Denmark make history with fourth straight men’s handball world title

Top favourites Denmark made men’s handball history when they claimed an unprecedented fourth world title in a row with a 32-26 victory over Croatia on Sunday.

Tournament MVP Mathias Gidsel led the way with 10 goals and goalkeeper Emil Nielsen made some crucial saves en route to victory in Oslo for the Olympic champions.

The 2003 champions Croatia tried an aggressive approach which rattled the Danes early on but the rough play, which saw tempers flare on several occasions, also led to a red card for Marko Mamic.

Denmark led 16-12 at the half and the game was effectively over as a contest when Denmark raised the lead to seven goals, as the tiring Croats found no way back into the game and the Danes lifted the trophy as in 2019, 2021 and 2023.

The result means that Croatia great Domagoj Duvnjak’s international career ended unfulfilled with three silvers from worlds and Euros and an Olympic bronze.

Duvnjak featured only briefly in the final due to an injury he sustained in the preliminary round. The former World Handballer of the Year will continue playing for his German club THW Kiel.

Record six-time champions France finished third by edging surprise team Portugal, who had ousted former champions and Olympic silver medallists Germany in the quarter-finals, 35-34.