28 matches, 26 wins, two draws and no loss. Denmark have been dominating the IHF Men’s World Championship over the past three editions, becoming a true juggernaut, a powerhouse to be reckoned with and the only team in the history of the competition to secure a three-peat by being crowned champions three times in a row.

The fabulous, unprecedented streak started in 2019, when the world handball flagship competition was co-hosted by Germany and Denmark. Six years later, Denmark will try to retain the trophy once again on their home court, as they will co-host the 29th edition of the IHF Men’s World Championship alongside Croatia and Norway.

That means that in the preliminary round and in the main round – provided they qualify to the next phase – Denmark will have the support of their home fans, crucial in a high-stakes competition like this, another helpful hand in their quest to write even more history.

Nevertheless, after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Denmark were crowned champions for the second time after Rio 2016, the Scandinavian powerhouse lost two key players in goalkeeper Niklas Landin Jacobsen and left back Mikkel Hansen, surefire starters in the golden era of Danish handball.

“Of course, there have been a lot of changes. Whenever we were in tough moments in the last decade, we had Niklas or Mikkel to rely on. They have been fantastic. Their leadership, their quality, their presence were undeniable and they have always helped the team get a good result in tough moments,” says line player Magnus Saugstrup.

Saugstrup made his debut for Denmark in April 2018, but was not part of the side which secured the first of the three consecutive world titles. But since he emerged as a solution for Nikolaj Jacobsen, the line player has been nothing short of fantastic, becoming a key player on both sides of the ball.

In fact, his skills and personality made him the prime candidate to become the captain of the new Denmark team, a position he accepted and assumed just a few months before the throw-off at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, where Denmark feature in Group B, played in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, alongside Italy, Algeria and Tunisia.

“It is truly an honour and a fantastic position to be in, to be nominated for this position. I mean, since I was a little boy, I dreamt about playing for Denmark. Now, that I am here, and not only here, but also being a captain, it is the stuff of dreams. There is also a bit of pressure because I want to do this my way, everybody has his way, but this must be done my way,” says Saugstrup.

“Like you know, we had Niklas as a captain and he was fantastic and Mikkel was also always there and providing some words and some plays on the court, but the reality is now that they are not here anymore, so we have to pick up the slack and try to win more trophies.”

Even without Landin and Hansen, who would be immense for any other team in the world, Denmark are still strong favourites for winning a medal, if not the trophy, at the upcoming 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship. Promoting players like Mathias Gidsel, the 2023 IHF Male Player of the Year, and Simon Pytlick in the last years meant that the future is ensured for the long term.

And Saugstrup, last season’s MVP of the most competitive domestic league in the world, the German Bundesliga,  knows that Denmark will have a target on their backs in the upcoming competition.

“There are plenty of strong teams there, which will like to win the trophy. But we still have a fantastic side, with some great players, ready to write more history. We need to stay focused, we need to get this fantastic energy from our home fans, and do the best we can in January,” adds the 28-year-old line player.

However, in the last nine editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship, Denmark won the title three times, were runners-up twice, in 2011 and 2013, and secured the bronze in 2007. Over the last 16 years, they only lost 10 of the 82 matches played in the world handball flagship competition.

What is the thing that makes them tick and still motivates a bunch of players who have basically won everything there is to win?
“That might be difficult to answer. It depends from player to player. We are all different. But for me, and I think for some of my teammates, it is that sweet taste after the final, after the trophy is secured. Everybody is happy, everybody is just enjoying the win, everybody thinks about the journey. Because this is also about the journey, the training sessions, the camaraderie,” says Saugstrup.

On paper, it might look simple. Once again, there are nine matches between Denmark and the trophy, six of which will be played at home, provided the Scandinavian team is going the long way again.

But, as Saugstrup said, things will be different this time. There are no Landin and Hansen. Yet Denmark are still strong and aiming for the gold.