Denmark secured first place in the main round group 2 at the Handball World Cup with a 30:26 (13:13) victory over Sweden. Mikkel Hansen was Denmark's best thrower with six goals. In the semi-final, the team of coach Nikolaj Jacobsen meets the six-time world champion France.
In the Scandinavian duel, Sweden, with strong goalkeeper Andreas Palicka, was a match for a long time before Denmark were able to break away for the first time after the break. With a victory, the Swedes could still reach the semi-finals, now they still has the game for fifth place. Opponents there will be Croatia.
France - Croatia 20:23 (11:11)
France's handball players have lost their last major round match at the World Cup in Cologne 20:23 (11:11) against Croatia. Best thrower of the winner was Zlatko Horvat with seven goals. Again Croatia, you will think in France now. Just six years ago, it was exactly the last time that France had lost a game in a World Cup finals - they were also beaten by Croatia in the quarter-final of 2013, at 11:30 pm (12:13).
This was followed by two finals, at the end of which the world champion was called France. Incredible 24 games in a row, France remained undefeated. And then came the Croatia, who secured third place in the main round group by winning 17,191 spectators and thus securing participation in a qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The world champion qualifies directly for the Olympics.
Norway - Hungary 35:26 (16:13)
Norway won 35:26 (16:13) against Hungary in the main round group II in Herning, Denmark, and face Germany in the semi-finals on Friday (20:30, TV: ARD, live ticker SPIEGEL ONLINE). Best throwers at the Norwegians were Magnus Jöndal and Magnus Röd with seven goals each.
Further results:
Brazil - Iceland 32:29 (15:15)
Tunisia - Egypt 23:30 (10:15)