France edge Sweden to retain handball crown

Defending men’s handball champions France were pushed all the way in a gripping Olympic final on Sunday but retained their crown, edging a tight contest to beat unfancied Sweden 22-21. After their victory in Beijing in 2008, the powerful French side went on to become the first men’s team in history to hold the Olympic, world and European titles at the same time. But Claude Onesta’s side also had something to prove after a disappointing campaign at January’s European championships in Serbia, where they failed to reach the semi-finals. “We were superb. The players were outstanding and the fans incredible. What a magnificent game, atmosphere and occasion,” said Onesta. “It is something I will never forget for the rest of my life. To win it four years ago was fantastic but to do it in London in the next Olympics was even better.” In a cagey opening at the Basketball Arena, the score was 3-3 in the 11th minute, with goalkeeper Johan Sjostrand impressing in the Swedish goal and neither side able to impose themselves on the contest. The French team led 10-8 at the break but the tenacious Swedes pulled one back seconds after the restart. Midway through the second half France still led by the narrowest of margins but with the noisy crowd belting out La Marseillaise, the Scandinavians crucially failed to get back on level terms, with French goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer making some vital saves. From:Gulftoday