The handball team fought hard, but the miracle did not come

Olympics, men’s handball, group stage, 5th (last) round, group B:
France-Hungary 24-20 (11-8)
South Paris Arena 6, v.: Hansen, Madsen (Danes)
shots/goals: 43/24 and 41/20
goals from seven meters: 2/2 and 2/2
exhibitions: 4 and 0 minutes, respectively

Hungary: Palasics – Bóka 1, Bodó 1, Bánhidi 1, Sipos, Ilic 1, Lékai 2, substitutions: Imre 6, Ligetvári, Fazekas, Szita 4, Mikler, Ancsin 4

The Hungarians entered the field knowing that they had to win to advance. A draw would have been enough for the home team, who started the group stage surprisingly poorly. The match started in a huge noise, the stands of the Arena 6 in South Paris were completely full, the French players received the support for a good start. After several botched attacks, the home team took the lead in the third minute from a Chinese player and then scored from a penalty. The Hungarians could not score until the seventh minute, then Imre Bence reduced the deficit from seven meters.

Good defense, holding

At one-three, after Bodó’s shot, the ball almost rolled through Gérard’s legs, but the goal was not awarded after the video. Later, Imre improved, but Prandi soon had three goals and even won a penalty. It was difficult for the Hungarian team to find a gap in the French defensive wall, they attacked statically and predictably, and at 2-6, national team captain Chema Rodríguez asked for time.

Despite this, it was still very difficult to shoot goals, the Hungarian players did not really dare to experiment from the middle, and if the ball reached the wing with great difficulty, an opportunity remained unused on both sides. Sita then took three shots and did it well. With six to ten man advantage, the Hungarians closed closer with goals from Ilic and Imre. Then there was a French timeout.

In the 29th minute, substitute Mikler made a good save, but the rebound went to the French, and Descat scored another goal from the wing. Fabregas and Sipos went head-to-head on the next French attack, and there were only a few seconds left when Ligetvári was alone in front of the French goalkeeper, but his ball bounced off the ground and over the goal. The defenses were solid on both sides, so there were few goals in the first half, with the French leading 11-8 at the break.

A miracle seemed absolutely within reach

While the teams were resting, the organizers put on a big show, as in the previous meetings, music played continuously, and the audience clapped and sang practically non-stop. At the beginning of the second half, the French blocked both Ancsin and Bodó’s cross, while Mikler made a save, but then Bodó’s next shot was already accurate. The match sped up, goals came on both sides, and the Hungarian team, who was very united and fought tenaciously, closed to one goal at 13-14.

A minute later, however, the difference was three goals again. The score was equalized at 16-16, Ancsin, who came on for the second half, scored four goals in just over ten minutes. Lékai put the Hungarian team in the lead, and Mikler took a jump, and that’s when the French timeout came. At the end of an 8-2 series, the Hungarian advantage increased to two goals thanks to Imre Bence, and then another timeout followed after the French closed in. The home team equalized, but Lékai scored between the legs. Not long after, however, the French were already in the lead and then the Hungarian captain asked for time.

There was a huge fight on the pitch, and the Hungarian fans in the stands did not let up for a minute, but the Hungarian team fought hard. He made it to the hairline without a show. At the same time, the French were able to innovate, they started the last five minutes with a three-goal lead, and managed to do well until the end.

The Hungarian national team fought great, but in the end the French played more concentrated. In the Hungarian team, Roland Mikler made nine saves, Kristóf Palasics four, and Vincent Gérard, on the other side, finished with 11 saves.