TOKYO – Defending world and Olympic champions Denmark charged into the semi-finals of the men’s handball competition with a 31-25 win over Norway on Tuesday to set up a clash with Spain, while Rio 2016 runners-up France beat Bahrain 42-28 and will meet Egypt.
Egypt outclassed Germany 31-26 on Tuesday in the quarter-final to keep their hopes of a maiden Olympic gold medal alive.
Egypt become the first African team to reach the Olympic semi-finals
Denmark has been in ominous form throughout the group stage barring a minor blip in their last match, where they were beaten 33-30 by Sweden, and Nikolaj Jacobsen’s made amends with another masterful display in the second half of their quarter-final.
Left backs Mikkel Hansen and Jacob Holm led the way with eight goals each while Mathias Gidsel netted five as the rampant Danes issued a warning to Spain before their meeting.
“It’s amazing. To be able to compete at this level is a pleasure and getting to another semi-final at the Olympics is something you dream about as a kid,” Hansen said according to Reuters.
“We have done great. The game against Sweden wasn’t the best but today it was great to see everyone delivering a high level, defensively and offensively, especially in the last 15 minutes when we kept pushing.”
European champions Spain trailed Sweden at halftime in their quarter-final before staging a comeback to seal a 34-33 victory as Alex Dujshebaev’s late goal proved to be the difference in the end.
“That has been the main character of the team in the last five years,” Spain goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas said of their ability to win tight games, with his team also beating Germany and Norway by a solitary goal in the group stage.
“Being eliminated from the Olympics in Rio was a really hard shock. That made us a totally different team. We had the quality but that united us… when things really look bad, that’s when the team shows… that’s what we’re most proud of.”
France booked their semi-final spot with a crushing victory over Bahrain as Kentin Mahe pumped in nine goals from 10 shots but the versatile player said their challenge begins now.
“It’s been a dream and a big aim to qualify for the semis,” Mahe said. Now we have to learn from the mistakes we have made in the past.”
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