(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Defending champions Spain clinched a thrilling last-minute 25-24 win over Denmark to set up a semi-final clash with France in the 24th Men's Handball World Championship.
In the second match yesterday at Lusail Multipurpose Hall, the Iberians scored with just a few seconds left for the hooter against the former runners-up to set up a last-four clash with France.
A goal from Spanish playmaker Joan Canellas with two seconds left on the clock decided the outcome of the match which had been equal throughout the 60 minutes.
At the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena in Al Sadd, Olympic and European champions France kept themselves in the hunt for a triple crown, defeating Slovenia 32-23.
France outplayed the Slovenians, fourth at the last World Championship in Spain in 2013, to reach the last-four stage.
Earlier at the Al Sadd venue, Poland reached the semi-final beating Croatia 24-22 in another thrilling encounter.
Croatia, bronze medallists from the last World Championship, showed good defence in the first 15 minutes of the game.
That was enough for an early 4-2 lead, despite the fact that the most efficient Croatian star in the backline, Domagoj Duvnjak, couldn't find his rhythm as in the previous match against Brazil.
However, Polish Coach Michael Biegler found a way to solve his players' lack of ideas in attack. The Poles made an impressive 5-1 comeback, led by right-back Andrzej Rojewski, right after Biegler's timeout after 14 minutes.
The Polish boys marched to a 9-6 in the 22nd minute when Croatian coach Slavko Goluza brought in young left-back Ivan Sliskovic. He took advantage of his chance and brought a new dose of energy to his team-mates in the offensive actions.
Croatia levelled 10-10 two minutes before the buzzer but the finish was controlled by the Wisla Plock duo Kamil Syprzak and Mariusz Jurkiewicz, who put Poland two goals up to 12-10.
The Croatian stars Duvnjak, Vori and others took the half-time advice of Goluza seriously, providing a furious 10 minutes at the beginning of the second half for their fans. Domagoj Duvnjak
netted four goals in a row to conclude a 6:1 series of his team, which put Croatia three goals ahead (16-13).
The guy who pulled out Poland from the crisis was left-back Piotr Chrapkowski with two goals. After he scored the 18-18 equaliser in the 49th minute, Kamil Syprzak brought the lead to the "Eagles".
He also scored the 23-22 lead of his team exactly three minutes before the final whistle.
The real hero of the clash became goalkeeper Slawomir Szmal, who saved two shots of Duvnjak and Strlek, providing the chance for Mariusz Jurkiewicz (top-scorer with 6 goals) to ensure the first semi-final of his team since the World Championship in Croatia in 2009.
The top-scorers for Croatia were Marko Kopljar and Domagoj Duvnjak with five goals each.
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