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January 29, 2025A goal scored by Luka Karabatic with 0:0.3 seconds left on the clock saw France defeat Egypt 34:33 in their quarter-final clash of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship in Zagreb.
With their win, France have recorded their sixth, successive top four world championship ranking (2015: 1st, 2017: 1st, 2019: 3rd, 2021: 4th, 2023: 2nd), continuing their extraordinary sequence of that spot in the 20th century which has seen them miss it just once (2013, 6th).
For Egypt, it is their fourth, successive top eight finish (2019: 8th, 2021: 7th, 2023: 7th) and they will now have to wait a further two years to break that rank and look to at least equal their highest-ever rank in 2001 (4th).
QUARTER-FINALS
France vs Egypt 34:33 (14:10)
Guillaume Gille’s France recorded their seventh victory in a row at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship and now find themselves once again in the last four of a major championship, going for yet another medal.
Gille welcomed back Ludovic Fabregas after the line player returned from illness, replacing Romain Lagarde, while Juan Carlos Pastor welcomed back Ahmed Hesham – complete with heavy strapping on his leg – as well as Ahmed Adel.
With four of the Egyptian players – Yahia Omar, Mohammad Sanad, Seif Elderaa and Ahmed Hesham all playing their club handball in France, both sides knew a lot about each-others’ strengths and weaknesses.
After finding themselves 4:1 down (6th minute), Egypt eventually found their rhythm and (5:5, 14th minute) and they proceeded to trade blows throughout the half until five minutes from the end when Egypt stopped scoring (25th minute, 14:14) and France capitalised to take a four-goal lead.
Remi Desbonnet in the France goal did his bit too, making seven saves, cheered by the France supporters in the arena, but who were ultimately outnumbered by the remaining home fans from Croatia’s earlier game, who were supporting the African champions.
France stretched their lead to five goals early in the second half but Egypt fought back, forcing France to redesign their defence with a seven-on-six attack used throughout most of the second half, eventually making it all-square 24:24 in the 43rd minute as the pair of Egyptian goalkeepers played their part.
A cheer from the France bench when a Julien Bos strike made it two goals difference (27:25, 48th minute) suggested France had found their breathing room, but it went down to the wire in quite possibly the tightest finish in terms of timing in a world championship quarter-final.
As Hesham evened it up (32:32) from long distance with just over a minute remaining, Nedim Remili broke though moments later to put his side in front (33:32) with 30 seconds remaining. After a defensive struggle delayed Egypt’s reply, Yahia Omar finally struck through with an expert strike bouncing on the line and in, but in a super-focused presence of mind, Desbonnet gathered the ball which had bulged his goal net, scooped it up, threw it to Karabatic for the restart and his bullet strike – after video replay – was the winner.
hummel Player of the Match: Seif Elderaa (Egypt)