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Sweden can become handball world champions for the first time since 1999
Photo:
Petr David Josek / dpa
For the first time since the 2001 tournament, Sweden is back in the final of a handball world championship.
At that time they lost in the final in France against the French after extra time.
20 years later in Cairo, coach Glenn Solberg's team won 32:26 (16:13) against France and has now secured the silver medal.
In the final on Sunday (5.30 p.m.; TV: Eurosport), Sweden will meet either Spain or Denmark, who will meet in the evening.
France, who had won nine of the last ten games against Sweden before this game, will play for third place and thus bronze on Saturday.
Sweden was the team that determined the game from kick-off, the outsider scored more goals, especially through fast counter-attacks.
These quick attacks were initiated again and again by goalkeeper Andreas Palicka, who staged his teammates with his wide passes over almost the entire field.
Since Palicka also repeatedly showed remarkable parades in addition to his contribution to the offensive, he was consequently voted player of the game immediately after the game.
The best shooter for Sweden was Hampus Wanne from the German runner-up SG Flensburg-Handewitt with eleven goals.
The French, who had to do without the injured Luka Karabatic, were only briefly equal once in the first half.
Sweden quickly led by two goals.
Only when the score was 5: 3 did the French get better into the game for a short time.
The meanwhile 7: 6 lead was the only France in the entire game.
At halftime it was 16:13.
In the second half, the favorite came up again at the beginning, shortened to 16:17.
Two quick goals from Wanne restored the three-goal lead.
As a result, the record European champion no longer got into trouble.
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svs / dpa / sid