Denmark scored the most goals and secured the largest winning margin in Olympic handball history as they pulverised Germany 39:26 in a final performance that left no doubt about who the world’s best team is, claiming their second gold medal in a third consecutive final.
All out attack
It was all out attack in a helter-skelter start to the match, which saw the teams trade a flurry of goals but it didn’t take too long for Denmark’s defence to get a grip on their opponents.
After 12 minutes, the Danish defence, anchored by Magnus Saugstrup and Lukas Jørgensen restricted Germany to just six shots on goal, while enjoying 12 of their own as they opened a 10:5 lead.
A complete change of back court didn’t offer much relief for Germany coach Alfred Gislason, so he reverted back to Knorr and Uščins to provide the goals. They did offer some joy in attack but it was pure misery in defence as Denmark smoked them.
Lessons learned
Germany went into this game knowing that they had nothing to lose against a Denmark side who have looked superior for the vast majority of this event. That knowledge can do one of two things.
It can give you a carefree spirit to fight for your handball lives, make life miserable for your opponent and open the door to a surprise win if you stay in the contest for long enough.
Or it can see your team collapse once you fall behind early doors, accepting your fate as silver medallists and hoping to keep the score respectable. This was looking the likelier of the eventualities as the first half wore on.
Denmark had learned their lessons from two unnecessarily nervous endings to their quarter-final against Sweden and semi-final against Slovenia. They were leaving nothing to chance in the first half and made sure Germany knew their place with a half-time score of 21:12.
No fairy tale comeback
Any hope of a comeback for the ages required a superb start to the second half from Germany but there was no such joy as Denmark were switched on from the first whistle. Gislason took his final timeout just six minutes into the half but I think he and everyone else in the jam-packed Stade Pierre Mauroy knew that little could be done to salvage things from here.
Denmark were making a point this afternoon. A perfect example was Mathias Gidsel, who received a blow to the face while scoring his eighth goal. He stayed down for a moment, got up and a minute later went right back where it hurt to score his ninth.
Rasmus Lauge has truly stepped up his contribution as the tournament progressed and saved his best for last with an imperious performance.
Germany could have scored every single shot they had on target today and it still would only be enough to draw. A dominant defensive display and in an attacking performance full of class, Mathias Gidsel managed to stand out once again with 11 goals from just 13 shots, plus 7 assists.
The perfect farewell
Much like the Norway women, many legends will bid farewell to this Denmark team in the near future. This was the last international game for Niklas Landin and the last handball game for Mikkel Hansen, while we’re unlikely to see Hans Lindberg, Henrik Møllgaard or Lauge at another Olympics. But unlike the Norway women, there’s no doubt about the future quality or credentials of this team.
All the legends got their moment in the sun as Denmark earned and enjoyed the rare privilege of knowing gold was in the bag as they soaked up the glory and adulation from the crowd.
It was a tame end to a thrilling handball competition but Denmark were done with the drama and a victory like this will taste as sweet as anything else.