Handball World Championship: France beat Qatar to register record-breaking title win
Last Updated: 01/02/15 8:22pm
France won a record-breaking fifth handball world title by defeating Qatar 25-22 on Sunday.
France added their latest championship to their European and Olympic titles after defeating the surprising finalists on their own turf.
Nikola Karabatic scored three early goals for the French and although the host nation threatened a late comeback they were ultimately unable to do so.
Karabatic followed his own three strikes with a pair of assists and drew a foul that saw Hassan Mabrouk sin-binned.
I am happy I could win with this team, these guys are amazing, all the players give all they can for the team.
Thierry Omeyer
After the Serbia-born star's fourth he was sin-binned for a couple of minutes but returned with a vengeance to net his fifth.
Against the run of play, Qatar's Rafael Capote scored four goals from four attempts to leave his side trailing 14-11 at the break despite France's domination.
Qatar raced back into the game after the restart with Capote, tournament top scorer Zarko Markovic and Borja Vidal keeping them within a goal of the French. France goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer, on numerous occasions, kept his side in front.
Just as the host nation sensed an incredible comeback, France's Valentin Porte struck but Capote made it 24-22 with six minutes left. Abdulla Al-Karbi hit the post a minute later and Qatar didn't have another chance to equalise, and Daniel Narcisse rounded off France's win.
France's Omeyer, who won his fourth world title, said: "I am happy I could win with this team, these guys are amazing, all the players give all they can for the team.
"We played a fantastic tournament and we deserve this victory. It's very, very hard to stay at this level but we have a very, very strong team, very good guys."
Earlier Poland beat 29-28 Spain in overtime to claim third place.
