Denmark one small step away from semi-finals
Denmark one small step away from semi-finalsSat Jan 22 2011
The favoured teams have made their way in the evening Main Round games of Match Day 1. Denmark took a close and thrilling victory against Poland, as France overran Hungary. Both teams took the lead in their group remaining unbeaten. For Denmark it was the sixth straight victory.
Group I:
After the first Match Day France and Spain (each 5:1 points) lead the ranking ahead of Iceland (4:2), Germany, Hungary (each 2:4) and Norway (0:6).
France – Hungary 37:24 (18:13)
Clear victory for the reigning champion, but it took some time before the French team had found their pace. Hungary dominated the starting period thanks to the goals of Lajos Mocsai and led 9:7, as the French defense couldn’t stop them. The key factor for the rest of the match was the change of goalkeepers in the French team: Daoude Karaboue replaced Thierry Omeyer, and this change brought more concentration and stability to the French defense. The engine of the reigning champion had started and they extended the lead easily to 18:13 at the break, as the number of Hungarian mistakes arose. In the second half France played as cold as ice, as they nearly caused no mistakes and overran the Magyars with their power and physical strength. Hungary didn’t find any means to break the defense wall and France extended the lead to 27:17 in minute 45 to 32:20 in minute 53 to the final score of 37:24 – and they didn’t have to give all they can to reach this result.
Group II:
Denmark throne ahead of the rest with 6:0 points, ahead of Sweden (4:2), Croatia (3:3), Argentina and Poland (each 2:4) and Serbia (1:5). The Danes need only one single point from the match against Argentina.
Denmark – Poland 28:27 (15:9)
What a thrilling final of a match, which seemed to be decided at the break: Denmark was the lucky winner of a high tensioned match – and remain the only team in this WCH, which has won all their current six matches. With 6:0 Main Round points the Danes are only one victory away from the semi-finals. Poland has 2:4 points on their account and will have to face Serbia and Croatia. After the 2:0 Poland didn’t hit the back of the net for nearly ten minutes – and the reason was obvious: Danish World class goalkeeper Niklas Landin, who saved 15 shots only in the first half. He closed the gate completely and gave his team chances to start their counter attack play. And despite an early Polish time-out Denmark scored a 7:0 series to 7:2. And they kept the lead as the Polish attack still was weak, Landin became stronger and the Danish wing players Hans Lindbergh and Lars Christiansen took their chances. And as Mikkel “TNT” Hansen started his hammers the distance was seven goals at the break. And it could have been even bigger if the Polish goalkeeper Slawomir Szmal wouldn’t have had a strong day. The second half was absolutely different. As the Polish attack improved the Danes had problems in scoring. Poland reduced the gap minute by minute: 11:15, 16:20 and 21:24 in minute 50. Seven minutes before the end it was only 25:23 for the Danes – and the Poles were close to turn the game completely thanks to the five goals of Mariusz Jurkiewicz after the break. But two goals of Hans Lindbergh secured the narrow victory for the Danes, attended by 11.114 spectators. Top scorers were Lindberg, Tluchynski and Jurkiewicz (Poland), with each six goals.
President’s Cup, group II:
Bahrain – Brazil 30:37 (15:17)
WCh debutant Bahrain will meet Australia in the match 23/24 on Sunday in Malmö, as Brazil will have a South American duel for the places 21 and 22 against Chile. Brazil was in lead all the match, as Bahrain couldn’t continue their match play they had shown against Egypt. But they were strong enough to score the equalizer after the break to the 19:19, before Brazil pre-decisively extended the lead to 27:22. At least the game was decided at the score of 33:26 in minute 55.
The fixtures of the placement matches:
13/14: Egypt – Korea
15/16 Algeria – Japan
17/18: Slovakia – Austria
19/20: Romania – Tunisia
21/22: Brazil – Chile
23/24: Australia - Bahrain
