It is rare in any sport that referees can decide a game like in handball. The victims tonight were the Croatian handball players, who were practically robbed of the chance to compete with France for the semi-finals of the 26th World Championship.
The Danish referees judged a non-existent penetration by Igor Karačić a minute and a half before the end and practically gifted the victory to Germany (22:21).
And it wasn't the only questionable decision, because the Germans often defended from the top six, and the judges didn't want to see that... That's why in group 1 everything is settled, France and Germany are going to fight for medals.
Norway defeated Sweden 30:27, but they will wait until the last match of group 2 in Herning.
The "Vikings" could take a big step towards the semi-finals, because they needed a five-goal victory to depend only on themselves, and they led 22:15 in the 37th minute.
In this way, they will have to defeat Hungary, but also hope that the "three crowns" selection will not defeat the Danes by three or four points in the last round, because in that case they would be the worst in the round, because they lost 30 to one of the WC hosts: 26.
Magnus Jendal was the most effective with 11 goals, and Sander Sagosen scored seven and distributed five assists. In the defeated team, the best players were Hampus Vane and Andreas Nilson with five goals each.
Denmark, on the other hand, after its seventh triumph, is practically in the semi-finals, and only a defeat of at least five goals against Sweden would knock it out...
Group 1 (Cologne)
Croatia - Germany 22:21 - 11:11
Spain - Brazil 36:24 - 19:13
Table: Germany, France 7, Spain, Croatia 4, Brazil 2, Iceland 0
Wednesday
Brazil - Iceland (15.30)
France - Croatia (18)
Germany - Spain (20.30)
Group 2 (Herning)
Sweden - Norway 27:30 - 14:17
Egypt - Denmark 20:26 - 7:9
Table: Denmark 8, Sweden, Norway 6, Hungary 3, Egypt 1, Tunisia 0
Wednesday
Tunisia - Egypt (15.30)
Norway - Hungary (18)
Denmark - Sweden (20.30)
Bonus video:
