Big guns flex their collective muscles

It was a last eight line up that promised so much. The Szeged victory in Hungary, the close shave for Barcelona in Zagreb and the thrilling draw in Paris. In the end, it was like sending your Christmas letter to Santa asking for the latest "Action Man" and getting a Barbie doll. It was just disappointing. Only the game between Kielce and Vardar showed any competitive edge. Kiel, Barcelona and Veszprem flexed their collective muscles and dispatched the opposition in such simple fashion, that at you wonder how on earth their opposition got this far.

That's slightly unfair on Zagreb, PSG and Szeged, but it just shows how important home advantage can be in these second legs. The games in Barcelona and Kiel were over as spectacles within ten minutes, whereas the Veszprem game took a little longer for the home team to take a stranglehold on the tie.

Which brings me nicely to MOTW in Veszprem. For those of us who hoped that Paris might put up the same fight as they did at home, we were in for a rude awakening. It is said of some French wines, that they don't travel well. The same is said of French rugby teams. Well now add handball teams to that list. PSG were a pale shadow of the team that had us screaming in Paris.

Here in the Veszprem arena, they simply had no chance. Veszprem pulverised them from the off. They played quickly and it was Chema who pulled the strings. The diamond of Ilic, Sulic, Nagy and Chema was just too hot for PSG to handle. They didn't do anything extravagant, they just did the simple things efficiently and well. Their counter attacking was of the highest order and while their defence didn't function perfectly, Paris couldn't find any team play to really break it down. And then you add Mikler to the pot and you have a spicy recipe. 

The simple things

It started well for Paris, with Accambray taking up the reins where he left off last week, but inexplicably he was withdrawn after about ten minutes, never to appear again except as "Libero". It makes me wonder sometimes if coaches are thinking on such a high level, that they forget the simple things in the game. You could not hold that against Ortega, whose game plan functions at almost every level and when the time calls for it, he is able to reiterate to his players exactly what's needed.

It's a master stroke and not too shabby for a man three years ago who had to "sing for his supper" as things went pear-shaped in Spain. Now he has become one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe and has become a hero in Veszprem. Having chanted "Final4" for the second year running, they then chanted the coach’s name. He was visibly moved and we saw a little tear again from Carlos, who, along with Sabate, has brought the Hungarians to the top of the pile once again.

And in his favour he complimented the fans to me after the game. I have to say that they were as much part of the victory as the players. There is a torrent of noise that flows from those stands as if to say to the opposition: "You are not only facing our team, but 5,000 of us and the other 5,000 sitting outside."

There was a moment in the game which I will never forget. Suddenly the cacophony of noise abated and there was total silence in the arena. I kid you not; you could have heard a pin drop. Suddenly a loan chant began that would send a shiver down your spine and put the fear of God into you. It was reminiscent of a scene from "Vikings", where strangely enough at the gates of Paris, they begin a similar chant, designed to frighten the townspeople. And it worked in Veszprem. They went on a run of goals that Paris never recovered from.

You cannot begrudge them their victory, but I must stress that the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will miss one of the greatest players of his generation. A Viking himself, with the mane to match, Hansen, was extraordinary yesterday. 15 goals from 17 shots, he alone tried to match the opposition. Too many of his teammates, with the exception of Gunnarsson, didn't turn up on the day, but his solo, in a concerto that didn't quite work, was worth the price of admission. He will end up again without any silverware on Europe's largest stage and he doesn't deserve that. To Mikkel Hansen I say, you are a gentleman, an athlete and a competitor and your time will come. It has to and any self-respecting handball fan would want to see him at the FINAL4 again. 

Salivating for the draw

And so to the draw. All four group winners made it. Björn Pazen loves to pick the group winners as participants and he got it right. They all deserve it, they have stayed the course and if the last two finals are anything to go by, then we should know that there are no favourites going to Cologne.

Gislason has earmarked Barcelona, but they haven't had the best of luck in the last few, no more than Kiel have had. Veszprem and Kielce have made it for the second time so all the teams understand the "show".

Are you salivating for the draw on Tuesday? I am!

But be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

And remember this:

Never has THW Kiel lost a match against a Spanish team at any VELUX EHF FINAL4 event since 2010, or against a team coached by a Spaniard.

Coaches in Cologne this year: Ortega, Pascual, Dujshebaev.  (Björn Pazen)

Oooooooooh! I got chills, they're multiplying (Danny from Grease)