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Denmark Hope for Handball Glory with Home Advantage

Denmark Handball Team

Co-hosts Denmark will be hoping to win the World Handball Championship for the first time in their nation’s history as the tournament gets underway this week.

The Danes are the reigning Olympic champions, having won the gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games, and they are highly rated by experts going into the competition. In fact, according to the implied probabilities produced by Bigbetbookers.com, Denmark are the favourites to win the world title, ahead of the reigning champions France, who are bidding for a third consecutive World Championship.

Denmark haven’t hosted the World Championship since 1979, when they finished fourth behind East Germany, the Soviet Union and winners West Germany. In total, they’ve made three world finals, but have lost them all. They have also struggled to recapture their Rio form since 2016, being knocked out at the last-16 stage in the 2017 World Championship, and losing to Sweden in the semi-finals of last year’s European Championship, held in Croatia.

But the Danes can boast one of the sport’s leading players in left-back Mikkel Hansen, who scored eight goals in the Olympic final, and with home advantage, they will be tough to beat.

Their co-hosts Germany will also be hoping that home crowds will spur them on. They’ve won the title once before, in 2007, but haven’t reached the semi-finals since that year, and while home advantage may give them an edge, they are not quite in the same class as Denmark or France. They’ve also had the misfortune to be drawn in a particularly tough group that includes the reigning champions.

France have dominated men’s handball in recent years, with victories in the World Championships in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2017, as well as winning Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012, and a third consecutive victory would be historic. French coach Didier Dinart has assembled a typically strong squad, including young stars Dika Mem and Ludovic Fabregas, along with the experience of two-time Olympic champion Luc Abalo, but they will miss the talents of Nikola Karabatic.

The other leading contender for World Championship glory is Spain. The Spanish side is a rising power in the world of handball and they won the European Championship for the first time in their history last year to add to their World Championship win in 2013. They have also landed in a fairly straightforward Group B from which they will hope to progress with Norway and Iceland.

The Norwegians are also improving, and their silver medal in this competition two years ago has sparked further enthusiasm for the sport in that country. Iceland, coached by Gudmundur  Gudmundsson, who led Denmark to their Olympic gold, are not to be underestimated, and there is also a powerful historic element to the tournament, with the entry of a joint Korean team. The Koreans are not expected to reach the latter stages, but their presence will add to a competition that promises to be one of the most exciting World Championships of modern times.

For the Best Handball Bets available online visit BIGGEST BETS OF THE DAY and BIG LIVE BETS NOW sections of BigBetBookmakers.com . 

 

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Best Bets of the Day – Friday, January 11th 2019

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Gloucester v Munster
European Champions Cup Rugby -7.45 pm
BT Sport

There is a busy night of football on Friday, but top of my list for best bets of the day is some rugby action. It is the clash of Gloucester v Munster in the pool stage of the European Champions Cup. Pool 2 has been arguably the best of this season’s competition, as it has all been so tight. There are only the four points separating leaders Munster from bottom side Gloucester. Munster are favourites for the clash because of their tough defence. However, they have failed to win either of their two away games in the pool so far (D1 L1).

So if Gloucester lands the win at Kingsholm then the group is wide, wide open heading into the final round of matches. If not, it’s advantage Munster in terms of winning the group. Gloucester lost 22-36 at Munster earlier in the season, but from their four previous meetings, Gloucester are winless against Munster. This would be a fantastic time to break their duck against the Irish side. The Cherry & Whites are 15/8 underdogs to pull out a big night at Kingsholm.

Leeds v Derby
Championship – 7.45 pm
Sky Sports

Championship leaders Leeds are in a sticky spot at the moment. They have lost their last two league games and they have seen their lead cut down to two points at the top. Fortunately for them, second-placed Norwich have fallen out of form at the same time. So Leeds need a lift and beating 6th-placed Derby at Elland Road would deliver just that. Leeds have a great W8 D3 L2 record at home in the league this season. The Whites were on a four-match winning streak there before suffering a shock loss against Hull in their last one.

Derby suffered a 4-1 hammering at home by Leeds earlier in the season, but they have been in a resilient mood lately. Derby have one defeat in their last seven games (W3 D2) and they have come through some tough games lately. Each of their last three have been against sides currently in the top five and now they meet the league leaders. Can they avoid defeat or even produce a win to strengthen their spot in the top six? They are the underdogs for the game with Leeds at 4/5 odds on with leading bookies.

Rayo Vallecano v Celta Vigo
La Liga – 8.00 pm
BT Sport

I can settle in for a good night of footie on Friday. This one from the Spanish top flight looks a fascinating tussle. Granted it’s not a headliner but there’s an interesting scenario here. Rayo Vallecano are second from bottom in La Liga, but they have won their last two games back to back. So they are just starting to show a bit of steel in the fight against relegation.

Celta Vigo are four points clear of the drop zone but have fallen out of form. It’s been one point from their last three games for them. Celta Vigo, who have won one of their last seven away games, would be dragged into a less comfortable position if they lost this. Can Rayo Vallecano, who are 11/8 favourites for the three points with top bookmakers, take their chance? They could possibly get out of the drop zone this weekend. That’s why I’ll be keeping an eye on this one.

Lyon v Reims
Ligue 1 – 7.45 pm
BT Sport

Friday night Ligue 1 action anyone? Why not. The French top flight is halfway through its season and the title is pretty much sealed already. PSG are thirteen points clear at the top having played at least a game less than their nearest challengers. Lyon are in third place. Really the main contest here is the fight for second and a place in the Champions League next season.

This could be a tight scrap as Lyon are in decent form as always, having lost only one of their last eight played. They lost 1-0 at Reims earlier in the season so they will be out for revenge. Reims have only won twice on their travels this season. But in their last two road games they have drawn at Marseille and Lille, both current top-six sides. Lyon are 4/9 odds-on favourites with the top bookies to win this one. But will Reims be able to show more of that resilience?

Australia v India
1st ODI Cricket 0.20 am (Saturday)
BT Sport

Alright, it’s technically not a Friday event. It start early on Saturday. However, this match is going to nearly be in the books by the time most of the UK is rolling out of bed on Saturday. India took a historic win in the Test series against Australia (their first ever in Australia) to round of 2018 with a bang. Will they come out fighting as well in the first of three ODI’s between the two nations? India are ranked second in the world in the format.

This is a day/night duel (all three matches are actually). Australia lost all but two One Day International matches played during 2018. With the World Cup coming up this year, they are under massive pressure at the moment. Do they have the batting power at the top of the order to hold things together? Or will the confidence that is surging through India at the moment see the tourists deliver on their 8/13 odds-on favouritism with leading bookies for the match?

Looking for most of the best bets coming up this weekend? Then check out what Bobby’s thoughts on some of the action is.

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Masters Snooker 2019 Preview

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The famous old snooker tournament, the Masters kicks off for its annual renewal on January 13th. This is one of the biggest events on the snooker scene despite it being a non-ranking event.

The small tournament is an elite invite-only affair for those who are sat inside the top sixteen in the world rankings. It means that there is no easy path to the title at this prestigious event and that for me, makes it one of the most fascinating snooker events there is.

Can Allen defend?

I actually couldn’t start off with anything other than a look at Mark Allen who is the reigning champion. Yes, most people would have expected me to be talking about Ronnie O’Sullivan at this point, but no. Allen came from nowhere really twelve months ago to grab the title for himself as he beat out Kyren Wilson in the final at the Ally Pally. There have, of course, been many one-hit wonders in the history of the Masters, but there is a case for Allen getting more.

Allen has already been to three finals in the 2018/19 season, more than any other player. From those, he picked up two titles at the International Championship and the Scottish Open. The latter was the most recent ranking tournament on the circuit so the Northern Irishman has form. In the tournament before that win in Scotland, he had reached the final of the UK Championship where he lost to Ronnie O’Sullivan. It means that Allen has been to the final in three of the last four ranking events.

Rocket to return to winners’ circle

Ronnie O’Sullivan has won three of the last five editions of the Masters. He is the all-time title leader at the famous event having won it a record seven times (from a total of twelve appearances in the Final). The ‘Rocket’ bombed early in last season’s renewal though as he was out looking to complete a hattrick of three straight Masters win. He couldn’t do it but he is still in form.

O’Sullivan has been to the final of two Ranking events this season and the got a win in one of them, the big one too at the UK Championship. History was made there by him with that title, O’Sullivan becoming the most successful player in the history of that tournament. He is the 9/4 market leader with the top bookmakers for the 2019 Masters.

Other main challengers

It is interesting that only two other people besides Ronnie O’Sullivan are heading into the tournament in single figures in the outright winner market. Those other two are Mark Selby and Judd Trump. Selby has won the Masters three times before in his career and has produced a great affinity for the event.

But the last time that the got the win was back in 2013. So it has been a bit of a drought that he’s been on. But still, you can never rule out the ‘Jester from Leicester’. He earned a title success at this season’s China Championship and is a five-time finalist at the Masters.

Then there is Judd Trump, the recent Northern Ireland Open winner. Trump is looking to create a bit of history for himself in winning his first Masters title. The ‘Juddernaut’ reached the semifinals for the second time in three attempts last year, but against came up short. That was the third time in his career that he has lost in the final four of the Masters. He keeps knocking on the door, but can he break through?

Other Former Masters winners

It is a great field. The Masters always is, given what needs to be achieved to reach it. There is just the one player making their debut this season and that is Jack Lisowski who is a big 33/1 odds option to cause a massive shock in his first attempt. The field is, once again littered with former winners alongside O’Sullivan, Selby and Allen who I’ve already covered. Former winners appearing in the sixteen-man tournament this year are Mark Williams, John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui and Shaun Murphy.

The Triple Crown Factor

The Masters is a who’s-who of snooker really. It is part of the Triple Crown of snooker, sandwiched in between the UK Championship and the World Championship. As mentioned already O’Sullivan, has the first leg of the Triple Crown in the bag as he collected this season’s UK Championship. Can he get the second leg on the board? Doing so he would take a step towards becoming just the fourth man to win the Triple Crown.

Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry (twice) and Mark Williams are the only other three to have won the Triple Crown in a season. Looking back over the last nine Triple Crown events, between them O’Sullivan and Selby have won seven of them (O’Sullivan 4, Selby 3). That shows the power and the threat that they have in these elite events. But then again as shown twelve months ago, Allen proved that an underdog can have his day.

Interested in more snooker betting? Then go and check our list of top bookmakers that are available.

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Big Betting Sporting Events: The French Open 

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The second of tennis’ Grand Slams takes place in late May at Roland Garros and it is a hugely enjoyable event for sports fans. The two-week showdown is staged in Paris and is the only Grand Slam to be held on the clay courts. With a prize pot of 32 million Euros, it is always a much sought-after prize and it also regularly throws up unexpected outcomes.

The tournament tends to favour those players who grew up in either Southern Europe or South America and learnt their craft in similar surroundings. The clay court season takes place throughout spring and this tournament brings the curtain down and helps make way for the grass court action which is staged during the summer season.

The clay courts are much slower than any of the other surfaces and that plays into the hands of those players whose game is centred around hitting winners as opposed to relying on an unstoppable serve. As a result, it has been deemed the most physically demanding of the Grand Slams.

Rafa Nadal is the ‘King of Clay’ and has been victorious at the tournament on eleven different occasions. He has dominated the French Open for many years with his first victory coming in 2005 and his latest arriving in 2018. It is notoriously difficult to win and many all-conquering players such as Pete Sampras failed to secure a title at Roland Garros despite enjoying plenty of success elsewhere.

When and Where?

It is held in Paris at Stade-Roland Garros in late May each year. The tournament is staged over a two week period and signifies the end of the clay-court season.

The Popularity of the French Open

The French Open is extremely popular with tennis fans and is watched by millions of sports fans worldwide. After the Australian Open, there is a four month wait until the second Grand Slam of the campaign gets underway and therefore there is always a huge appetite for this tournament.

There are also a number of top-class clay court events in the build up to the French Open which help whet the appetite.

What Betting Opportunities Are Available?

There are plenty of betting opportunities available ahead of the French Open. The outright market is available all-year round and this is usually dominated by Rafa Nadal. Most bookmakers will have this market listed in their ante-post tennis section.

Ahead of the tournament, the draw will be made and all of the first round games will be priced up shortly afterwards.

Each match will have match outright betting, under/over sets and handicap markets and further options will be added throughout the week. The match-up will also see correct score markets available and live in-play betting is always popular throughout the fortnight.

Popular Betting Markets

Match Outright – The simplest bet available on French Open matches is just a case of correctly predicting which player will emerge victorious. These markets often throw up short-priced favourites and are ideal for accumulator betting. These prices will fluctuate in-play depending on the current flow of the game.

Correct Score – Significantly tougher for punters but it’s still a very popular market. Some players such as Roger Federer will often just need a single break in order to wrap up the set and ease through the games in the early rounds. The better players usually prevail during the early rounds and a 3-0 score-line will offer a better pay-out than simply backing a player on the match outright.

Match Handicap – This is a good way of increasing the value on each player. -1.5 handicap will require your chosen player to win 3-0 or 3-1 whilst +1.5 on the underdog will require them to stay within a set of their opponent.

Correct Score (Set Betting) – Each set will be priced up accordingly. The better players will often dominate proceedings and will often cruise to victory in the opening set so correct scores such as 6-2 and 6-1 are very common in this market.

Tie-breaks – Tie breaks are more infrequent in the French Open due to the slow courts but big-servers will often play out long, arduous games and sets and punters are able to back a tie-break in each set. The prices are shorter on players such as John Isner and Kevin Anderson who reply upon power.

Total Games – This market is incredibly popular and asks punters to predict the number of games in any given match. With the men playing five sets at Roland Garros, these totals can often be relatively high. This is a tremendous way of betting without predicting which player will progress to the next round.

 Other Types of Bet

Accumulator – Accumulator bets are extremely popular with fans of the French Open. These require every single player to be victorious in order to secure a pay-out and are particularly prominent during the early rounds of the competition. With several matches played on the same time, this is an ideal chance to win big for small stakes.

In Play Betting – Tennis is one of the most popular sports when it comes to in-play betting due to the fluctuations in the game. It is possible to back players at decent odds simply by waiting for the right opportunities. The market reacts heavily to players going a break up or falling behind in a tie-break and this can be fortuitous for French Open punters.

 Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the French Open

  • Clay Court Records are Crucial – This is extremely important. Whilst Wimbledon favours grass-court specialists, the French Open heavily favours players who are adept on the slower surface. Spanish players and South Americans are usually fairly successful at this particular event due to their upbringing. Some players arrive with negative records on the surface and they should be avoided at all costs. The clay court season is also incredibly short and some players can go several years with very few matches on this surface.

 

  • Focus on Players who are capable in Grand Slams – A number of players win various tournaments throughout the year but routinely crumble when it comes to the bigger events. Always pick players who have decent records of progressing in the slams.

 

  • For Ante-Post Bets – Plot a Players Path – When the draw is made, players will be situated in either the top half or the bottom half of the draw. This will allow punters to work out who they face in each round of the Grand Slam and it is possible to work out which players will make it to the final four. This is a huge help for ante-post punters and can also allow each-way bets to be made pre-tournament.

 

  • Look out for Lively Newcomers – Grand Slams will often see upcoming players shine. Jelena Ostapenko was victorious in 2017 and started as a 100/1 shot. The Latvian wasn’t expected to prevail but had been playing well in the minor events. She was young, hungry and eager to impress and that came across in her performances. Don’t write off these players and I always look out for French players who are eager to perform in front of a partisan crowd.

 

  • Preparation is Key – The French Open is the most energy-sapping of the four Grand Slams and players with a fitness edge will often prevail. Make sure that the players have had some preparation and warm-up tournaments ahead of Roland Garros. This will certainly help them avoid and overcome any sluggish starts.

 

 Where Can I watch the French Open in the UK?

The French Open is broadcast by ITV. ITV4 will have coverage of the Grand Slam throughout the day and there will be a highlights show in the evening. The semi-finals and two finals will often be broadcast on ITV1.

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BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 12TH-13TH JANUARY

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Soccer – Portuguese Liga NOS – Sporting CP vs FC Porto

I always keep my eye on the Portuguese top flight and this game immediately caught my eye. It’s set to be a cracker and it’s kicking off early on Saturday afternoon. These two sides are battling at the top of the table and that’s why it’s the first of my big betting events for this weekend.

This game is absolutely vital for Sporting CP who slipped up on Monday night, losing 2-1 against 10-man Tondela. With FC Porto easing past Nacional, the gap opened up to eight points and the hosts cannot afford to fall any further behind here.

Marcel Kaizer’s men may be struggling on the road but they have a perfect record in front of their own fans winning eight of eight and that’s why this match-up is so intriguing. Despite their supremacy on their own patch, they have only kept three clean sheets and that’s a real concern. It’s a record that definitely has me eyeing up the goals markets in this tie.

FC Porto have won six of seven on the road and this is a real test of their credentials. They sit top of the table and with Braga breathing down their neck, they cannot afford any slip-ups.

This game will be intense, fascinating and high quality. I can’t wait to place my bets on this game and see which of these high-flyers comes out on top. It is the first of my big betting events and even though it’s a busy time of the day, this game will definitely be commanding my full attention.

UK viewers can enjoy all of the action from the Portuguese top flight on Freesports UK. 

American Football – NFL Play-Offs – Philadelphia Eagles vs New Orleans Saints

It’s NFL Play-Off time! One of my favourite times of the year. Some people love Christmas, I prefer January. This is a fascinating divisional round match-up between the Eagles and the Saints and it is the second of my big betting events for this weekend.

It hasn’t been the greatest campaign for the Eagles but their victory over the Bears allows them the chance to get revenge on the Saints here. Drew Brees was on top form when these two sides met back in November with the quarter-back dishing out a real battering. The Philadelphia side will be desperate to avenge that defeat and they certainly appear to have put that behind them for now.

That was on week 11 and it feels like a long time ago for the players and fans but Doug Pederson admits that his side will probably watch footage of their mauling as they prepare for this contest.

There’s so much at stake here and that’s why I can’t wait to get stuck into the betting markets available on this play-off match-up.

Nick Foles will be key to their chances of success with the veteran hitting top gear in recent weeks and it’s good to see him back to his best. The Eagles are getting the ball out much faster at the moment and that should lead to an entertaining and more evenly-balanced contest. Foles has that big game mentality and he’s only ever lost one play-off game…that came against the Saints.

There are so many possible narratives here and it will be a fascinating match-up. I can’t think of a better way to spend my Sunday night.

UK viewers can follow all of the NFL Play-Off action on Sky Sports Action this weekend

 

Soccer – Premier League – Spurs vs Manchester United

A few weeks ago this game would have been a very one-sided affair in which the home side came out on top. Fast forward a fortnight and Manchester United are much-improved under former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

True, they haven’t faced a proper test yet and even Jose Mourinho probably could have guided his disenfranchised side to victories over Bournemouth, Newcastle and Cardiff but there is a free-ness about the way they are currently playing.

The Norwegian has clearly released the shackles and is allowing his players to go and express themselves. It’ll be interesting to see how they cope with the challenge of Spurs.

The North London club hit seven past Tranmere on Friday night in the FA Cup and are looking imperious going forward. They rested Harry Kane for the majority of that tie so he’ll be raring to for this one. Pochettino’s men come off the back of an EFL Cup with Chelsea but the Argentine could opt to rotate his squad with this game in mind.

This game is the third of my big betting events because it is a fascinating match-up and both sides are currently playing some superb attacking football. I can’t wait to see how this one plays out at Wembley. The wide pitch should encourage some decent football and this game is a real treat for soccer fans.

We talked about the possibility of revenge in the NFL and Manchester United will also be looking to get their own back on Spurs after their 3-0 drubbing earlier in the season.

This game will be live on Sky Sports on Sunday afternoon in the UK

 

Boxing – Devin Haney vs Xolisani Ndogeni

There’s been a lot of talk recently about Devin Haney and he’s a boxer to keep an eye on. Luckily, he’s starting 2019 with an interesting bout against Xolisani Ndogeni and I can’t wait to see how he fares. It is the last of big betting events as it should be a really interesting match-up and it’ll be interesting to see whether Haney’s reputation as ‘one to watch’ is justified.

He is facing Xolisani Ndogeni, who is also unbeaten but it looks like one of the two fighters will see their perfect records come to a juddering halt on Saturday night in Louisiana.

Haney is certainly not short of confidence and he’s spoken about his training camp this week and promised fans that he’ll be at his best when he steps into the ring this weekend.

Ndogeni is one of Africa’s hottest prospects and will certainly provide stiff competition. He’s gone 12 rounds on numerous occasions and won’t be afraid to take this fight to the distance. It should be a fascinating match-up. Strap yourself in, it could be a closely matched contest which could last the distance. I can’t wait. I love Saturday night boxing and I love having an in-play bet along the way.

This is one not to be missed!

UK viewers can enjoy all of the action from the ring on Box Nation this weekend. 

See the LATEST ODDS now for the above FEATURED BETS at BOBBY’S WEEKEND BETS!

 

 

 

 

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Big Bets Bobby’s Take On The Jose Uzcategui VS Caleb Plant Fight!

Jose Uzcategui VS Caleb Plant 1

After a muted Christmas and New Year – ignoring Floyd Mayweather’s return against a Japanese kick-boxer in a three-round exhibition fight – the boxing action returns thick and fast this January with the IBF super-middleweight world title up for grabs this Saturday night in California.

Venezula’s dangerous and avoided Jose Uzcategui defends his 168-pounds gold at the Microsoft Theater against American Caleb Plant, in the first meaningful fight of 2019.

Winning the IBF gold after Britain’s James DeGale vacated the belt last year, the 28-year-old is making his first defence of the title after enduring a topsy-turvy couple of years in the ring. A loss to Matt Korobov dented Uzcategui’s progress towards a world crown in 2014, with a DQ loss to Andre Dirrell in 2017 looking to further derail his career just as he was on the brink of honours. A rematch settled the score as he forced Dirrell to quit in round eight in New York.

Caleb Plant is ranked number two in the IBF and is currently unbeaten after 17 contests. Wins against Rogelio Medina and Andrew Hernandez stand out on the 26-year-olds record, and he’ll arrive in Los Angeles in the belief that it is his time to become world champion.

Plant has just ten KO wins on his record with his nickname “Sweet Hands” a sign of the tactics he is likely to use against the dangerous champion. Plant is unlikely to engage; unlikely to stand and trade with the Venezuelan. Uzcategui has 23 KO wins on his record and will headhunt the challenger early in the fight, looking to cut the ring off at the earliest opportunity.

If Plant can use his jab and use the distance well, there is a chance he can use the ring to his advantage and begin to frustrate the champion with his work rate.

It’s been said many times, but styles make fights. This looks like a classic case of a puncher vs. a boxer. Uzcategui is the rightful favourite at 2/5, however, if Plant can box clever there is a chance he can win this one on the cards.

Jose Uzcategui to beat Caleb Plant @ 2/5

Uzcategui is used to having to provide the pressure in a fight. He’s able to cut off the ring well and use his footwork to good use; Plant is still very inexperienced at the top level and is unlikely to be able to frustrate the champion for twelve rounds.

Little value can be found on the undercard in the return of Cuban legend Guillermo Rigondeaux. “El Chacal” is 1/100 on to win his fight against Giovanni Delgado having not boxed since a loss to Lomachenko in New York last December.

Check out the Hottest Boxing Odds now at BigBetBookmaker’s BIGGEST BETS OF THE DAY & BIG LIVE BETS NOW!

 

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France Clinch Women’s European Handball Title

Womans Handball Champion

Host nation France emerged victorious from a thrilling 17 days of top class women’s handball action, claiming the European title for the first time.

France qualified for the tournament as hosts, and with home advantage, they were given a strong chance of victory by many sports betting markets, with implied probability suggesting that they were the clear second favourites, ahead of Russia and Denmark, but behind Norway.

The Norwegian team, led by their vastly experienced coach Thorir Hergeirrsson, came into the competition as the favourites to win a third consecutive European championship, and their seventh in the last eight editions, after cruising to qualification without losing a single game.

But the Norwegians struggled in their opening game, losing 33-32 to Germany and after beating the Czech Republic, lost again, this time to Romania. Although they qualified for the next stage and won all three of their matches in the Main Round, those defeats were carried forward and cost them dearly as they could only finish third in Group II, despite winning all three of their fixtures in that section.

France – who lost to Norway at the semi-final stage in the last European Championship – had a smoother passage to the knock-out stages. They were beaten by a strong Russian team in their opening game of the tournament, but victories over Slovenia, Montenegro and Denmark were enough to see them into the semi-finals, where a dominant second-half display gave them an impressive 27-21 victory over the 2016 beaten finalists Netherlands.

Russia, who had the tournament’s star player in Anna Vyakhireva, were strongly fancied by many sports betting fans going into the final, having lost only once along the way. But it was the French who were on top in the early stages, leading for most of the first half, with Estelle Nze Minko scoring four times, and they strengthened their grip on the match in the second half, opening up a three-goal lead and finishing with a flourish from Alexandra Lacrabere, who scored three times in the final eight minutes and ended the match with six goals to her name.

The French victory was greeted ecstatically by the 14,000 fans packed into the AccorHotels Arena in Paris – the largest crowd ever for an EHF Euro Final – and it confirms France as the dominant team in women’s handball, following their 2017 World Championship win.

Although the French team was powered by the goals of Nze Minko and Lacrabere, they were also strengthened by the commanding performances of outstanding goalkeepers Amandine Leynaud and Laura Glauser, who finished as the second and third best in the position in this tournament, with impressive save-rate percentages of 36 each. Defensive leader Beatrice Edwige was another crucial element in the French success, while their coach Olivier Krumbholz drew praise for his expert rotation of the French squad, which saw every player make a contribution.

France will attempt to defend their European Championship crown in 2020 when the tournament is held in Denmark and Norway, but before then, their focus will be on the 2019 World Championship, which is due to be held in Japan in November and December 2019.

If you want to stay fully informed on all of the Handball bets available from the best Bookmakers, visit BigBetBookmakers Handball – Best Bets Of The Day & the Handball – Big Live Bets Now!