The four-time champions found themselves in a nail-biting struggle.
In a tense showdown at the vibrant Jyske Bank Boxen, the two powerhouses of European handball clashed in a match that had fans on the edge of their seats. With less than ten minutes on the clock, reigning champions France held a two-goal advantage.
However, the Danish side rallied. Key players Emil Jakobsen and Simon Pytlick each scored twice, and Lasse Andersson propelled Denmark to a stunning comeback.
Mathias Gidsel played a crucial role, netting two of the final three goals.
“It was a significant challenge,” Gidsel reflected on the game. “I’m proud of how we responded after the Portugal match. Today marks a great achievement; we displayed tremendous character, especially in the second half.”
Without those pivotal scores, Denmark would have left the match with just two points after two games, making their path to the European Championship final nearly impossible.
Despite not turning in his finest performance, Gidsel finished the match with an impressive nine goals.
“The speed phantom,” remarked Viaplay commentator Daniel Høglund, as Gidsel took charge after halftime.
Post-match, Gidsel shared that he had to dig deep during the break. When asked if he sought any psychological guidance after a lackluster first half, he replied with confidence, “No, I don’t need that. I have enough tools in my own toolbox; I just needed to talk to myself.”
At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Emil Nielsen played a pivotal role, making two crucial saves that kept Denmark in the game.
“My job is to save as many shots as possible,” Nielsen told VG after being named Denmark’s best player. “After losing to Portugal, we understand that every match from here on out is a final.”
Reflecting on the game, he acknowledged the added pressure: “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves; it’s just finals from now on.”
Watching the team struggle against Portugal had exposed some cracks in Nikolaj Jacobsen’s squad. The national team manager, visibly frustrated during the match, expressed his dissatisfaction afterward. “It was a tough battle,” Jacobsen said. “We played some good handball, but we made uncharacteristic technical mistakes that I want to rectify as we move forward.”
“But we’re back, and that’s a wonderful feeling,” he added.
In its post-match analysis, the Danish newspaper BT credited Gidsel with saving Denmark’s championship hopes, referring to him as a “phenomenon” while also voicing concerns over the team’s disjointed performance against France.
At halftime, France held a narrow 12-11 lead, but Gidsel struggled initially with a couple of missed shots. Despite finishing the game strong, his three goals from seven attempts fell short of his usual standard.
“He’s usually one of the top players on the planet,” noted Høglund, while expert Kristian Kjelling commented, “It’s almost refreshing to see they are human after all; Denmark isn’t a machine.”
In truth, Nielsen’s six vital saves were the highlight of a first half marked by Danish attacking troubles, a challenge compounded by France’s goalkeeper Charles Bolzinger, who matched Nielsen’s performance with five saves of his own.
France’s strong defensive strategy paid off, though it came with its own challenges, as defense manager Benoît Kounkoud faced two expulsions in a scant six minutes.
Ultimately, the second half belonged to the home team.
