The Danubius Hotel in Budapest stands for many things that went wrong at this European Handball Championship.

You only have to ask the Danes: "I don't really understand that I see a lot of random people running around here without a mask on vacation," said Mikkel Hansen of the Danish newspaper "BT".

Is that still the case, now that the tournament is about to end?

"Yes," Hansen replies, "I see one, two, three, and all we can do is stay away from them."

This has worked well so far.

The handball professionals of the small kingdom are not only outstanding in the "Sport" category - even before the last main round game on Wednesday (8.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the European Handball Championship, on Eurosport and on sportdeutschland.tv) against France they have the semi-finals achieved.

In the similarly important category of "failures", the Danes are positioned far behind: only Hans Lindberg has had a positive test so far.

coincidence, luck?

Coach Nikolaj Jacobsen believes that caution is a part of the puzzle of success: “We think about the little things from morning to night.

Put on gloves when we eat.

Do not touch any surfaces with your hands, rather use your shirt or jacket.

Take the room card when you press the elevator buttons.

And if we ever open a door by hand, we immediately use disinfectant.”

The three main players

The media dates of the Danes have long been held only virtually.

That was planned quite differently;

in the open Danish society it would have been normal for players and reporters to be able to meet despite Corona.

The Omicron variant and the conditions at this European Championship made the team cautious.

After the more open days in Debrecen, the Danes barricaded themselves from entering the main round – at least as far as the hotel allows.

If you talk about handball, Jacobsen's team brings the three most conspicuous players of this tournament with them.

Once again.

Goalkeeper Kevin Møller is the best keeper in the European Championship with a shot rate of 45 percent.

Mikkel Hansen is third in the top scorer list with 39 goals.

The two are topped by Mathias Gidsel's performance.

The inconspicuous half-right has sunk 97 percent of his throws - 35 goals from 36 attempts.

There are also 33 templates.

Gidsel scored nine goals in the 35:23 win against the Netherlands on Monday evening.

There were no failed attempts.

Naturally.

The Danish backcourt is beyond any doubt;

Mads Mensah, Rasmus Lauge, they're still here too, they've played well so far, but didn't have to squeeze out the last bit of energy to get Denmark this far.

After the embarrassing end of the preliminary round in 2020, the red and white ball throwers are clearly on course for the title.

Jacobsen wants to rotate against France, using Bundesliga pros Aaron Mensing, Niclas Kirkeløkke and Jacob Holm.

"We want to have fresh players in the semifinals on Friday," says Jacobsen.

What a luxury to field the B team in a final main round game!