The almost perfect final

Of course, we would have loved to have seen the hosts in the final at the European Championship in Germany. Not much was missing, but in the end it has to be said that the perfect and expected final will be played on Sunday. In our France vs Denmark betting tip, it’s clear that the two best handball teams in the world will once again fight a fierce battle for a gold medal

The Danes traveled to Germany as reigning world champions and were therefore the top favorites to win the European Championship title. France arrived as the Olympic champions and were seen as the only team that might be able to challenge the Vikings for the gold medal at the 2024 European Handball Championship. That’s how it turned out in the end. A final between these two heavyweights is almost becoming a running gag.

In the last two and a half years alone, the two teams have faced each other in two major and one minor final. In 2021, the Equipe Tricolore defeated the Danes in the Olympic final in Tokyo. A few months later, the Vikings got their revenge in the match for third place at the European Championships in Budapest. Last year, gold was once again at stake at the World Championships in Sweden. The team from Denmark came out on top there too

You don’t need much more evidence to talk about the expected final. The question remains as to who will prevail in the end. Both teams have enormous experience and are steeled from numerous big matches

France – statistics & current form

The Equipe Tricolore have not always looked in command at this European Championship and have had to overcome periods of weakness in some games. But what sets Guillaume Gille’s team apart is their incredible mental strength in crunch time. When a match is on a knife edge in the decisive phase, Les Experts are always a force to be reckoned with, as some of their opponents have painfully experienced at this tournament

France unbeaten for a year

The French have also managed to be the only team at EURO 2024 not to have lost a single game. In fact, the Equipe Tricolore has an incredible record. There has only been one defeat in the last 28 international matches and the aim on Sunday is to eradicate this. Les Bleus suffered their last defeat almost exactly a year ago to the day in the World Cup final against Denmark.

If you like, the French have only allowed themselves one slip-up in the entire tournament in the draw against Switzerland. Perhaps that was the wake-up call they needed to find their usual form. They went into the main round with 5:1 points and made it through to the semi-finals with 10:0 points, where an epic duel against the defending champions from Sweden was on the agenda on Friday.

The French led by seven goals at one stage and were still 17:11 ahead at the break, but the Swedes chipped away at the cushion goal by goal in the second period and looked like certain winners when they took a 27:25 lead. The French equalized with a last-second goal from Elohim Prandi to make it 27:27. In extra time, Dylan Nahi was the match-winner for the Equipe Tricolore, who went on to win 34:30. If they manage to perform for the entire game in the final, as they did in the first round of the semi-final, then we will certainly be looking at the odds for France to win the title between France and Denmark.

Predicted France line-up:

• Goal: Bellahcene, Bolzinger, Desbonnet
• Back line: Minne, Remili, Mahe, Prandi, N. Karabatic, N’Guessan, Briet, Richardson, Mem
• Left wing: Descat, Nahi
• Right wing: Lenne, Porte
• Circle: Tournat, L. Karabatic, Fabregas, Konan
• Coach: Gille

Denmark – Statistics & current form

In terms of the line-up, there is probably no better squad at this European Championship than that of the Danes. The world champions have a double supply of world-class players in all positions. If a player is having a bad day or the tactics need to be adjusted, Nikolaj Jacobsen can react and make changes at any stage of the game without any loss of quality

Denes defeated only once in 29 games

The Danes even have a slightly better overall record than the French. Denmark have lost just one of their last 29 games and, to be honest, Nikolaj Jacobsen conceded that one in the last main round game against Norway in Hamburg when he decided not to play Magnus Saugstrup, Mathias Gidsel and Simon Pytlick, who were not even in the matchday squad

The last defeat in serious conditions was against Sweden in October 2022. The Danes perhaps made the best impression at the European Championship, even though they showed in the main round against Sweden and also in the semi-final against Germany that they can be put to the sword. The first half of the semi-final against the European Championship hosts in particular made it clear how the Danes need to be played.

The world champions were two goals down at the break. Nikolaj Jacobsen switched to seven against six in attack and gave superstar Mikkel Hansen more playing time. Added to this was an outstanding spell from Simon Hald, in which the Danes turned the game around and almost decided it in their favor. In the end, the Vikings left nothing to chance and won 29:26, but perhaps they will not be able to afford to fall short of their potential in the first 30 minutes against France.

Predicted Denmark line-up:

• Goal: N. Landin, Nielsen
• Back line: Lauge, Mensah Larsen, Pytlick, Möllgaard, M. Hansen, Damgaard, Mensing, Kirkelökke, Gidsel, Madsen
• Left wing: M. Landin, Jakobsen
• Right wing: Lindberg, J. Hansen
• Circle: Saugstrup, Jörgensen, Hald
• Coach: Jacobsen

France – Denmark head-to-head / H2H record

When the handball teams from France and Denmark meet on the pitch, spectators can look forward to sport at the very highest level. The two teams have faced each other a total of 30 times in the last 20 years. In direct comparisons, the Equipe Tricolore has won 16-13 during this period. They have drawn once.

These two teams have not lost more often to any other opponent recently. However, the direct comparison also shows that this final is a match in which anything can happen. We’ve already talked about the last duels. Olympic final, World Cup final, bronze medal match at the last European Championship. When these two teams meet, it’s not uncommon for everything to be at stake

France – Denmark betting tip

This European Championship final offers everything a handball fan could wish for. The best players in the world are on the pitch, there is a major title at stake and the atmosphere in the Lanxess Arena is already heating up with the bronze medal match between Germany and Sweden. We think that anything can happen in this final and that it all depends on the form of the day.

The two opponents know each other inside out and have only lost once in their last 30 or so international matches. It is therefore extremely difficult for us to pick the right bet between France and Denmark. In general, the French have shown at this tournament that they can handle pressure very well, whereas the Danes haven’t even really felt it

Perhaps we can share this assessment. But we’re not really sure. That’s why we’re going out on a limb with our bet. We don’t expect this final to be decided in regulation time, which is why we’re playing the odds on a draw after 60 minutes with a small stake between France and Denmark.