In a nail-biting match on Sunday, France secured their first men’s European handball championship title in a decade by defeating Denmark 33-31 in extra time. This marked France’s fourth championship victory, having previously claimed the title in 2006, 2010, and 2014. They now trail just one title behind the record-holder, Sweden, who secured bronze in the competition.

France managed to level the game before halftime but fell behind in the second period, requiring a comeback to force the match into extra time. They gained the upper hand in the second five minutes of the additional period, ultimately sealing the championship with Yanis Lenne’s decisive goal.

On the other hand, hosts Germany ended the tournament on home soil empty-handed, succumbing to a 34-31 defeat against Sweden in Cologne on Sunday. Despite a halftime deficit of 18-12, Germany showed glimpses of a potential comeback during the second half. Sweden, however, maintained composure, securing bronze and earning a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Expressing disappointment, Germany’s coach Alfred Gislason acknowledged the team’s efforts but lamented falling short of their goal. Germany will now face a qualification tournament in March for a chance to compete in the Olympics, having not won a major tournament medal since Olympic bronze in 2016 and European championship gold in the same year.

Reflecting on the challenging Euro tournament, Sweden’s center-back Jim Gottfridsson highlighted the competitiveness and tough matches. Germany’s right back, Kai Häfner, expressed bitterness over losing the last two games and missing out on a title, emphasizing the team’s struggle to maintain a high performance level consistently.

Both France (Olympic hosts) and Denmark (handball world champions in 2023) had already secured spots in the 2024 Paris Olympics.