After a unified Korean women's ice-hockey team became a feature of last year's Winter Olympics, a men's team of North and South Korean players is an unknown factor for Thursday's opening game of the world handball championships. A unified Korean team, with four players from the communism-ruled North added to the 16-strong squad of South Korea players, face Germany, the co-hosts alongside Denmark, when the 2019 World Men's Handball Championships opens in Berlin on Thursday. The unified Korean women's ice hockey team was a colourful attraction at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics despite losing all their games and finishing last. Likewise, the men's handball team is not expected to survive the group stages at the 2019 finals, contested by 24 teams. However, the significance of a unified team playing in Germany's capital, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall this November, is not lost on the Koreans. "With the fall of the Wall, one went on the path of … [Read more...] about Unified Korea men’s handball team keep rivals guessing at world champs
Handball world champs
(Updated 6) Russia 2018, Day 32: Pussy Riot charged in protest at World Cup final
The Latest on Sunday at the World Cup (all times local): 1:43 a.m. Authorities in Moscow have charged members of the punk protest group Pussy Riot with "violation of spectators' rights" and illegally wearing police symbols when they ran onto the field during the World Cup final. The Interfax news agency reported late Sunday that the four could face penalties of up to 11,500 rubles ($185) or 160 hours of community service. Three men and a woman dressed in police uniforms interrupted the title match between France and Croatia early in the second half at Moscow's 81,000-seat Luzhniki Stadium. The interruption was seen by Russian President Vladimir Putin from his VIP box and by international broadcast audiences watching one of the world's most viewed sporting events. Pussy Riot issued statements on social media calling for the curtailing of policing powers and other reforms in Russia. The group has antagonized Putin for years and members have served time in prison for staging … [Read more...] about (Updated 6) Russia 2018, Day 32: Pussy Riot charged in protest at World Cup final
World Cup winners France set for rapturous homecoming reception in Paris
World Cup Final at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow: France (2) 4 Croatia (1) 2 World Cup winners France are expected to receive a rapturous reception on their return to Paris on Monday. France beat Croatia 4-2 in Sunday's World Cup final in Moscow to win the tournament for a second time, 20 years on from their 1998 triumph on home soil. LeMonde.fr, the website of the newspaper by the same name, reported Les Bleus are scheduled to arrive back in France at 1555 local time (1455BST). The victorious squad are then set to travel to the Champs-Elysees in central Paris, parading on the fabled boulevard at around 1700 (1600BST), before a reception at the Elysee, the official residence of President Emmanuel Macron. The team's official Twitter account, equipedefrance, showed a video of Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy boarding a bus. It was accompanied by a message saying "We go back to France with the Cup and one more star" - referring to the stars worn by national … [Read more...] about World Cup winners France set for rapturous homecoming reception in Paris
France set for heroes’ welcome after thrilling World Cup win
Victorious France were set to return to a heroes' welcome on Monday after winning the World Cup for the second time with a rollercoaster 4-2 victory over Croatia which set off chaotic celebrations at home. Teenager Kylian Mbappe applied the coup de grace in Moscow as France, aided by an own goal and the video assistant referee, overcame determined opponents in one of the most compelling finals of the modern era. Mbappe, just 19, scored France's sizzling fourth goal and was voted the best young player of a tournament in which he has shown he is a superstar in the making. The triumph also put Didier Deschamps, who captained the side to victory on home soil in 1998, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer as only the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach. French President Emmanuel Macron, who cheered every goal in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, was drenched by torrential rain during the trophy presentation and attempted to "dab" with the players in the changing room. On … [Read more...] about France set for heroes’ welcome after thrilling World Cup win
France beat Croatia to win second World Cup as Pogba, Mbappe star
Goals from Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe, as well as a controversial VAR-awarded penalty, helped France beat Croatia 4-2 in an incredible World Cup final in Moscow on Sunday to lift the trophy for the second time in their history. In a match that had a bit of everything, Mario Mandzukic scored the first ever own goal in a World Cup final to put France in front at the Luzhniki Stadium, only for Ivan Perisic to equalise. However, Antoine Griezmann's penalty put France back in front after Perisic's handball was penalised with the aid of the video assistant referee, before Pogba and Mbappe both scored in the second half. The first team to score four times in a final since Brazil in 1970, the French could even afford to see Mandzukic pull a goal back following a ridiculous goalkeeping mistake by Hugo Lloris. France join Uruguay and Argentina in winning the World Cup for a second time, after their 1998 triumph over Brazil when Didier Deschamps -- now the coach -- was the captain. The game … [Read more...] about France beat Croatia to win second World Cup as Pogba, Mbappe star