Guigou: It was a scandal

The 25-year-old left-winger, who plays his club handball with Montpellier, saw a goal ruled out fourteen seconds from the end of the second period of overtime as the referee failed to award his side the advantage, instead blowing for a free-throw for an earlier foul, which the French duly missed.

"I have no idea [why]," he told L'Equipe. "Travelling, barging? I don't think I was even touched. Just as I was shooting, I heard the referee's whistle. I don't see what he can blow for.

"It's a scandal. Just moments beforehand, I regained the ball in the zone. I don't think it was going out, or that I was in the zone, but they gave the ball back [to Germany]. I can't explain it.

"They [the referees] blew whichever way they wanted. That's the way it is&hellipbut what can you do? You can't put in a complaint. There's no panel that can make the match be replayed," he lamented.

Claude Onesta's side must now pick themselves up in time for the 3rd place play-off match against Denmark, in order to take away the bronze medal, though Guigou insisted Thursday's defeat had to be digested first.

"We're not ready right now, but we have the chance to get two days of rest," he said. "We will be in a good frame of mind, like we should be, in order to pick up a medal."