Finished fifth - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly

Al-Ahram Weekly

04-02-2025

The result marks another solid showing for the Pharaohs on the global stage, but reactions to their campaign have been mixed, with both praise and criticism directed at the team.
The championship was ultimately won by Denmark who defeated Croatia 32-26 in a commanding final to claim their fourth consecutive world title.
Spain claimed the bronze medal after edging past France in a thrilling third-place match.
Despite falling short of a medal, Egypt's strong performance in the tournament, which was held jointly by Croatia, Denmark and Norway, against the world's best teams showed they are a growing force in global handball.
Egypt began their campaign with a relatively easy 39-25 win over Argentina. Despite the comfortable margin, Egypt showed resilience, with goalkeeper Mohamed Ali making crucial saves, and key players stepping up in pivotal moments. The match was an important statement of intent, with Egypt emerging victorious.
Their second match, against Bahrain, proved to be a defining moment in their tournament. Egypt secured a 35-24 win in a thrilling encounter, with Ali again playing a pivotal role, making several crucial saves. Omar Yahia's six goals also proved instrumental in securing the victory.
In the third match Egypt overcame Croatia, the hosts, in a tough encounter 28-24, but lost to Iceland 27-24.
Then Egypt overcame Slovenia 26-25 to face Cape Verde and win 31-24.
In the knockout rounds, Egypt faced their toughest challenge, with their quarter-final match against France proving to be one of the most dramatic encounters of the tournament. Egypt fought valiantly but was narrowly defeated 34-33 in the final moment of the game, thanks to a last-second goal by Luka Karabatic. Despite the loss, Egypt's performance in the tournament was celebrated, and their fifth-place finish was seen as a major achievement for the team.
The result represented the second-best finish for Egypt in the history of their participation in the World Championships, surpassed only by their fourth-place achievement in 2001. The team's final ranking was determined after Portugal's historic semi-final qualification against Germany, which positioned Germany sixth and Egypt fifth.
Speaking after the loss to France, Egypt's Spanish head coach Juan Carlos Pastor expressed pride in his team's performance. 'This is a turning point for us. We came very close to making it to the semi-finals, and I believe we have shown the world that Egypt is ready to challenge the best teams. Our players have shown great courage and skill throughout the tournament, and I am proud of what we have achieved.'
Pastor emphasised the importance of focusing on the development of young players and improving the overall team dynamics. 'We have a solid foundation, but we must continue to improve,' he said. 'With the support of the federation and the commitment of our players, I believe we can achieve even more in the years to come.'
The Egyptian Handball Federation's President Khaled Fathi echoed the sentiment. 'Reaching fifth place in the World Championship is a huge accomplishment. We have shown that we can compete with the best, and this is only the beginning. The future of Egyptian handball is bright, and we will continue to support our players and coaching staff to reach even greater heights.'
Key player Yehia Khaled also reflected on the team's journey. 'We fought until the very end, and we are proud of how we represented Egypt. It's a great achievement, but we know that we can do even better in the future. We will keep working hard to reach the podium next time.'
Despite the strong campaign, opinions on the team's performance have been divided. Some fans and analysts criticised the team for missing out on the semi-finals, arguing that they had the talent to go further. Egypt were the first non-European team to reach the semi-finals of the World Championships when it finished fourth in 2001.
'We had the opportunity to break into the top four, but inconsistency in key moments cost us,' one analyst remarked. Others defended the team, emphasising that a fifth-place finish is still a significant achievement. 'Reaching this stage is no small feat, and the team fought hard against world-class opponents,' Fathi said
Despite the disappointment of missing out on a medal, Egypt's performance was a major step forward. The team's collective effort and determination were clear for all to see. The team finished fifth in the final standings, but it was their competitive spirit and their ability to challenge the world's best that left a lasting impression.
As for Denmark, they completed an unprecedented feature in the history of the championship, securing the title four times in a row.
The Scandinavian side extended their unbeaten streak in the competition to 37 matches, winning all the nine matches played and their otherworldly performance is reflected also in the All-Star team of the competition.
Mathias Gidsel took his third title in a row with the Scandinavian side.
Gidsel, the 2023 Male Player of the Year, secured his second MVP title in a row at this championship, as well as his second top goal scorer title in a row. He was part of the All-Star team in the last seven major international competitions, being the All-Star right back at Egypt 2021, the MVP at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as well as the All-Star right back at the EHF EURO 2022 and EHF EURO 2024.
Gidsel, who was also the top scorer of the competition, with 74 goals, was joined in the All-Star team by two Denmark teammates – goalkeeper Emil Nielsen and left back Simon Pytlick.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 6 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
Short link: