Denmark and France excelled at the Handball World Championship, with Denmark defeating Italy 39:20 and France overcoming Austria 35:27. Tunisia advanced to the main round after a close match against Algeria, while Qatar secured a 25:22 win over Kuwait. Spain triumphed over Japan 39:20, and Sweden achieved a 42:30 victory against Chile. Iceland celebrated Aron Pálmarsson’s return with a decisive 40:19 win against Cuba, while Slovenia also performed strongly, defeating Cape Verde 36:24.
Denmark and France Dominate at the Handball World Championship
In a stunning display, co-host Denmark showcased their prowess by defeating Italy with a resounding score of 39:20 (18:8), solidifying their position as a favorite in the Handball World Championship. Meanwhile, record champions France also claimed victory against Austria, finishing with a score of 35:27 (19:15).
The critical moment in the match between the reigning champions, Denmark, and the surprising Italian team occurred during the first half. For over 16 minutes, the Italians struggled to find the back of the net, allowing the Danes to establish a commanding lead of 18:8 by halftime.
It came as no surprise that goalkeeper Emil Nielsen from FC Barcelona earned the title of the match’s best player. In the second half, Danish coach Nikolaj Jacobsen rotated his players frequently, yet the team’s seamless performance remained unaffected. The final score of 39:20 will surely command respect from the German team as they prepare for their rematch from the Olympic final in Paris, set to take place on the first day of the main round.
Tunisia and Qatar Secure Their Places in the Main Round
In the Danish city of Herning, the match between Algeria and Tunisia determined the last opponent for Germany in the main round. Both teams had previously underperformed in the tournament, facing clear defeats against Italy and Denmark. Tunisia started strong, maintaining a lead throughout the first half. Thanks to Khalifa Ghedbane’s impressive saves, the Algerians managed to enter halftime trailing by a mere four goals (9:13).
The second half remained competitive, with Algeria pushing hard for victory—knowing that only a win would guarantee their progression to the main round. However, Hazem Bacha’s late goal at 26:25 sealed Algeria’s fate and allowed Tunisia to celebrate their advancement.
In Group C, France’s aggressive start against Austria forced an early timeout from coach Aleš Pajovič. Austrian goalkeeper Constantin Möstl struggled at times, while French keeper Charles Bolzinger, making his World Championship debut, excelled by denying a crucial penalty shot from Sebastian Frimmel. Ultimately, France’s squad depth prevailed, leading to their 35:27 victory, which granted them group victory and the maximum four points heading into the main round.
In a fight for the third position in Group C, Qatar triumphed over Kuwait with a score of 25:22 (11:7), with Žarko Marković leading Qatar as the top scorer with seven goals, while Kuwait’s Abdulaziz Al-Shammari impressed by netting eight goals.
In Group F, Spain initially struggled against a resilient Chilean team but ultimately secured a convincing victory. This time against Japan, coach Jordi Ribera’s squad began with remarkable focus, launching into a 6:0 run. Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, showcasing his elite skills with nearly a 50 percent save rate, played a crucial role in their 39:20 (19:11) win. However, the match was marred by an injury to left winger Daniel Fernández, who had to leave the court with assistance during halftime.
Meanwhile, Sweden faced a tough challenge against Chile in their second World Championship match. Despite a rocky start without their regular goalkeeper Andreas Palicka, the team managed to stabilize their game and ultimately achieved a 42:30 (20:19) victory, with Albert Lagergren from SC Magdeburg being named player of the match for his impressive eight-goal performance.
In Group G, Iceland celebrated the return of Aron Pálmarsson, who made an impactful comeback after missing the first match due to injury. His presence energized the team, leading them to a decisive 40:19 (21:9) victory against Cuba. In their final group match, Iceland will face off against the undefeated Slovenians, who also had a strong showing against Cape Verde, securing a comfortable 36:24 win thanks to Aleks Vlah’s eight goals.