2023 IHF World Men's Handball Championship: Denmark beat France to clinch third consecutive world crown
Having already secured their place at Paris 2024, Denmark became the first team to complete a hat-trick of men's world titles with a 34-29 win over Olympic champions France.
Handball
Denmark beat France in the final of the 2023 IHF World Men's Handball Championship in Stockholm on Sunday (29 January) to complete a hat-trick of world titles.
Rasmus Lauge scored 10 goals from 11 attempts with Simon Pytlick finding the net nine times as the holders prevailed 34-29 in a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic final.
Nedim Remili was France's star man with six strikes, but the reigning Olympic champions had to settle for silver as they were denied a seventh world title.
The Danes had already clinched the one automatic berth at Paris 2024 with Games hosts France reaching the final, and they were never headed as they withstood a strong French fightback either side of half time to retain their crown.
Earlier in the Tele2 Arena, Spain beat Sweden to take third place.
Denmark avenge Tokyo Olympic final defeat
Denmark took an early 2-0 lead with Niklas Landin making a couple of fine saves from Dylan Nahi and Ludovic Fabregas before Pytlick scored his second to make it 3-0.
Dika Mem put France on the board, but the Olympic champions lacked fluency in attack and coach Guillaume Gille called a time out with his side 6-2 down less than seven minutes in.
The Danish defence, expertly marshalled by 38-year-old Henrik Møllgaard, was not giving up cheap points. But the French managed to close the gap to one late in the first half thanks to Remili's fourth goal as the holders went almost five minutes without scoring.
Pytlick ended that barren spell with his sixth goal of the game, but Remili scored again to leave France down by just one - 16-15 - at half time.
Mem drew France level at the start of the second half. However, despite three-time World Championship MVP Mikkel Hansen being restricted to one 7m penalty strike, Denmark managed to just stay in front with Pytlick, Mathias Gidsel and Lauge in fine form.
Kevin Møller replaced Landin in goal and he quickly denied Kentin Mahe with the Danes down to six men. Pytlick then received a two-minute suspension for a trip on Valentin Porte, but France were unable to regain parity despite their personnel advantage.
Two quick long-range blasts from Mads Mensah Larsen extended Denmark's lead to three with 10 minutes to go, and timely Lauge strikes allied to smart saves from Møller saw them close in on the hat-trick.
Men's fifth goal from seven attempts closed the gap to two with three minutes remaining, but a vicious wrist shot from Pytlick gave Denmark breathing room before Landin's 7m save from Melvyn Richardson sealed the victory.
Three-time World Player of the Year Nikola Karabatic had limited court time and failed to score from his one attempt on goal.
Spain clinch third place
There was disappointment for the home crowd as Sweden went down 39-36 to Spain in the bronze medal match.
It was a fine comeback from 'Los Hispanos' who trailed by four at the break, but scored six goals without reply early in the second half to put them on track for third place at a second consecutive World Championship.
Line player Adrian Figueras netted nine times with Alex Dujshebaev adding seven.
For reigning European champions Sweden, who were again without injured centre back Jim Gottfridsson, wings Hampus Wanne and Niclas Ekberg scored nine and seven goals respectively.
2023 IHF World Men's Handball Championship results:
29 January, Tele2 Arena, Stockholm
Bronze medal match
Sweden 36-39 Spain
Gold medal match, Tele2 Arena, Stockholm.
France 29-34 Denmark