The handball Euros didn’t quite end how Denmark had hoped for last night, but there is more silverware making the trip back home today.
The men’s handball team overcame the disappointing semi-final loss to Spain by beating France 35-32 in an intense extra-time battle.
While Denmark has been gobbling up medals at the World Championships and the Olympics in recent years, success at the Euros has proved more elusive.
Denmark were favoured to win it all this year, but decided to rest key players in their final middle group stage game to prepare for the semi-final game. Critics have suggested that the team lost momentum in doing so.
But regardless, the bronze is the team’s first Euros medal since 2014, and it came without their two best players – Mikkel Hansen missed the game through injury and Mathias Gidsel was stretchered off with a knee injury just seconds into the match.
Check out the highlights from the game in the video below.
Sweden ended up beating Spain for the title – their first since 2002.
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Lasse’s swan song
The match also signalled the end of Lasse Svan Hansen’s glorious career and the team gathered around him following the final whistle to celebrate.
The right winger, now 38, won an incredible nine Olympic, World and Euro medals – four gold, four silver and yesterday’s bronze – with Denmark since 2011.
Hansen racked up 554 goals in 235 appearances for Denmark from 2003-2022.
