Cairo (AFP)
The Denmark of Mikkel Hansen, author of 7 goals, and goalkeeper Niklas Landin won their second World Cup on Sunday, and the second in a row, beating Sweden, surprise finalist of the tournament, 26-24 Sunday in Cairo.
The Olympic champion thus retains the trophy acquired in 2019 at home, when he had easily disposed of the other Scandinavian rival, Norway (31-22).
The scenario was quite different this time around.
The Swedes, who arrived without several major players (Niclas Ekberg, Jesper Nielsen, Andreas Nilsson, Lukas Nilsson) and with a new generation without reference at the international level, played their luck and found themselves in front (10-12) at the end of first period, and again at the beginning of the second act (17-18).
But the Danes are not world and Olympic champions for nothing, and Niklas Landin has again justified his unofficial status as the best goalkeeper in the world.
In two actions, Swedish right-back Albin Lagergren saw the stars: Mikkel Hansen made him spin to score (16-15) and Landin made a high-flying save (22-20) against him, allowing the Danes to widen a first gap (25-22).
The backs Jacob Holm (6 goals) and Nikolaj Oris (5) stunned the Swedes a little more.
Landin's two saves in the last three minutes, one from the penalty spot against Hampus Wanne and one against Jim Gottfridsson, ended the suspense.
Passed very close to the exit against Egypt, host country beaten on penalties (39-38) after incredible twists, dominating in the semi-final (35-33) against Spain, double champion of Europe, Denmark had accumulated too much confidence to give in to such an inexperienced team.
Sweden, a finalist at the London 2012 and Euro 2018 Games, is still chasing their first title since 2002.
But under the leadership of Norwegian coach Glenn Solberg, Jim Gottfridsson and Daniel Pettersson (28), Hampus Wanne (26), Jonathan Carlsbogard (25), Felix Claar and Lukas Sandell (23) beat Egypt in the pool, dominated the France in the semi-finals (32-26) and showed that they had the potential to sooner or later find the top step of the podium.
© 2021 AFP