Oslo, 31 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Croatia defeated record six-time champions France 31-28 on Thursday to reach the final of the handball world championships.

Goalkeeper Dominik Kuzmanovic was the hero in front of a partisan home crowd in Zagreb with 15 saves as Croatia raced off to an 18-11 half-time lead and never looked back.

Zvonimir Srna and Martin Jelinic had seven goals each as the 2003 champions Croatia reached the final for the first time since 2009.

Their opponents on Sunday in Oslo will be top favourites Denmark or surprise team Portugal, who contest the second semi-final in the Norwegian capital on Friday.

Denmark are three-time reigning world champions and won Olympic gold last year in Paris.

The final will be the last international match for Croatian superstar and former World Handballer of the Year Domagoj Duvnjak. He was part of the 2009 team that lost the final against France, and hopes for a first big title in his farewell, having also earned Olympic bronze.

Photo: EPA