WC 2011 FINAL: Denmark against France!

Posted on 28. January 2011.

By beating Spain in the second semi-final in Kristianstad 28:24 Denmark reached the final of a Men’s World Championship for the first time since 1967. Thanks to top scorer Mikkel Hansen and goalkeeper Niklas Landin the Danes took a victory, which looks larger than the run-down of the game was. As the Danes will play for the title against France on Sunday in Malmö, Spain face Sweden in the Bronze final
Semi-final 2:

Denmark – Spain 28:24 (12:12)

Attended by their Crown Prince Frederic the Danish players crowned themselves with the WCh final. More than 3000 Danish spectators celebrated the victory in a sea of red and white on the stands. The match was absolutely close until the very last three minutes when the Danes decided the semi. After an equal start Kasper Söndergaard scored for the first three (9:6) and four goal (10:6) lead. The Danish team was dominant, not only because of the support from the stands. But when they lost their impetus and caused too many mistakes later-on they brought the Spaniards back in to the game. Even a Danish time-out couldn’t stop the Iberians on their way to the 12:12 halftime equalizer.

But by speeding up after the break the Danes took a three goal lead again – and as Spain had their weakest period they were below even four goals at the 13:17. But thanks to a defense improvement and the saves of Arpad Sterbik the Spaniards returned and reduced to one goal (16:17, 20:21) before equalizing in minute 55 (23:23). Everything was open again, but the next three minutes decided everything: Thanks to the fifth and sixth goal of Hans Lindbergh Denmark went away to 26:23 and 27:23 –final! Best players in this game were unstoppable Mikkel Hansen, who scored nine goals and Danish goalkeeper Niklas Landin, who saved a shot percentage of 49, including three penalty shots.

Semi-final 1: France – Sweden 29:26 (15:12)

Sweden could count on Oscar Carlen again, who had to be replaced in the last Main Round match against Denmark – and the right back started well with two early goals. Both sides had real concrete in their defense in the starting period, as the attackers nearly couldn’t make their way through those walls. France counted on fast break goals, as they had initial problems in position attack – and aside both goalkeepers saved brilliant, with little advantages for French Thierry Omeyer compared with the Swedish Johan Sjöstrand. Thanks to Omeyer and the intermediate weak Swedish shot efficiency with too hectic shots the reigning champion increased the lead to three goals (8:5), despite a Swedish time-out in minute 14. Especially Michael Guigou scored well from the penalty line and the wing position (in total five times before the break). On the other hand the new Swedish handball hero Kim Ekdahl du Rietz (four goals in twelve minutes) brought life back to his team and reduced the gap again to only one goals (10:11 in minute 25). Cheered by their spectators Sweden tried hard to turn the match, but the individual class and experience from winning so many trophies and medals was the decisive factor in the end of the first half, when the result was 15:12.

And then the French defense including Omeyer closed the gate completely. Even when Guigou missed a penalty shot against Sjöstrand in minute 35, France was unstoppable. It took them only 13 minutes to distance their opponent with a six goals difference (23:17), before Sweden took their time-out. Aside the performance of Omeyer Betrand Gille (man of the Match) scored brilliant in this stage, as Sweden was not patient enough and shot too fast – mostly saved by Omeyer. The highly concentrated French team did not only stop their opponent, but calmed down the Malmö Arena, too, in the middle of the second half. But the situation changed quickly after three straight Swedish goals of Källman (2) and Carlen – the spectators and the team were back at the score of 24:20. Surprisingly France lost their pace for minutes, missed some shots and their defense wasn’t as strong as before. Sweden took the profit from this weak French period and the great support from the stands and reduced to 23:25 with one player more on the field four minutes before the end. The tension rose, as the game was close to turn. But when Carlen received a two minutes suspension at the score of 26:24 in minute 58, France was cold as ice. Guigou scored twice within 20 seconds and extended the lead to 28:24 and decided the game. The final score was 29:26, top scorers were Guigou with nine goals for France and Källman with six for Sweden.