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Denmark dreams of defending their title after another thriller, Sweden after a gala of their first gold in 22 years.
In the final of the handball world championship there will be an explosive Scandinavian duel on Sunday in Cairo.
Superstar Mikkel Hansen led the Danes in the semi-finals on Friday evening with twelve goals to 35:33 (18:16) victory against European champions Spain and thus dashed the hopes of the Iberians for the third title after 2005 and 2013.
Previously, record European champions Sweden had reached the final for the first time since 2001 thanks to a sovereign 32:26 (16:13) against six-time champion France.
“We're in the World Cup final, that's so damn cool,” said director Jim Gottfridsson from the German runner-up SG Flensburg-Handewitt.
"I don't even know what the hell to say."
Tub strong
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The best thrower for Sweden was left winger Hampus Wanne, who also plays in Flensburg, with eleven goals.
The four-time world champion last won gold in 1999 - the finals also took place in Egypt back then.
A good omen?
“It's absolutely incredible.
We grew as a team throughout the tournament, ”said right winger Daniel Pettersson from Bundesliga club SC Magdeburg with tears in his eyes.
Rehearsals for the winning photo: Sweden's handball players after the triumph over France
Source: REUTERS
The three-crown team, in six weeks opponent of the DHB selection in the fight for an Olympic ticket, determined the rhythm of the game from the beginning under the careful guidance of the German referees Robert Schulze and Tobias Tönnies.
In the first half, the Scandinavians were only once behind at 6: 7 (14th), but corrected that within five minutes with a 4-0 run to 10: 7.
The French, who had to do without the injured Luka Karabatic, often had problems with their fast and agile opponents in defense and failed again and again in the attack because of the brilliantly laid-out Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Palicka.
The 34-year-old from Bundesliga club Rhein-Neckar Löwen made sure with his parades that the European Championship runner-up from 2018 was ahead by three goals at the break and was no longer in trouble after the change.
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The Danes, who only progressed in the quarter-finals against Egypt after throwing seven meters, then put on a convincing performance.
Above all, Hansen, who had seen red in the extension, made amends.
The director from the French top club Paris Saint-Germain shone as a preparer and executor.
Nevertheless, the game remained exciting because the Spaniards resisted as best they could.
Even with a four-goal deficit six minutes before the end (29:33), the European champions were not discouraged.
But the turnaround did not succeed in the hot final phase.