World champions France reached the semi-finals of the women's handball tournament for the first time with a dramatic win over Hungary on Thursday. Late goals by Veronique Pecqueux Rolland and Rapheaelle Terval, who both scored five times, lifted the French to a 25-23 quarter-final victory.
The French will meet Korea after they recorded a 26-24 win over Brazil.
Denmark, who beat China 32-28 in their quarter-final, will face the Ukraine after their defeated Spain 25-23.
French captain Stephanie Cato is wary of the problems their semi-final opponents may pose in their crunch match.
"The Koreans are here to win gold so it will be a tough match, much tougher than against Hungary," she said.
"We have to come up with something that will surprise themtactically but we have very little time to prepare."
Meanwhile, Denmark's coach Jan Pytlick picked out goalkeeper Rikke Schmidt for particular praise after she made 23 saves from 47 shots.
"Rikke was fantastic tonight. She made some magnificent saves and at some very important times in the game," he said.
MMIX
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