He was the last to leave the Tele 2 Arena in Stockholm. Not to prolong the pleasure of his last evening in a World Cup. Nikola Karabatic was detained for a long time this Sunday after the final lost against Denmark by doping control. That didn’t stop him from answering questions after midnight.
How do you feel after this lost final?
NIKOLA KARABATIC. We don’t have enough perspective yet to savor this competition and that we have reached the final. Only, it’s so hard to lose a final. The finalist beaten, no one ever remembers. We may have done a very good competition, it’s the disappointment that remains. It will take us some time to realize that we had a good tournament.
Are your teammates talking about a great human adventure?
That’s what’s sad too, we haven’t managed to reward ourselves up to our investment, the atmosphere that there is in this team. We are really a close-knit group, with a lot of cohesion. I had a lot of fun and happiness being with this team. It’s even more sad not to go home with a gold medal.
How did you feel watching the Danes lift the trophy?
We have to use this moment when we see them under the confetti so that it pushes us next year to come back stronger.
What did the Blues lack to win?
I don’t know if we missed anything. We especially had in front of the Danes who were in total success. Everything they tried came in: balls blocked, posts coming in. It was mainly them who were very strong and we didn’t give up. Denmark was stronger, that’s all.
Does frustration make you want to come back in 2025 for another World Cup?
(smiles…) No, I don’t think so. For the moment, I just want to spend time with the team, to drink a good beer to cheer myself up by telling myself that we have had a great adventure.
Speaking of adventure, has 2024 with the Games already laid its foundations with this World Cup?
If we take a little height, we can say that our competition was very good, so yes. Especially since we were unlucky with injuries. Me hurting myself, Thibaud smacking his finger against my elbow. We had bad luck but we found the resources to beat Sweden in the half. There are many positive things that should serve us for the future.
You played little during the final and opposite, your friend Mikkel Hansen only scored one goal, is this the beginning of the end of an era?
You know, there will be a day when neither he nor I will be in the field. We may be like Titi (Omeyer) or Daniel (Narcisse) on the side on TV. It will happen.
Finding Denmark in the final of Paris 2024 is a possibility, are you already thinking about it..
Their world title qualifies them indeed. I don’t know if the story is over between the two nations. I don’t think so and I hope not. The Danes show us that they have the best team at the moment and we are their outsiders.
Will you be at Paris 2024?
I don’t know, I don’t have a magic ball. I already hope to play handball next year. I will first concentrate on that and I will take stock at the end of the season of my physical condition and my ability to play with the blue jersey because there is nothing for granted.
Is it possible to envisage the Games in Paris without you?
I don’t look at the question from that angle. If I have to go to the Olympics, it’s because I’ve earned my place on the pitch and I’m in good shape. Not for any other reason.
Physically, how do you feel?
Until then, I felt very good. It’s frustrating because since the start of the season, I was playing well, without pain. And then there, on the match against Montenegro, on a little bullshit, I land on one foot. It’s not a serious injury but very disabling. As we lack rest days on these tournaments, I could not recover. It’s the first time I’ve been injured in a competition without being able to come back. I tried against Germany but I got hurt again. Against Denmark, I tried again but I got hurt again. It’s sad not to be at 100% of your possibilities, but that’s also sport.
