HOME COURT ADVANTAGE

The Danes think that they are pretty good at handball; and indeed they are. The men's team are the current European champions, probably the hardest tournament to win, and won silver in the World Championships two years ago in Malmø. True, they had a disappointing Olympics, losing to Sweden when they should have won. But expectations were high on Sunday when they again reached the final of the World Championships, this time in Spain, after cruising through the previous rounds. One reason was the fact that their opponents were the host nation, whom Denmark had beaten five times in a row since 2007 in major tournaments. If ever there was a time for Denmark to win the World Championships for the first time, then this was it.

They lost. And not just lost, but got absolutely and comprehensively stuffed. It was 18-10 to Spain at half-time and 29-12 after 45 minutes, by which time the contest was over. The end result of 35-19 was the biggest difference ever in a world final, and only one goal short of Denmark's biggest ever defeat in any competition. Losing by almost two goals to one is the sort of thing Great Britain handball might expect to suffer, but not Denmark.

How did it happen? Watching the match as a fairly neutral observer, I put it down to that often underrated factor, namely playing on home turf. The Spanish were up for it, to put it mildly. As in Serbia, an even lowlier handball nation that made the final of the European Championships in Belgrade last year, the crowd were partisan, and very loud. Denmark were simply blown away.

There is now a lot of navel gazing going on over here. National pride has been dented, something must be done. As it happens, next year's European Championships will take place in Denmark. If the crowd get behind them, then the Danes should win.

Walter Blotscher