It is the make or break for both Denmark and France in Friday's storkamp at the handball WORLD cup.

The most difficult task ahead for the Danish defense can also touch in handball, which is struggling to prolong life at the WORLD cup in Japan.

While south Korea and Germany are already on to mellemrunden, fighting Denmark, with the reigning world - and european champions from France on the third and final ticket from group B.

The two nations meet in an all-or-nothing battle on Friday, and although the victory over Brazil, the Danish self-confidence tremendously firms, is no doubt about the severity of the meeting with the French stars.

Immediately the French favorites, but I think that suits us fine, says bagspilleren Anne Mette Hansen.

France has had a great WORLD cup and is still suffering from a bad start with only one point in the first two matches against south Korea and Brazil.

Since came pligtsejren over Australia and then a scant win against Germany on Wednesday. The French can settle with a draw against Denmark, while the danes are beaten to win.

- It is a megasvær task, for France has also the knife for the throat, says playmaker Lotte Grigel.

- As France has played here, we do not know quite where they stand. But I can hardly remember when we last beat them for a championship. It is in any case a long time ago, said Grigel.

the Latest Danish slutrundesejr over the French came at the european championships in Serbia in 2012, which Denmark won 28-27.

Grigel is one of four repeats from the days when Sandra Toft was the goal, and Louise Burgaard and Stine Jorgensen was among the shooters.

Friday is the two big håndboldlande so again to each other.

- I had hoped that it was a finale to get four points in the mellemrunden. Now it will be a finale to come on, and it is fine. The pressure is the same, says national coach Klavs Bruun Jørgensen.

- the French are good, and now they get blood on the tooth and get windy again. The get the full pipe, predicts the national coach.

Denmark won the last meeting with France. It was a Golden League match in march, where the Danish team took a win at 25-22.

/ritzau/