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Three-peat for Denmark or seventh heaven for France?

28 Jan. 2023

Three-peat for Denmark or seventh heaven for France?

The only two unbeaten teams remaining in the competition so far will clash on Sunday in the final of the 28th IHF Men's World Championship, with heavyweights France and Denmark aiming for another trophy to decorate their already impressive cabinet.

Denmark could become the first team to win three titles in a row. At the same time, France aim for a record-breaking seventh title in 28 editions, confirming their nickname of "Experts" in what looks to be one of the most competitive finals in the history of the competition.

21:00 CET Denmark vs France

A three-peat for Denmark or the seventh title for France? This will be the question on everybody's lips before the throw-off in the final act at the 28th IHF Men's World Championship, when two of the most consistent teams of the last two decades in men's handball will clash in front of a sold-out Tele2 Arena in Stockholm.

It is the second time the two powerhouses clash in the final of the IHF Men's World Championship, 12 years removed from the previous battle, which took place at Sweden 2011, when they delivered a vintage performance that saw France clinch the trophy with a 37:35 extra-time win.

From that match, France have only one player left, back Nikola Karabatić, while Denmark brought back four players, goalkeeper Niklas Landin, backs Mikkel Hansen and Rasmus Lauge Schmidt and right wing Hans Lindberg, packing their team with plenty of experience.

"Playing France works for me, especially because our place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is now secured. That is another reason why it was good for us that France won the match against Sweden. It will probably be an exciting final. Another physical match where we expect a really strong team with some of the absolute best players in the world," said Denmark's coach Nikolaj Jacobsen.

Indeed, Denmark booked their place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after France's win against Sweden. Still, that tournament is 18 months away, so the reigning world champions will now focus on the task at hand, namely the final at Poland/Sweden 2023.

The Scandinavian powerhouse has not lost a match at the IHF Men's World Championship since 2017, when they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Hungary, embarking on a record-setting 27-match unbeaten streak, the longest-ever in the history of the competition.

This will also be a battle between the top two attacks in the competition, with Denmark having scored 274 goals and France only two goals less in their first eight matches, 272, but it will also be a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games final, when France were crowned champions after a 25:23 win where they managed to contain the Denmark attack.

France will hope for more of that on Sunday as they have started an edition of the IHF Men's World Championship with eight wins in a row for the third time, having won the title in both of the previous editions, which were held on their home court in 2001 and 2017.

"Denmark are a team of the same calibre as Sweden. Therefore, it is imperative to pay attention to what they are doing. We are also a very good team and it will be a great game for the fans," says France's right back Dika Mem.

"Les Experts" still sweat over the fitness of Nikola Karabatić, who is nursing an injury and has missed several matches at Poland/Sweden 2023. However, his expertise is next to none as the left back is primed to become only the second player in history with five world titles, following in the footsteps of his former teammate Thierry Omeyer.

But they have plenty of talent in the squad, with Mem, Nedim Remili and line player Ludovic Fabregas leading the charge, while goalkeeper Vincent Gérard has provided plenty of cover in defence with a 32% overall saving efficiency throughout the tournament.

Since their first medal in 1993, France have missed the podium in only four appearances of the last 16 at the IHF Men's World Championship, winning six of the seven finals they have played in, with their only loss coming at Sweden 1993.