Following earlier results, the holders knew a win would advance them out of main round Group IV and into the last eight.

Taking on an Egypt side that knew they were already through to the quarter-finals, Denmark started off as though they meant business and were never behind against the North African champions in a match played at the Malmo Arena in Sweden.

Simon Pytlick scored eight goals for Denmark and was named player of the match, while his teammate Mathias Gidsel also scored eight times.

Denmark’s win also meant they equalled the longest all-time winning streak at a World Men’s Handball Championship of 25 games, a run also achieved by France between 2015 and 2019.

Denmark’s qualification to the next phase sets up a quarter-final with Hungary, the last team to beat them at this tournament, in the last-16 back in 2017.

Earlier in the day in the group Croatia faced Bahrain knowing they required a big win, followed by help from Egypt, if they were going to reach the quarter-final stage.

Croatia struggled in the first half leading by just one goal at the break and although they triumphed 43-32 it was not enough to advance following Denmark’s win later in the day.

Ivan Martinovic of Croatia was named player of the match after scoring ten goals.

Elsewhere in the group two eliminated teams the United States and Belgium met, with the US edging a close contest 24-22.

In main round Group III, Germany and Norway had already secured qualification to the quarter-finals prior to their match at the Katowice Arena in Poland.

Their match would decide the winner of the group with Norway prevailing 28-26.

In a close contest Norwegian keeper Torbjorn Bergerud was named player of the match, making 12 saves in the second half and reducing Germany to scoring a single goal in the final eight minutes.

Goran Johannessen was the top scorer for Norway with five goals, with Juri Knorr the top scorer for Germany in the match with eight.

The other two games in the group had only ranking position at stake, but were both close encounters, with Serbia edging past The Netherlands 32-30 and Argentina defeating Qatar 26-22.

All four quarter-finals are scheduled for Wednesday (January 27), with Norway due to face Spain before France take on Germany in the two matches scheduled to be held at the Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland.

Co-hosts Sweden are due to face Egypt after Denmark take on Hungary, in the two matches set to be played at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm.