Status: 01/29/2023 10:53 p.m
Historic title hat-trick: Denmark wins against France in the final of the Handball World Championship and is world champion for the third time in a row after 2019 and 2021.
The protégés of former Bundesliga coach Nikolaj Jacobsen defeated record champion France 34:29 (16:15) in a dramatic final in Stockholm that evening and became the first team in the 85-year history of the World Cup to become champions for the third time in a row.
“It’s fantastic to have done what nobody has done before. I’m super proud of my boys,” said Jacobsen. Under Jacobsen, the Danes have not lost a single one of their last 28 World Cup games.
For the “Equipe tricolore” it was only the second bankruptcy in the eighth World Cup final. The first was against Russia 30 years ago – also in Stockholm.
The best Danish throwers in front of 23,050 spectators were Rasmus Lauge (ten goals) and Simon Pytlick (nine). Nedim Remili (six goals) scored the most for the French.
Duel of the best handball players in the world
The final was also the duel between the two biggest handball stars of the past 15 years – Nikola Karabatic and Mikkel Hansen, who were each world handball players three times and played together at Paris Saint-Germain from 2015 to 2022.
Hansen got off to a better start with his team. After seven minutes Denmark was already ahead of four goals at 6:2. France coach Guillaume Gille responded with an early time-out, but his team continued to struggle.
Landin and Gidsel stand out
This was also due to two Bundesliga professionals in the ranks of the Danes. Goalkeeper Niklas Landin from the German record champions THW Kiel fended off several throws by the French. And in attack, Mathias Gidsel from Bundesliga leaders Füchse Berlin put a lot of pressure and a threat on goal from behind. Only in the closing stages of the first half did the French get a better grip on their rivals and came within a goal.
Even after the change, the rivals gave nothing. Although the Danes drew back to within four goals, France didn’t give up and shortened the lead in the closing stages. However, the turning point did not succeed – in the end Denmark celebrated.
Spain wins the game for third place
Already in the early evening, Spain’s handball players spoiled the host’s planned medal party and won bronze at the World Cup third place in Egypt two years ago.
The best Spanish thrower in the repeat of last year’s European Championship final was circle player Adria Figueras with nine goals. Hampus Wanne also scored nine goals for the Swedes. 22,650 spectators watched the game in the football arena in Stockholm, best value for a handball game on Swedish soil.
Sweden’s title hopes were dashed in the semifinals against record world champions France (26:31), Spain lost out in the round of four against Denmark (23:26).
Source: sportschau.de