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Latest update: 02/02/2009
- handball - Olympic Games
France wins men's world championship
Olympic champions France won the men's world handball championship on Sunday, defeating Croatia 24-19 to secure the country's third world title following victories in both 1995 and 2001.
AFP - Olympic champions France defeated Croatia 24-19 to win the men's world handball championship on Sunday.
It's the third world title for France, following victories in 1995 and 2001.
Croatia, cheered by some 15,000 fans in the Zagreb Arena, ended the first half with a 12-11 lead.
The second half continued in the same way until the 53rd minute when the match turned following a Nikola Karabatic hit for a 20-18 lead for the French.
Croatia were unable to find a way back while French goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer stood firm.
They went scoreless for 10 minutes while the French, notably through their best player Michael Guigou who was on target ten times, gradually increased their lead.
"I was hoping that we would play against Croatia so that we could get revenge for the defeat we suffered against them in the group. That match did not show the strengths of our squad," said French player Jerome Fernandez.
Croatia had enjoyed a 22-19 against France in Group One last Tuesday.
"Croatia had the advantage of home ground, but today we won the title thanks to our excellent defence," added Fernandez.
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Comments (6)
congratulation
the arbitror was corrupter and french took itself 2 minutes !!!!!!(stupid and inequitable) even critized by the public during every final she knew how to be imperative ! If croatian have to win this final they would not have deserve !! French team are the best team of the tournament and make the show( abalo , narcise, karabatic , fernandez)and congratulations at french team for doubled!!! you're the best (sorry i'm a german)
It's a shame
It's a shame that handball is not popular in France.
In croatia all the people were behind their team, in France few people is aware that France is world champion.
People prefer to watch french football ligue 1, it's pittyful.
Congratulations
It was real final match. Both teams were better than other teams on tournament. Maybe we will not be able to see such great match soon. I think all event around this tournament was great for handball at all.
Congratulations to French team !
I was not aware that
croatians were such bad losers
Croatia-France
No, you French winn because you play dirty and because of corrupted Dannish judges. You don't deserve gold medal, but we neither weren9t play at our most strenght. CRO
Regards to all good people
I think anyone who loves sports would now be proud of events in Croatia.
but also disappointed because it is obvious that today france should win, definitely unsport trial
greeting from the sunniest island in the world, island Hvar