CroatiaWorld Handball Champions 2003

From correspondents in Lisbon
03feb03

CROATIA have won their first men's handball worldchampionship, beating Germany 34-31 in the final. Croatia, Olympic champions in1996 and silver medallists at the 1995 worlds, advanced to the final by beatingSpain. France, who won the world championship in2001, finished third, beating Spain 27-22. Olympicchampions Russia took fifth after beating Hungary 30-25 and Iceland toppedYugoslavia 32-27 for seventh place and a spot in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Only the top seven teams at the worlds qualify for the Olympics.