There was a feeling of shock among the over 27,000 spectators in Lille when the quarterfinal was over.
France had had the grip, but thrown away the victory when Dika Mem made a mistake with "Les bleus" in the lead and only six seconds left.
Instead, it became a defeat. And Germany's 35–34 triumph after extra time also meant the end of an outstanding handball career.
Nikola Karabatic has turned 40 and is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. The Olympic Games on home soil would have been the perfect ending, a golden conclusion for the legend.
It didn't turn out that way.
"That's the way sports are"
Shortly after the final signal, both teams remained on the pitch and, together with the audience, gave Karabatic a standing ovation. The star applauded back, clapped his hand over his heart.
I felt that I received a lot of respect and love. It was nice, but also very tough since we lost. I would have liked to experience it with a medal around my neck, he says afterwards.
It feels heavy. But that's the way sports are, that's life.
Karabatic has won three Olympic gold medals, four World Championship gold medals, and four European Championship gold medals in the national team during his career.
As a kid, I dreamed of getting to wear the blue jersey and maybe win the World Championship – once. I would have been so happy with just that. To now look back and see that I have won many times, I have been named the world's best player three times, and played in big clubs with fantastic teammates... It's enormous, but hard to realize now when the pain of defeat is there.
"It feels a little"
Even Mattias Andersson, the former Swedish national team player who is now a goalkeeper coach in Germany, regretted that Nikola Karabatic didn't get to end his handball career in a more enjoyable way.
The duo were teammates in Kiel at the beginning of the Frenchman's career.
It feels a little, I must say. Everyone knows what Nikola has done for handball. You see what respect everyone has for him, and it's well-deserved. And it's not just for what he's done on the pitch, but for the person he is.
Andersson's Germany will face Spain in the semifinal on Friday.
