22nd Men's Handball World Championship | News

Statements after the final

Karolina Berg — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:46:54 +0000

Ulrik Wilbek, Danish coach: We played a fantastic tournament, and we had no defeat in normal playing time. We lost a final against the best team of the world and we proved we are on the same level as France. We were unlucky in the beginning when pour left handed player Kasper Söndergaard was injured. But we came back every time and equalized the French lead often. We are very close to France. If we would have led in the 60 first minutes it might be in a different way. France has the more experienced team – but I hope that both teams meet in more finals in future. We are proud of a fantastic tournament.

Anders Eggert, Danish player: We are very disappointed at the moment, but we will realize that we played a great tournament – and we will be back in future.

It’s France again!

Karolina Berg — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:15:36 +0000

It was most thrilling World Championships final since decades – and in the end France defended their title. The Frenchmen beat Denmark 37:35 after extra time in an incredible tensioned fight for Gold. For France it was the fourth WCh title after 1995, 2011 and 2009.

Final: France – Denmark 37:35 (31:31, 15:12)

They danced over the field after 70 highly intense minutes – and then the French players were handed over the Gold medals and the trophy in the confetti rain of Malmö. On the other hand the Danes were absolutely disappointed as they were on eye level and so close to their first ever WCh title. But they received a great applause from their supporters and Crown Prince Frederic, who attended the match – and the Silver medals.

France is not only the only team which defended their title since 1974, but they’re now already qualified for the Olympics 2012 and the World Championship 2013 in Spain.

Statements after the Bronze final

Karolina Berg — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:51:10 +0000

Valero Rivera, Spanish coach: „It was a match of two equal teams. Our attack decided the game, but I have to say that the match was imprinted by strong goalkeeper performances, too. I am absolutely satisfied with our result, as we worked hard for two years to go so far, not only during this tournament.”

Staffan Olsson, Swedish coach: „It was a tough and hard match for our team, but in the end I am proud of what we did during the game. My players fought until the very end and tried hard to win. In the end the Spaniards were the lucky team. My contract as national coach is valid until the summer and currently I don’t know if I will extend it. I will wait some weeks to decide.

Robert Arrhenius, Swedish player: We fought hard, even as it was not our match today. We are currently disappointed with the fourth place, but when we finally have realized what we achieved here we will be satisfied. Thanks to the audience for their great support in this match.

Bronze medal for Spain

Karolina Berg — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:37:23 +0000

Spain won the medal after a highly tensioned match, decided with the final whistle. It was the first medal at World Championships for the Spaniards since their title ion 2005.

Bronze final: Sweden – Spain 23:24 (11:11)
The Iberians danced on the field, as the World Championship host was highly disappointed after this Bronze final thriller. The game was absolutely close from the first to the last minute, especially thanks to great goalkeeping performances on both sides by Arpad Sterbik (Spain) and Johan Sjöstrand (Sweden). It took 28 minutes before Sweden was in lead with two goals for the first time (10:8). But this lead didn’t last long, as the Spaniards equalized within 30 seconds right before the halftime whistle.

"It was a top event“ – Closing Press Conference of the World Championship

Karolina Berg — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:17:45 +0000

The IHF and the Swedish Organizing Committee presented facts and figures about the World Championship in Sweden on behalf of the final day in a closing Press Conference.

IHF President Dr. Hassan Moustafa: “We had a very good cooperation with the Swedish organizers and we will go hand in hand with the Swedish Handball Federation in future. The World Championship was a top event and we are looking forward to the next men’s World Championship in Spain 2013. More than 430.000 spectators attended the 98 matches in Sweden, which mean 23.000 spectators more than 2009 in Croatia. Our medical commission had in total 64 doping tests during the World Championship and all 24 teams were tested. Before the competition 36 tests took place. All tests were negative, so we can say that handball is free of doping. In 2010 the IHF had 108 doping tests – all negative.”

“We have reached new records” – Interview with IHF president Dr. Hassan Moustafa

Karolina Berg — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:16:15 +0000

hanBefore the final of the World Championship, IHF President Dr. Hassan Moustafa takes his personal balance of the WCh in Sweden.

What are your general impressions of the World Championship in Sweden?

Moustafa: I give my gratitude to the Swedish organizers, they did a very good job. And this is not only my opinion, but also all officials and teams share it. I am very happy with the result in Sweden. It is always our objective to reach new records at World Championships. And we reached a new record in TV broadcasting. Never before, a World Championship has been broadcasted in so many countries. By reflecting the last ten years the increase to 160 countries is enormous. Aside the number of spectators rose compared with the last World Championship in Croatia. The arenas were full in all venues.

All Star Team of the World Championship announced

Karolina Berg — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:37:10 +0000

During the closing Press Conference the All Star Team of the World Championships in Sweden was announced. This team was composed by IHF experts. Most valuable player is the Frenchmen Nikola Karabatic.

Left wing: Harvard Tvedten (Norway)
Right wing: Vedran Zrnic (Croatia)
Pivot: Bertrand Gille (France)
Left back: Mikkel Hansen (Denmark)
Centre back: Dalibor Doder (Sweden)
Right back: Alexander Petersson (Iceland)
Goalkeeper: Thierry Omeyer (France)
Most valuable player: Nikola Karabatic (France)

Dynamite, speed and wings – the Danish team before the final

Karolina Berg — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 15:13:49 +0000

In 1967 Denmark for the one and only time before had reached the final of the World Championship against Czechoslovakia – and lost. 44 years later the “Danish Dynamite” is back in a final – and this time they’re hoping for their first Gold medal ever. Their best WCh result in the last years was the Bronze medal in 2007 in Germany – by beating France in the Bronze final. And on Sunday in Malmö those two teams meet again, but going for Gold this time.

National coach Ulrik Wilbek, who had led the Danish women’s team to the Olympics and EURO title, took over the men’s team in 2005 – and since then they climbed the ladder of success. Their highlight up to now was the EURO title in 2008 by winning the final against Croatia, at the last World Championship 2009 in Croatia they reached the semi-final but lost – against France. So maybe it’s time for revenge now, but the team has changed.

Going for Gold again – France before the final against Denmark

Karolina Berg — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 15:10:39 +0000

They continued their story: France played their sixth World Championship semi-final in a row – and they reached the WCh final in total for the fifth time in history. After winning Silver in 1993 they won all the finals they played in 1995, 2001 and 2009. France has the great chance to become the first team since 1974 (Romania) to defend their title at a World Championship. And they could remain the only team with all three major titles in the world of handball – EURO, Olympics and World Championships – at the same time.

In Sweden the team of coach Claude Onesta is still unbeaten – they only tied in their last match of the Preliminary Round against Spain. Their squad can count on three former World Handball Players of the Year – Bertrand Gille, Nikola Karabatic and Thierry Omeyer.

Danes face France in the final

Karolina Berg — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:36:43 +0000

By beating Spain in the second semi-final in Kristianstad 28:24 Denmark reached the final of a Men’s World Championship for the first time since 1967. Thanks to top scorer Mikkel Hansen and goalkeeper Niklas Landin the Danes took a victory, which looks larger than the run-down of the game was. As the Danes will play for the title against France on Sunday in Malmö, Spain face Sweden in the Bronze final

Semi-final 2:

Denmark – Spain 28:24 (12:12)