2023 World Women's Handball Championship: France beats Norway for third crown
The reigning Olympic champions held onto their lead for 40 minutes to beat title defenders Norway 31-28 in Denmark on Sunday (17 December).
Handball
France exacted revenge on Norway at the 2023 World Women's Handball Championship claiming a 31-28 victory in Herning, Denmark on Sunday (17 December).
The match was a repeat of the 2021 final with the French turning the tables on the defending champions to claim their third world title and deny Norway their fifth global crown.
The French nearly squandered a four-point lead giving the Norwegians a foot in the door in the latter stages of the match, but held on for victory in a breathless contest.
The match was evenly poised with both teams struggling to find an early breakthrough as they exchanged blows in a tit-for-tat battle in the opening nine minutes of the contest. Norway finally got their noses in front, opening a slim two-point lead before the status quo was restored.
Momentum swung in France’s favour when they moved two points clear in the 21st minute before captain Estelle Nze Minko extended the lead to three (17-14). The French threatened to extend the lead to five but Norway kept their cool to limit the damage.
The sides went into the half-time break with France leading 20-17 after finding a few breakthroughs in the middle section of the first period.
The French struck shortly after the restart for the second half extending their lead to four points for a psychological buffer.
But the Norwegians tenaciously clawed their way back into contention and back within a point – for the first time in almost a half hour – with 10 minutes to play. The French somehow recovered to again open up a four-point advantage.
Norway kept threatening the French goal edging closer to an epic comeback but the reigning Olympic champions would not be denied as they ran down the clock for the triumph.
Tamara Horacek and Lena Grandveau were the leading scorers for the French side, finding the back of the net on five occasions apiece. At the other end, Nora Mork’s massive eight-point contribution was not enough to swing the result in her side’s favour.