Cairo (AFP)

After Denmark - Norway in 2019, Denmark - Sweden in 2021: Scandinavia again imposed its law on Friday in the semi-finals of the Handball World Cup in Egypt, which will have a tasty poster on Sunday between the Danish experience and the Swedish youth.

Sweden dominated France 32-26, and Denmark beat Spain 35-33.

We expected Sander Sagosen's Norway but it finally disappointed, eliminated in the quarterfinals by Spain.

However, we did not expect Sweden, which arrived in Egypt without several major players.

But his youth triumphed over the French favorite in a huge hall in Cairo (17,000) orphaned by its spectators.

The Swedes dominated with the head and shoulders an otherwise more experienced French team but which lost too many executives on the way (Nikola and Luka Karabatic, Elohim Prandi, Wesley Pardin, Timothey N'Guessan).

With 4 saves in all for its two goalkeepers, the nation with the most titles at the Worlds (6 coronations) could not hope for much when in front, Andreas Palicka enjoyed (11 saves), with in particular a stop of the right foot at height crossbar on a shot by Valentin Porte ...

Mobile, fluid, airy, the Swedes shone just as much in attack, like the wingers Hampus Wanne (11 goals) and Daniel Petersson (6 goals at 100%).

Their final success rate, 86%, is astounding.

Is this the start of a new golden age for Sweden, weaned from titles since Euro 2002 after having dominated the 1990s?

The Danish neighbor, reigning Olympic and world champion, has just started his own and will try to answer in the negative.

After passing very close to the end of the road in the quarterfinals against an attractive Egypt (39-38 after penalties), Mikkel Hansen's team won the tough duel against Spain, double European champion title (35-33).

With 12 goals, Hansen largely made up for his ban for anti-play two days earlier which had almost cost the title holders dearly.

Unsurprisingly, he was voted man of the match.

With 30 seconds remaining, Spain had the ball equalized by Ruben Marchan but the ball hit the crossbar before rebounding a few inches from the line.

© 2021 AFP