:39) (31:39)
     
    58
    French player knocked down, Denmark break but Dumoulin the save. (31:39) (31:39)
     
    59
    Nyokas scores for France, his 1st of the game. (31:40) (31:40)
     
    59
    Noddesbo with his 3rd for Denmark, and they've all been late. (32:40) (32:40)
     
    60
    Nyokas again, maybe the last goal of the game. (32:41) (32:40)
     
    60
    Game over. (32:40)
     
    And that's it! The 2014 European Champion is France!
     
    France opened up a huge lead early and led by 7 at the half. In the second half they had the advantage and gladly traded shots. The big thing was the goaltending of Omeyer, who made 12 saves in the game, and Abalo scored 10.
     
    As the French celebrate, the Danish fans salute their team, the silver medalists.
     
    Best player awards:

    FRA – Naniel Narcisse
    DEN – Mikke Hansen
     
    Nokola Karabatic of France wins the Most Valuable Player award for the tournament.
     
    It's now time for the medal presentations. First the bronze medalists from Spain, followed by the silver medals to Denmark, and of course, France with the gold.
     
    Thank you for following our coverage of the 2014 Men's European Handball Championship! (12:00:12)
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Lineups
    Denmark: Spellerbeg Bo, Lindberg Hans, Mortensen Casper Ulrich, Mollgaard Jensen Henrik, Green Krejberg Jannick, Nöddesbo Jesper Brian, Sondergaard Sarup Kasper, Thomesen Klaus, Svan Hansen Lasse, Christiansen Mads, Larsen Mads Mensah, Knudsen Michael V, Hansen Mikkel, Landin Jacobsen Niklas, Toft Hansen Rene, Mogensen Thomas.
    France: Nyokas Alix Kevynn, Sorhaindo Cedric, Dumoulin Cyril, Narcisse Daniel, Joli Guillaume, Anic Igor, Fernandez Jerome, Abalo Luc, Karabatic Luka, Grebille Mathieu, Guigou Michael, Karabatic Nikola, Honrubia Samuel, Gerard Vincent, Accambray Wiliam.
    Referees: Oscar Raluy Lopez (ESP), Angel Sabroso Ramirez (ESP)