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History made! Denmark three-peat as World Champs
Christian Wenande
January 30th, 2023
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Unlikely heroes help propel Denmark past France to become first country to win three World Championships in a row
World Champs in 2019, 2021 and now 2023 (photo: screenshot)
It’s ‘D ‘for Denmark, for Domination … for Dynasty.
The Danes made handball history tonight by becoming the first country to win three consecutive World Championship titles.
Buoyed by a boisterous crowd in Stockholm, Denmark beat France 34-29 in a nervy game that wasn’t decided until the final minutes.
How’s this for a stat: Denmark hasn’t lost a game at the Worlds since Nikolaj Jacobsen became coach – that’s 28 games in a row!
“I can’t believe it. I’m super proud. We played a fantastic tournament. We needed a bit of help today and the guys who came off the bench today decided the game,” said an emotional Jacobsen.
READ ALSO: Denmark demolishes Hungary and sets new record
Lauge’s masterpiece
Indeed. For once, the Danes didn’t ride to victory on the coattails of Mikkel Hansen or Niklas Landin. Hansen only scored one goal tonight.
Young guns Simon Pytlick and Mathias Gidsel got Denmark going but it was the unlikely trio of reserves – Rasmus Lauge, Mads Mensah and Kevin Møller – who came through in the second half with France breathing down Denmark’s necks.
Møller made some key saves with Landin not at his best and Mensah, who had scored just one goal in the tournament before the final, hammered home two rockets to keep the French at bay.
But it was Lauge who deserves the biggest plaudits tonight, conjuring up what must be one of the best second halves in handball history.
Having almost been sent home with an injury just days ago, Lauge scored eight of his ten goals after the break, including seven of Denmark’s final 13 goals.
“I’ve never seen such a dominant performance in a World Championship final,” said DR’s handball expert, Lars Krogh Jeppesen.
Pancakes at City Hall
Pytlick and and Gidsel both made the Team of the Tournament, with the latter finishing up as top goal scorer and MVP.
The team will celebrate in Stockholm tonight, but fly to Copenhagen tomorrow afternoon to be hailed at City Hall … and served pancakes as tradition dictates.
Fans will be able to cheer them on in front of City Hall at 17:05.
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