Denmark vs. France Prediction on July 27, 2024

Match info

The preliminary round of the men’s handball competition at the Paris Olympics 2024 begins on Saturday, July 27. Teams will compete in two groups, with Group B appearing to have the toughest challenge because it includes the two front-runners for gold, Denmark and France. The Payeer betting sites have favored France and Denmark, the silver and gold medal winners from the past Olympics, respectively. Yet, France is the heavier favorite. Will spectators in the French capital witness a reenactment of the Tokyo 2020 gold medal match, or will a fresh “face” secure one of the top two spots? The first encounter between these two at 9 p.m. at the South Paris Arena #6 might clarify things.

Meeting statistics

In men’s handball, Denmark and France have distinguished themselves from the others, and we anticipate that they’ll be at the front for Paris 2024. In the most recent significant international handball competitions, either Denmark or France emerged victorious. Their matchup in the preliminary round is probably going to decide how things go for the remainder of the competition.

Denmark won the previous three IHF World Men’s Handball Championships. They most recently defeated France 34–29 in the final of last year’s event. France has won three of the last four Olympics as well as the most recent one in Tokyo, in addition to the 2024 EHF European Men’s Handball Championship, against none other than Denmark, 33–31 in extra time of the final match.

The impending retirement of both teams’ mainstays, Danish left back Mikkel Hansen (36) and French icon Nikola Karabatić (40), adds even more drama to this forthcoming duel. As such, both players will be driven to win an Olympic gold medal to round out their remarkable careers. Because they were teammates with Paris Saint-Germain at the club level, their careers are entwined. Though Karabatić has more medals, will he be able to defeat the younger Hansen in this last (or penultimate, if these two teams meet again later in the tournament) French capital’s spectacle? Three-time World Player of the Year, Karabatić, guided France to a winning run of 19 games, interrupted by Germany in a friendly international earlier this month. With 18 victories and one tie, this impressive run highlights France’s great form and momentum going into the Games. Denmark, in the meantime, wants to dash France’s hopes of winning in front of the home crowd and take their first Olympic gold since Rio in 2016.

Match analytics

France is our pick to win this game, and given that a total of over 59 occurred in four of the last five head-to-heads between these two, our tip for the match is 1x2 & total: France & over 59.5, with odds of 3.5 at the Black Magic Casino.