Handball World Cup: Lauge executioner of the Blues, helpless French goalkeepers, our Tops and Flops from France-Denmark

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• The complete schedule and results of the Handball World Cup

• The 2023 Handball World Cup rankings

The Executioner Rasmus Lauge Schmidt

That it was better for France to see Rasmus Lauge Schmidt sitting on the bench for the whole first period.

And that it was painful to see him get out of it in the second half.

In 26 minutes at times unreal, the rear who plays in the Hungarian club Veszprem succeeded in scoring 10 goals (out of 11 attempts).

Without forgetting an assist and an interception.

Which means he was simply involved in 75% of his team's goals in the second half.

Great art.

French resilience

Throughout the competition, the French team had to deal with injuries, weak times during their matches, delays of a few goals too… But they never gave up.

Like on this final.

When Denmark took a five-point lead after a quarter of an hour of play, the Blues knew how to patiently catch up to reach their locker room only one unit behind (15-16).

And at the end of the match, they managed to make the Scandinavians doubt one last time by returning to 29-31 three minutes from the end.

Without that being enough.

The first Danish quarter of an hour

If Denmark made handball history this Sunday by being the first team to win three consecutive world titles – something even the glorious French Experts had failed to achieve – it is no coincidence.

But to the phenomenal talent of its players.

Thus, the first quarter of an hour of this final will remain an absolute masterpiece of what Mathias Gidsel and his little comrades are capable of achieving.

Yet renowned for its hermetic side, the French defense took on water from all sides to concede 12 goals in 15 minutes.

Including five from a demonic Simon Pytlick, less prominent thereafter.

Read alsoWorld Handball Championship: Denmark, one more step above the Blues

FLOPS

Pierced French goalkeepers

This time, there was not one to catch up with the other.

Excellent in most of the matches played during this World Cup, Vincent Gérard had gone through only once so far, in the quarter-finals against Germany.

Moment ideally chosen by Rémi Desbonnet to get out of his box.

Alas, on this final, one and the other were powerless with only 7 stops in all and for all.

Or one less than the only Niklas Landin.

Now, it's hard to overwhelm them given their competition...

Mikkel Hansen to absent subscribers

At 34, Mikkel Hansen remains a formidable player, but who is beginning to feel the weight of the years.

Like so many before him.

On this final, although holder, he will never have posed on the Scandinavian game, being satisfied with a small goal on a seven-meter throw and two assists, for a loss of ball.

Cruel for him was the second period of Lauge, which will have brought so much more to his team.