The French Handball teams will relish the opportunity to show their prowess on home soil, as both teams have been formidable at recent tournaments. Can they continue their dominance at home? Our Olympic Games 2024 handball predictions guide previews this contest.
The 2024 Olympics handball competitions for both men and women will take center stage at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. This iconic venue isn’t new to hosting high-stakes handball matches. It was the battleground for the 2017 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship, where the French team emerged victorious on home soil.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Men’s & Women’s Handball Tournaments |
| 🤾 Venue: | Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Lille, France |
| 🗓️ Dates: | Thursday, 25 July to Sunday, 11 August |
Handball’s first appearance on the Olympic stage came at the 1936 Berlin Games, though it was played outdoors. Sixteen years later, in Helsinki in 1952, field handball returned as a demonstration sport. However, in the 1972 Munich Games, the now-familiar indoor version of handball officially joined the Olympic program.
The women’s competition followed suit four years later at the Montreal 1976 Olympics. Today, the men’s and women’s tournaments feature 12 teams vying for gold.
The Olympic handball journey begins with the preliminary phase, where teams battle it out in their groups over five matches. Only the top four teams from each group advance to the heart-pounding knockout stage, starting with the quarterfinals.
This section reveals the top five men’s teams with the best outright winner odds to win this summer tournament at the Olympics. The top five teams under this category are:
With three Olympic gold medals in their last four outings, France is the top option to clinch another tournament win this year. They have odds of 2.55 (3/2) to win another gold medal. They are followed closely by Denmark, who come into this contest with experienced left-back Mikkel Hansen.
Sweden and Spain are the next two top options to clinch a tournament win. Both teams’ odds for an outright win are 6.95 (6/1) and 10.10 (91/10). Croatia is ranked the fifth most likely team to secure top honors this summer as they have 15.40 (72/5) odds for Olympics handball title win.
Here are our Olympics 2024 men’s handball predictions:
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France is shaping up to be a strong favorite for the handball gold medal, building on their impressive track record in the competition. Their recent form has been dominant, having secured three gold medals in their last four tournaments. This dominance extends to the recently concluded EHF EURO 2024 in Germany. In that contest, they emerged victorious after a nail-biting final against reigning world champions Denmark (33-31 after extra time). This win marks a historic fourth European title for France.
They further cemented their position by defeating previous European champions Sweden in the semi-finals. These stellar performances solidify France’s place as the team to beat for the gold medal this year. Most handball 2024 Olympic Games betting tips also position them as tournament favorites.
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Thanks to their consistent performances, Sweden boasts a strong chance of topping Group A at the 2024 Olympic Games handball event. These performances have come due to the solid squad of players on their roster. Their recent record speaks volumes: a second-place finish at the 2021 World Championship, followed by a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. They then went on a tear by winning the EHF EURO 2022 tournament. A fourth-place finish followed at the 2023 World Championship. Their momentum continued with a third-place finish at the most recent EHF EURO 2024. These consistent results position Sweden as the frontrunner for Group A.
This section reveals the top five women’s teams with the best outright winner odds to win this summer tournament at the Olympics. The top five teams under this category are:
Reigning Olympic champions, France was featured as the favorite to win the gold medal again, with handball odds 2024 of 1.74 (3/4). Norway and Denmark follow closely with odds of 2.75 (7/4) and 7.00 (6/1), respectively. Netherlands and Sweden appear as fourth and fifth on the top five list. Their 2024 Olympic Games handball odds are 12.00 (11/1) and 15.00 (14/1) respectively.
Here are our Women’s handball Olympics 2024 betting picks:
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France is a solid option to win this event due to the quality of their performances at the recent Olympics. Les Blues were second at the 2016 Rio Olympics before claiming Gold at Tokyo 2020. Their momentum continued into the 2023 World Championships, where they swept the competition with an undefeated 9-0 record. Despite their disappointing 4th-place finish at the 2022 European Championships, France’s overall trajectory is promising.
Captain Estelle Nze Minko leads the charge. A prolific scorer with a staggering 397 goals in 169 appearances. Nze’s experience and leadership will be crucial. Apart from Nze Minko, France has a strong team that includes Pivot Pauletta and Lena Grandveau. This blend of experience and youthful talent makes them a clear gold medal favorite. Additionally, the passionate home crowd in Paris will surely provide a significant advantage.
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The Netherlands will aim to recapture their past glory after a slight decline in recent outings. While they secured a fifth-place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, their dominance from 2015 to 2019 has waned. Sixth-place finishes at the last two European Championships reflect this situation. They also suffered ninth and fifth at the World Championships.
Their key to success will lie with experienced players like Lois Abbingh, Laura van der Heijden, Estavana Polman, and Angela Malestein. These players were consistently among the top three at the World Championships between 2015 and 2019. However, they must step up and lead the way. A favorable group stage draw offers a glimmer of hope. While France presents a strong challenge in Group B, the Netherlands is the clear favorite over the others. This could be a valuable opportunity to build momentum for the knockout stages.
Here are our free tips for 2024 Handball Olympics men’s and women’s tournaments:
With home advantage on their side, the French men’s and women’s teams are well-positioned to retain their Olympic gold medals. Feel free to use our Paris Olympics 2024 predictions guide to bet on other 2024 Olympics competitions.
