The Danish Kings Have Worn Their Crowns Continuously Since 2019
Before 2019, Denmark had never held the title of world champions, facing losses in the final and semi-finals. However, that year in Herning, they donned the crown for the first time and haven’t looked back since.
The remarkable handball team from northern Europe has reclaimed its title as the best in the world, achieving their fourth consecutive World Championship victory with an unmatched display of skill—defeating Croatia 32:26 in the grand final in Berum.
Nikolaj Jakobsen’s team demonstrated their dominance by winning all but two of their matches by a margin of ten points or more—excluding the final and a less critical game against the Czech Republic (28:22).
Over the course of nine matches during the World Cup, Matthias Gidsel, Simon Pitlik, and their teammates scored a remarkable 330 goals while conceding only 217.
Notably, Denmark’s last defeat in the World Championships dates back to the 2017 round against Hungary.
Croatia held their ground in the first half, but it was evident that it was only a matter of time before the Danish team began to overpower their opponents.
Gidsel was unstoppable, netting 11 goals in total, while Emil Jakobsen added five goals, and both Emil Madsen and Pitlik contributed four each. With 20 minutes remaining, Denmark was already ahead by ten points (24:14), effectively sealing the match.
Emil Nilsen also performed admirably for the winning team, achieving 13 saves, while Ivan Martinović scored six goals for Croatia.
In addition to being formidable champions, the Danes exhibited great sportsmanship at the end of the final. They allowed Domagoj Duvnjak to score his final goal for Croatia, acknowledging his retirement from the national team. Before their celebratory festivities, they took a moment to congratulate him for his remarkable contributions to handball.
Denmark’s dominance continues unabated, and regardless of the outcomes in the suburbs of Oslo, Croatia will cherish their January experience, highlighting their remarkable journey. Incidentally, this was their fifth appearance in a World Cup final, culminating in their fourth defeat.
Earlier today, France claimed third place in a thrilling match, defeating the Cinderella story of the tournament, Portugal, with a score of 35:34.
The global handball community will next have the opportunity to challenge Denmark’s supremacy in two years at the World Cup in Germany.
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