Denmark national handball team

This article is about the men's handball team. For the women's national team, see Denmark women's national handball team.

Denmark
Information
Association	Danish Handball Association
Coach	Ulrik Wilbek
Most caps	Lars Christiansen (272)
Most goals	Lars Christiansen (1343)
Colours
Home Away
Results
Summer Olympics
Appearances	5 (First in 1972)
Best result	4th, 1984
World Championship
Appearances	18 (First in 1938)
Best result	2nd, 1967 & 2011
European Championship
Appearances	9 (First in 1994)
Best result	1st, 2008
Infobox last updated on: Unknown.

The Denmark national handball team is the national handball team of Denmark. Controlled by the Danish Handball Association it represents Denmark in international matches.

In 2008 they won their first, and as of January 2011 only Gold medal ever, when they became European Champions, beating Croatia 24-20 in the final. They held the European title up until The 2010 EHF European Men's Handball Championship where France won their second European Title.

History

Handball is one of the most popular pastimes in Denmark, only exceeded by e.g. football and badminton. At the end of 2003 the Danish Handball Association had more than 146.000 active and passive members.

2007 World Championship

In 2007 Denmark participated in the World Championship in Germany, where they were pitted in Group E against Angola, Hungary and their neighbors to the north Norway. Denmark finished second in their group following victories against Angola and Norway. In the main round the team faced Croatia, Czech Republic, Russia, Hungary and defending champions Spain.

Despite an initial defeat against Croatia, the team advanced by defeating their last three opponents. In the quartefinal Iceland was defeated by the narrowest of margins, 42-41. In the semifinal Denmark lost to Poland 36-33 and ended up in the bronze match against France where they won 34-27 thus placing third.

2008 European Championship

After finishing 3rd in three consecutive European Championships, the Danish team won gold at the 2008 European Men's Handball Championship, which took place in neighboring Norway. The team lost only one match on the way to the gold, that being a fiercely contested derby against hosts Norway. The Danish team defeated Croatia 24-20 in the final, after inching out Germany in the semis. Keeper Kasper Hvidt and winger Lars Christiansen were important factors in the Danish campaign, both being selected for the tournament all-star team and Lars Christiansen also finishing as shared top goalscorer.

2011 World Championship

At The 2011 World Men's Handball Championship, after winning 9 matches in a row, Denmark reached the final beating Spain 28:24 in the semi-final. This was the first time in over 44 years, that the Denmark National Handball Team reached a World Championship final. In the final, Denmark lost against France 35:37 in overtime. France is therefore still the current reigning European Champions, Olympic Champions and also double World Champions.

Performance timeline

World Championships 1938 – 4th 1954 – 5th 1958 – 4th 1961 – 5th 1964 – 7th 1967 – 2nd 1970 – 4th 1974 – 8th 1978 – 4th 1982 – 4th 1986 – 8th 1990 – Did not participate 1993 – 9th 1995 – 19th 1997 – Did not participate 1999 – 9th 2001 – Did not participate 2003 – 9th 2005 – 13th 2007 – 3rd 2009 – 4th 2011 – 2nd

European Championships 1994 – 4th 1996 – 12th 1998 – Did not participate 2000 – 10th 2002 – 3rd 2004 – 3rd 2006 – 3rd 2008 – 1st 2010 – 5th 2012 – Qualified

Olympic games 1972 – 13th 1976 – 8th 1980 – 9th 1984 – 4th 1988 – Did not participate 1992 – Did not participate 1996 – Did not participate 2000 – Did not participate 2004 – Did not participate 2008 – 7th 2012 – Pending

The team did not participate in the 1936 field handball tournament at the Olympics, but lost at the 1952 Olympics in a demonstration match against Sweden.

Current squad

The Danish international squad as of January 6, 2011.^[1]

No.	Player	Date of birth	Caps	Goals	Club
1	Niklas Landin Jakobsen (GK)	19 December 1988 (1988-12-19) (age 22)	38	0	Bjerringbro-Silkeborg
2	Thomas Mogensen	30 January 1983 (1983-01-30) (age 28)	64	152	SG Flensburg-Handewitt
3	Mads Christiansen	3 May 1986 (1986-05-03) (age 25)	17	40	AaB Håndbold
4	Lasse Boesen	18 September 1979 (1979-09-18) (age 32)	133	369	SG Flensburg-Handewitt
9	Lars Christiansen	18 April 1972 (1972-04-18) (age 39)	309	1426	KIF Kolding
11	Anders Eggert	14 May 1982 (1982-05-14) (age 29)	62	235	SG Flensburg-Handewitt
12	Sørenn Rasmussen (GK)	12 August 1976 (1976-08-12) (age 35)	21	0	SG Flensburg-Handewitt
13	Bo Spellerberg	24 July 1979 (1979-07-24) (age 32)	168	254	KIF Kolding
14	Michael V. Knudsen	4 September 1978 (1978-09-04) (age 33)	212	709	SG Flensburg-Handewitt
15	Jesper Nøddesbo	23 October 1980 (1980-10-23) (age 31)	117	256	FC Barcelona
17	Lasse Svan Hansen	31 August 1983 (1983-08-31) (age 28)	53	106	SG Flensburg-Handewitt
18	Hans Lindberg	1 August 1981 (1981-08-01) (age 30)	117	285	HSV Hamburg
19	René Toft Hansen	11 January 1984 (1984-01-11) (age 27)	21	34	AG København
22	Kasper Søndergaard	9 June 1981 (1981-06-09) (age 30)	76	174	KIF Kolding
24	Mikkel Hansen	22 October 1987 (1987-10-22) (age 24)	51	218	AG København
26	Kasper Nielsen	9 June 1975 (1975-06-09) (age 36)	143	283	Bjerringbro-Silkeborg

References

1. ^ http://www.dhf.dk/composite-789.htm

External links

• The Danish Handball Association (Danish)