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Thanks to another outstanding performance by Bundesliga goalkeeper Niklas Landin from THW Kiel, Denmark's handball players successfully defended their title at the World Cup in Egypt.

Two years after his success at the home world championship, the Olympic champion prevailed against Sweden in the Scandinavian final on Sunday in Cairo with 26:24 (13:13) and underpinned his dominance in world handball.

“I'm really proud of this team,” said the 32-year-old from Landin.

“We haven't had that many moments when we threw balls away or got penalties.

We fight like a team. ”Coach Nikolaj Jacobsen also gave everything on the sidelines and sat exhausted in his chair after the game.

"I'm tired," the former Bundesliga professional admitted with a laugh.

"That was a fantastic piece of work."

Denmark's players celebrate their title defense

Source: AP

For the Danes, who competed with numerous Bundesliga professionals, it was also their 19th win in a World Cup game, something that no other team had ever achieved before.

In addition to the again strong goalkeeper Landin, superstar Mikkel Hansen had a large share in the success of the Danes with seven goals.

The multiple world handball player was one of the first players to hug Jacobsen in the locker room after the game.

Sweden miss their fifth World Cup triumph

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While the Danes celebrated their title defense in the hall without spectators, the Swedes were very disappointed.

Almost 22 years after their last World Cup title, which the Swedes won in Egypt in the summer of 1999, they now also missed the fifth World Cup triumph in their history in Cairo.

Even their most successful goalscorer with five goals, Hampus Wanne from SG Flensburg-Handewitt, could not prevent the defeat because ultimately the individual class of the Danes prevailed.

In a long and tight final, the Danes, trained by former Bundesliga coach Jacobsen, could only decide the game in the final phase.

While the Swedes had to do without some regulars at the World Cup, which was held for the first time with 32 teams, the Danes were almost all of the best - and their larger class paid off in the end.

Sweden's Daniel Pettersson fails on Landin

Source: REUTERS

Nevertheless, the German team should now be warned at the latest because they will meet vice world champions Sweden at the Olympic qualification tournament in Berlin at the beginning of March.

Other opponents are Algeria and Slovenia, the best two teams in the group of four secure a ticket for the summer games in Tokyo.