Though hosts Tunisia lost a grand opportunity to win the world handball championship, it became only the second Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals. Inas Mazhar reports from Tunis More than 14,000 spectators at the Salle Omnisports 7 Novembre des Radés experienced a top-level display as Spain won the World Handball Championship for the first time. IHF President Hassan Mustafa presented the cup to captain Mateo Garralda of Spain as Iñaki Urdangarin, a former international and now duke of Mallorca since his marriage to Princess Christina of Spain, celebrated with his ex-colleagues the first title for the southern Europeans. Urdangarin retired following the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. In a one-sided final, Spain prevailed against titleholder Croatia 40-34. Half time was 21-13 in Spain's favour. It was 5-5 after nine minutes, but that would be as close as Croatia, the Athens Olympic champions, would get. Before the WC final, statistics suggested a Croatian victory. In the preliminary round, Croatia had prevailed against Spain 33-31. Also in earlier head-to-heads, Croatia had always come out on top -- 30-22 in the preliminary round of the Olympic Games, 30-29 in the preliminary round of the 2004 European championship and 39-37 after the play-off in the semi-final of the 2003 WC. But in Tunisia the tide had turned. As for the hosts, their championship run was no less impressive. They qualified for the second round, then outclassed Russia, Slovenia and Greece. Before reaching the semi-finals Tunisia had remained the only unbeaten team in the tournament. By then, it had played eight matches, won six and drawn two. In the end, though, they had to settle for fourth place against the French who hung on for dear life. However, Tunisia's fourth place finish was the best by a non-European team, and the best since Egypt came fourth in the 2001 WC in France. Tunisia's achievement was the culmination of a drive that began in April when they were runners-up to Egypt at the African championship in Cairo. After the Tunisians returned home, they recruited a new head coach, Bosnian Hassan Afanditch. After that, there was no looking back. In the semi-final against FranceTunisia dominated almost the entire first half, leading 11-4. But by the final whistle, the North Africans had run out of steam, losing by the slimmest of margins 25-24. Tunisia also fell prey during the final stage to emotions: Issam Tej (third suspension) and Wissem Hmam (criticism of referees) received red cards. In the battle for fifth place Serbia- Montenegro soared to a decisive 37-26 victory over Greece. Olympic bronze medallist Russia lost 30--27 to Norway, one of the tournament's aspiring sides which finished seventh, its best ranking since ranking six and seven at the 1958 and 1961 World Championships. Only after overtime did Germany beat the Czech Republic 39- 34. Right wing Johan Pettersson and pivot Marcus Ahlm led Sweden to a 32-29 win against Slovenia and to finish 11th. Wissem Hmam of Tunisia secured the prestigious title of top goal scorer with 81 goals netted, ahead of Russian Eduard Kokcharov (80 goals). The 23-year-old Hmam was also picked for the all- star team as a left back-court player with compatriot left winger Kokcharov. The other all-star team members are goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik (SerbiaMontenegro), right winger Mirza Dzomba (Croatia), right back-court player Mataeo Garralda (Spain), centre player Ivano Balic (Croatia) and pivot David Juricek (Czech Republic). As at the Olympic Games and the 2004 European Championship, Balic was selected MVP. The French prepared a heart-warming farewell to its injured star Jackson Richardson. The outstanding athlete of the world champions in 1995 and 2001 Richardson is ending abandon his international career as well as pivot Guéric Kervadec and right-winger Grégory Anquetil. On the fringes of the championship, the International Handball Federation (IHF) and the German Handball Federation (DHB) fixed the date for the charity match between the world select and Germany. All proceeds will go to disaster relief funds for the flood victims in Asia. The event is to take place on 21 March at the Kölnarena in Cologne, Germany. Organisers expect up to 20,000 spectators.
