For the German team, fears come true

Communicative group: The French handball players are undefeated and play their way to the title at the European Championships. Image: dpa

The nerve-racking French become European champions because they hit the goal from near and far. Among the Germans, however, one fear has come true. And Alfred Gislason’s future is uncertain.

The story was already written mentally, and it was beautiful. The charismatic old men Niklas Landin and Mikkel Hansen come off the bench and make Denmark the European handball champions. Landin, who is slowly approaching retirement in Aalborg at the age of 35. Hansen, who spent the first six months of 2023 recovering from his exhaustion syndrome and now, as a 36-year-old after years in Paris, also embodies seniority in the Aalborg team.

In the final of the European Championship, Landin, a late substitute, saved a few shots from the French, while Hansen scored his goals in his usual style. The fans in red and white and also Queen Mary of Denmark got ready to celebrate in the Cologne Arena before the French first saved themselves in extra time, then apparently got a magic potion and struck in the person of Dika Mem and Ludovic Fabregas: France won 33 :31 after extra time, won the title and once again lived up to its reputation as the team with the strongest nerves in world handball. Unlike in the World Cup final a year ago in Stockholm (also against France), the Danes only finished second.