Reigning champions Denmark were never really challenged when they won their record fourth successive World Cup title by beating Croatia 32-26 in a final in which Nikolaj Jacobsens team were in solid control throughout the match.
The Danish national handball team are completely untouchable at the top of the world these years.
After the convincing Olympic triumph this summer, the team followed up by securing the fourth successive World Cup title in superb fashion.
In the final in Oslo, Croatia was defeated 32-26, and coach Nikolaj Jacobsen has now never tried to lose a World Cup match in four final tournaments.
From the get-go, Croatia settled in with a 5-1 defence, which tried to limit Denmark’s highly effective back line, as Marko Mamić tried to disrupt the passes between Mathias Gidsel, Rasmus Lauge and Simon Pytlick.
This opened up more space on the wings for Niklas Kirkelokke and Emil Jakobsen who for the greater periods of the match duly delivered.
Emil Nielsen, Denmark’s goalkeeper, with the best efficiency in the competition so far, also showed his immense potential again in the match and he finished the first half with nine saves for a fantastic 43% efficiency as Denmark headed for the interval with a 16-12 lead.
From the start of the second half suspensions were to prove costly for Croatia as Denmark jumped to a 24-14 lead, with 20 minutes to go and the vocal Croatia fans were reduced to silence.
Croatia did their best to limit the damage. They reduced the deficit to 23-28, with six minutes to go. But it was too little too late against a Danish side who cruised to a 32-26 win, celebrating wildly after the final whistle.
With their ninth win in a row at the tournament, Denmark secured their fourth consecutive title at the World Cup, something which has never been done before this level.
