Internationally flavoured Qatar reach world handball final

Driven by a fervent 15,000 home crowd and by eight players given Qataris citizenship in the build-up to the tournament, the host nation continued their remarkable run on the back of yet another magnificent performance by Bosnia-born goalkeeper Danijel Saric.

The 37-year old, who won four Spanish league titles and the 2011 Champions League with Barcelona, was declared man of the match with 12 saves after coming on midway through the first half for former Montenegrin Goran Stojanovic.

Right back Zarko Markovic, the team's top scorer in the tournament with 60 goals in eight matches and like Saric a native Bosnian, was again instrumental with five second-half goals after Cuban-born Rafael Capote netted six in the opening period.

Qatar's own Kamaladin Mallash also stood out with five goals and the home side danced in delight in the Lusail Arena after the final whistle while Poland, whose left back Michal Jurecki scored a game-high nine goals, were left ruing a missed opportunity to reach the final.

France beat defending champions Spain 26-22 in the other semi-final, with Thierry Omeyer the star of the show, and will meet the hosts in Sunday's final.