VARAZDIN: Serbia improved its chances of moving into the second round of the handball World Championships in Group D by defeating Egypt 30-22. Norway and Denmark are favorites in the group, while the third placed team also advances to the second round. Serbia now has a good chance to take that spot unless Egypt beats either Norway or Denmark. Norway beat Saudi Arabia 39-23 and Denmark defeated Brazil 40-27. In Group C, Vasily Filipov scored in the last minute to snatch a tie for Russia against world champion Germany 26-26 in the preliminary round. Nine minutes before the end of the Group C match, Germany - who took the title at the 2007 world championship at home - was leading 25-20 and dominating the match. But then Russia scored four goals in a row to reach 25-24. Germany s Pascal Hens then scored to make it 26-24, only to see Russia s Vitaly Ivanov and Filipov tie the match up. Hens scored nine goals in the match. Olympic champion France beat Romania 31-21 in Group A. Romania is a four-time world champion, but those wins date from the 1960 s, and France was visibly stronger and always in the lead. The world s best player, France s Nikola Karabatic, scored seven goals, the same as his teammate, Michael Guigou. Spain, Olympic bronze medalist from Beijing and 2005 world champion, also advanced by easily defeating Kuwait 47-17 in Group B. Poland, who took silver at the world championship in Germany, defeated Algeria, 39-22, in Group C. Sweden beat Cuba 41-14.-AP
