With six World Championship trophies since 1995, France are record holders in this category - and they are mainly dominant since becoming EURO champions in 2006. From that trophy on, they took four world titles, three continental trophies and twice Olympic gold. In 2010 they were the first male handball team ever to hold all three major titles at the same time.

As defending champions - after winning the World Championship home ground with a clean record of nine wins in 2017 - they qualified directly for the 2019 event - but since then coach Didier Dinart underwent a major transition in players. But all young guns such as Ludovic Fabregas, Dika Mem or Nicolas Tournat fit perfectly in the team, which at Denmark and Germany again is the top favourite - despite missing their fourth EURO trophy in January, finishing on the bronze rank.

Competition records: 

World Championship match results: 1954: 6, 1961: 8, 1970: 12, 1990: 9, 1993: SILVER, 1995: GOLD, 1997: BRONZE, 1999: 6, 2001: GOLD, 2003: BRONZE, 2005: BRONZE, 2007: 4, 2009: GOLD, 2011: GOLD, 2013: 6, 2015: GOLD, 2017: GOLD

Olympic Games match results: 1992: BRONZE, 1996: 4, 2000: 6, 2004: 5, 2008: GOLD, 2012: GOLD, 2016: SILVER

European Championship match results: 1994: 6, 1996: 7, 1998: 7, 2000: 4, 2002: 6, 2004: 6, 2006: GOLD, 2008: BRONZE, 2010: GOLD, 2012: 11, 2014: GOLD, 2016: 5, 2018: BRONZE

Qualification for Denmark/Germany 2019: World Champions