France won three of the last four gold medals heading into the Paris Olympics.
MARSEILLE, France — France’s stranglehold on men’s handball came to a screeching halt in front of their home crowd on Wednesday with an overtime loss to Germany at the Paris Olympics.
Germany edged France 35-34 in a quarterfinal match to advance to the next round. France led 17-14 after the first half but Renars Uscins and Germany pushed back to tie the game at the end of regulation.
The lead slowly shifted back and forth during the overtime period. The game was tied in the last minute when Uscins made a goal with four seconds left to seal the win.
The loss eliminates France from medal contention. France, the winningest Olympic men’s handball team, won three golds and one silver in the sport in the last four Summer Olympics. France’s four consecutive podiums are tied with Romania (1972, 1976, 1980, 1984) for the longest streak in Olympic handball.
France’s efforts in men’s handball got off to a shaky start in Paris. The team lost its first three group stage matches and reached the knockout stage with the fewest points of the qualifying teams.
The French women’s handball team could extend the nation’s overall handball streak, though. France coincidentally beat Germany in the women’s handball quarterfinals and will face Sweden in a semifinal match on Thursday. France is the defending gold medal winner in the sport.
The men’s handball semifinals feature Germany against. Spain and Slovenia against Denmark. Slovenia has never won a handball medal while the other three nations have won at least one handball medal in the last two Olympic Games. Both games are scheduled for Friday.
