Dominant Denmark dish double-digits win against Brazil to reach semi-finals for eighth time in last 10 editions

After the first two quarter-finals of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship were decided in the last second, Denmark used a flawless second half to clinch their eighth semi-finals spot in the last 10 editions of the world handball flagship competition with a 33:21 dominating win against Brazil.

QUARTER-FINALS
Denmark vs Brazil 33:21 (15:12)

Even when Denmark are not playing their best brand of handball – coach Nikolaj Jacobsen shouted some tough words to his players during the first team time-out – they still win.

It seemed inevitable that the Scandinavian side, which extended their unbeaten run at the IHF Men’s World Championship to an unprecedent 35 matches, were going to dominate Brazil. 

They had everything: speed, motivation, talent and depth. One thing they did not have anymore from their six consecutive wins in Herning, for the preliminary round and the main round of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship were the fantastic Danish fans, over 14,000 of them for all matches, which filled the Jyske Bank Boxen.

But by the 15th minute, Denmark were up already seven goals, 10:3, with right wing Emil Jakobsen outscoring Brazil by himself, with five goals in the first 19 minutes and dominating both via fast breaks and via penalties converted.

One of the surprises was that Mathias Gidsel did not score a single goal until the 22nd minute, becoming more of a “regista”, a player who guides his teammates and puts them into favourable positions, dishing four assists on Denmark’s way to a comfortable lead.

Yet the South American side, which had delivered serious shocks on their way to their maiden quarter-final in history, bit back in the end of the first half. That seven-goal lead for Denmark evaporated, and, as France have proven on Tuesday, against Egypt, things can go south fast, especially if the focus is lost.

This is why Jacobsen barked orders at his players, trying to rekindle the spark and restart their CPU, especially at the break, when Brazil were down only three goals, 15:12, with the match having the same scenario as the one against Norway, where Brazil bounced back and delivered the first shock of Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025.

But this time, the South American champions had no firepower to really mount a comeback, as their goalkeeper, Rangel Da Rosa, failed to provide the much-needed spark which he did so many times so far, losing the key battle of goalkeepers against Emil Nielsen, with the pair having the largest saving efficiency so far at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025.

With Gidsel improving to six goals and eight assists, Jakobsen finishing the match with six goals, as many as centre back Rasmus Lauge, and Nielsen saving 15 shots for another absolutely fantastic 43% saving efficiency, there was no way Denmark would suffer the same fate as Sweden or Norway against Brazil.

After scoring 15 goals in the first half, Denmark matched that total in only 19 minutes and 57 seconds in the second half. They had an 8:0 run which prevented Brazil to score for 11 minutes and 41 seconds. The most terrifying for any Denmark opponent? It seemed like business as usual. Like a nornal day at the office for this machine.

Sure, Brazil might have lamented their left back, Bryan Monte da Silva, not being at 100%, as he had only three goals from nine shots, missing the first six he tried. But, in all certainty, as soon as Denmark began pressing more, they left Brazil with no chance.

The Danish machine advances to the semi-finals for the eighth time in the last 10 editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship. They look well-rested, motivated and ready to write another page of history by becoming the first team to secure the world title four times in a row.

A date for a new final awaits on Friday, when they face either Portugal or Germany. In any case, they will be the favourites. With the strongest attack in the competition and their sixth double-digits win in seven matches, who can stop them?

hummel Player of the Match: Emil Nielsen (Denmark)