Defending champions defeat Spain

Spain 27:28 France (15:15)

Spain, high on confidence after their demolition of Germany, started the game stronger and scored the two first goals within a minute. France, who needed a few minutes to wake up after two easy wins, twice had to come back from two goals behind, but took the lead for the first time, six goals to five, with Daniel Narcisse‘s third goal after eight minutes. After that, the game took on a distinctive pattern, the Spaniards regaining a two-goal lead time and again, and France always fighting back to equalise. Spain, playing a strong 5-1 defence with the centre against Nikola Karabatic and with Alberto Entrerrios superb in attack, kept the initiative until the French got their incredible defence rolling and took the lead for only the second time, 14-13, with three minutes remaining of the first half, the unstoppable Narcisse then scoring his sixth for a two-goal lead, and the roles had been reversed. And just like France before, the Spaniards fought back and equalized to 15-15, in the dying seconds of the half. Spain were unable to repeat their massacre of Germany in the second half, as France built a five-goal lead in the first seven minutes, playing superbly both in defence and attack, Luc Abalo scoring a fantastic goal from the corner when playing five against six, 22-17. When they extended their lead to six goals, all odds were on them winning, comfortably, but the Spanish players did not agree with that and fought back gallantly, reducing the margin to two goals, 27-25, with six minutes left. Frantic final minutes ensued, and 30 seconds before the end, Albert Rocas cut their lead to one goal, 28-27, from the seven-metre line.