For the first time since January 11th during the European Championship against the Czech Republic, Mathias Gidsel scored less than three goals in Sunday’s Olympic group final against Norway.
In his 74 international matches, the 25-year-old Mathias Gidsel averages 5.6 goals per game. However, even the world’s best handball player can have an off day. During Sunday’s final group match against Norway, the Danish star didn’t reach his usual performance level, something he readily acknowledged.
“I don’t think Norway was tougher than usual. They were very focused on me, which opened up opportunities for others. It was a mix of me lacking sharpness. It was good to show that others can step up when needed,” Gidsel told Europamester.dk.
Regarding the match, he added, “It was a really good game. We knew it was a group final and wanted a strong position for the quarterfinals. We expected strong opposition from Norway, and we started well, led by Simon Pytlick and Emil Nielsen, allowing us to control most of the game. It was a perfect final.”
Midway through the first half, Gidsel jumped high and collided with a Norwegian defender. Luckily, he landed relatively safely but acknowledged the danger of such situations: “I’m very vulnerable at the highest point in the air. Even a slight touch can look dramatic, but it wasn’t a big deal. I’m getting used to landing on my hips and buttocks, so it didn’t matter. It was a great game, and now we have a good position.”
“I don’t think much when I’m up there. It’s part of the game. People are good at catching me, but it can look severe if not caught at the top. It was fine. It was punished, and the most important thing is that we are protected from serious injuries,” Gidsel concluded.
Leave a Reply