Counting on the best goalkeeper in the world, on the best defence and on the most creative and best individualists leaded by the best player in the world in attack, it was difficult to think that France will fail its rendez-vous with the history. Iceland, who realised miracles until the final, kept up with the big favourites only for 12 minutes (4:4). Having in Titi Omeyer a real guarding angel, the squad coached by Claude Onesta assured themselves first a margin of 5 goals (9:4/17.) and after it one of 7 goals (13:6/24.). If they entered the dressing room only with a 5 goal advantage, 15:10, it was only because Iceland used clever the two times two minutes suspension got by the rival.
After the break, Nikola and his teammates needed 10 minutes to put between them and their opponent an advance of 9 goals (21:19), who could be only reduced, but not cancelled anymore. That´s why, everthing that Stefansson and his co-players could do, was to reduce the difference by 5 goals. In goal, Omeyer continued his show, saving in the end 49% of the shots, and in attack Nikola proved once again that he is the best, scoring 8 goals from 9 shots and giving 4 assists, all in 47 minutes played.
But it would be unfair to talk just about two heros, because they were 15 heros on the court and on the bench plus a staff who brought them to gold. The credit for it belongs to all! France triumphed like a team and there couldn´t be another Olympic Champions, but them. Who beats great teams like the former Olympic Champions Croatia (two times!), Spain, the bronze medallist, Poland, fifth placed, and won all the games, deserves to be Olympic Champion.
Statistics
France - Iceland 28:23 (15:10)
France Omeyer: (19/1 saves), Karaboué (2 saves) - Dinart, Burdet (4), B. Gille (5), G. Gille, Narcisse (2), Girault (1/1), Karabatic (8), Kempé, Abati (1), Abalo (4), Guigou (3/1), Paty.
Iceland : Gustavsson (12 saves), Gudmundsson (0 saves) - Geirsson (3), S. Sigurdsson (1), Hallgrimsson, Atlasson (4), V.G. Sigurdsson (3), Gudjonsson (4/3), Stefannsson (5), Asgeirsson, Petersson (2), Jakobsson, Gunnarsson (1), Inigmundarson.
Final ranking of the Men’s Olympic Tournament:
Gold: France
Silver: Iceland
Bronze: Spain
4. Croatia
5. Poland
6. Russia
7. Denmark
8. Korea
9. Germany
10. Egypt
11. Brazil
12. China
All-Star Team:
Goalkeeper: Thierry Omeyer (France)
Left wing: Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (Iceland)
Left-back: Daniel Narcisse (France)
Centre-back: Snorri Steinn Gudjonsson (Iceland)
Right-back: Olafur Stefansson (Iceland)
Right wing: Alberto Rocas (Spain)
Pivot: Bertrand Gille (France)
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