Angola – Hungary 37:36 (17:20)
The team from Africa was dancing on the field after another great victory and their impressing proof how Africa’s handball has improved. Their win over Hungary, who lost the fourth consecutive match, made Angola come off seventh, the best ever ranking for the Africans. And as they will host the African Olympic qualifying in January 2008, they still have a good chance to qualify directly for the Beijing Olympics. In this very close match the team from Hungary, managed a better start to run ahead to 10:6 on minute 15. And again outstanding playmaker Anita Görbics and her team-mates took a 20-17 lead with them into the changing room. But in the second half especially the Angolan back-court players Almeida and Kiala improved – and their goals made them draw with Hungary at 29:29. And as the previous matches, Hungary faced plenty of problems in the final phase of the match. Three consecutive goals from 33:34 to 36:34 paved Angola’s way to victory. Best scorers were Anita Görbicz (Hungary/13 goals) and Marcelina Kiala, who contributed nine goals. After 74 goals in yesterday’s match Angola vs Korea, the team from Africa again participated in a high-score -match with a total of 73 goals. While Angola were celebrating their best WCh result, Hungary was disappointed, as the Magyars had higher hopes to grab a medal in Paris.

 

Placement match 5/6
France - Korea 26:25 (12:13)
As the final whistle was blown the French players celebrated a big party on the court and they knew whom they had to thank for this victory: goalkeeper Valerie Nicolas. 30 seconds before the she kept the victory with a awesome save. As France finish fifth on home soil, they have the chance now to host one of the three qualifying tournaments for the Olympics. In this tight match - Korea was only once in the lead three goals ahead - the die was cast in the very last seconds. France lost the ball in attack, but the time was too short for Korea to finish theirs.