In total, both teams have played four Olympic finals, but the fixtures France v Sweden had never been before the gold medal match in an Olympic men’s handball competition. On Sunday either France defend their title, won 2008 in Beijing, or Sweden will end their curse after three silver medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
Before, Hungary and Croatia face in the bronze medal match in the Basketball Arena.
Bronze medal match: Hungary v Croatia
Hungary have lost their semifinal 27-26 against Sweden, as Croatia were beaten by France in their semi 25-22. Before, Hungary had eliminated Iceland in their quarterfinals after two extra-times, while Croatia eliminated Tunisia.
Hungary have never won a medal at a men’s handball competition at Olympic Games, but finished fourth four times (1936, 1980, 1988 and 2004). Croatia were Olympic champions in 1996 and 2004, but lost the bronze final 2008 against Spain and wait for their first ever Olympic bronze medal.
Croatia had beaten Hungary in the preliminary round in London clearly 26-19 and won the semifinal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games against their 2012 opponent 33-31. The Balkan team are in clear lead in the overall statistic against Hungary on world stage, as they won the last six straight matches, losing only once in 1997.
The bronze final is the duel of the two goalkeeping teammates Mirko ALILOVIC (CRO) and Nandor FAZEKAS (HUN), who both play for Hungarian side MKB Veszprem.
Best scorers of both teams are Ivan CUPIC (CRO), the No.3 in the overall ranking with 41 goals, and Gabor CSASZAR (HUN), overall fourth ranked with 38 goals.
Final: France v Sweden
France are the defending champions, playing their second ever (and straight) Olympic final. Besides, the French team had won the bronze medal in 1992 after losing the semifinal 25-22 against their 2012 final opponent. Sweden had missed the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games are winning three silver medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000. They lost the finals against CIS, Croatia and Russia and are the only team in the world of handball, which did not win gold after being in three gold medal matches.
The current Swedish coaches Ola LINDGREN (SWE) and Staffan OLSSON (SWE) had been part of the squads, which lost all three Olympic finals.
10 of the 14 nominated French players were part of the squad, which won gold in Beijing in 2008.
France had beaten Croatia in their semifinal after their quarterfinal victory against Spain, Sweden first eliminated Iceland, then Hungary in the knock-out stage.
The last big match of France v Sweden was the 2011 World Championship semifinal, won by later-on world champion France 29-26. Overall France had won six matches on world and lost five times against Sweden.
Niclas EKBERG (SWE) is the overall leader of the top scorer ranking with 41 goals, Jerome FERNANDEZ (FRA), Samuel HONRUBIA (FRA) and Daniel NARCISSE (FRA) have scored 28 goals for France.
Sweden made a late replacement after the injury of Dalibor DODER (SWE) in the semifinal. New player is Mattias ZAKRIKSSON (SWE).