Paris, FRANCE, February 4 - Yugoslavia took the bronze after beating Egypt 27-17 (halftime 11-8) earlier on Sunday.

There was no doubt about the bronze-medal winner.

The two coaches Branislav Pokrajac and Zoran Zivkovic played together in the Yugoslavian golden team which won the World Championship both in 1970 and 1972.

It may very well be that this was Zoran Zivkovic`s last game in charge as coach of Egypt. His contract expires, and he is keen on moving back to Europe.

It was a rather nervous opening to this one. Still 0-0 after 4 minutes. But then Zikica Milosavljevic scored. Ashraf Awad 1-1 through a penalty. Vladan Matic: 2-1 for Yugoslavia (6 min) Dragan Skrbic 3-1. (10.min)...4-3 Marwan Ragab..and 7-5 for Egypt (Awad) after 21 minutes. After timeout: 7-7. 26. min: 8-8...Milosavljevic for 10-8, and Ragab suspended.... Jovanovic 11-8.

In the last second of the half, goalie El Nakib suffered a knee injury as he collided with a Yugoslavian player. First choice goalie, Ibrahim, was injured Saturday.

Yugoslavia came strongly during the second half. 21-16 after Skrbic scored his 9th goal of the match (49.min)..25-16 (56.min), and Jovanovic for 27-17 in the last minute.

Big celebration-scenes followed for the well-deserved bronze-medallists.

QUOTES

"Our non-participating in the finals is undeserved. We showed that we have quality, but due to various circumstances we were defeated by the Sweden yesterday. However, I am satisfied with our achievement, although we could have done more" (Branislav Pokrajac, Yugoslavia's coach)..

Dragan Škrbic

"Today, we gave our best, because in every case, medal is a medal. We have a quality team which should in future have to be considered as one of the candidates for the highest places. Our strength is depictured in the fact that we are returning home unsatisfied, although we have a medal" (Dragan Skrbic, Yugoslavia's captain).

"I am leaving the national team with bronze, and that is nevertheless nice. After yesterday's defeat we were exhausted, but we managed to win a trophy. I am convinced that this generation of our handball players will, already at the next big competition, play in the finals" (Zoran Djordjic, Yugoslavia's goalkeeper).

All results of the Yugoslav national team at the World Championship in France

YUGOSLAVIA - Brazil 31-23 (15-12)
YUGOSLAVIA - Algeria 23-20 (14-7)
YUGOSLAVIA - Argentina 32-10 (15-2).
YUGOSLAVIA - France 20-22 (8-13).
YUGOSLAVIA - Kuwait 40-14 (21-6).
YUGOSLAVIA - Iceland 31-27 (15-10)
YUGOSLAVIA - Spain 26-24 (13-10)
YUGOSLAVIA - Sweden 24-25 (9-14)
YUGOSLAVIA - Egypt 27-17 (11-8)

FINAL: France - Sweden 28-25 OT (25-25, 22-22, 11-10)

Final Standings at the World Championship in France

1. France
2. Sweden
3. YUGOSLAVIA
4. Egypt
5. Spain
6. Russia
7. Ukraine
8. Germany
9. Croatia
10. Tunisia
11. Iceland
12. South Korea
13. Algeria
14. Norway
15. Argentina
16. Portugal
17. Slovenia
18. Czech Republic
19. Brazil
20. Greenland
21. Saudi Arabia
22. Morocco
23. Kuwait
24. USA

Yugoslav Milosavljevic in "All Stars Team"

Paris, FRANCE, February 4 - Yugoslavia's Zikica Milosavljevic was named in the "All Stars Team" of the 17th World Handball Championships.

All Stars Team:

David Barrufet (Spain), Stefan Lovgren (Sweden), Eduard Kokscharow (Russia), Hussein Zaky (Egypt), Kyung-Shin Yoon (Korea), ZIKICA MILOSAVLJEVIC (Yugoslavia) and Bertrand Gille (France).

From the media

Bronze medal for the Yugoslavs` wondrous play

Paris, FRANCE, February 4th (agencies) - "With them, handball is a secret which borders with art", French commentators mark Yugoslav national team's winning of bronze medal in Paris Bercy sports hall, in match for the third place against Egypt (27-17).

"The Yugoslavs themselves do not know what they can", commentator for Paris "Le Monde" writes, quoting Nedeljko Jovanovic as saying "our team is perhaps most afraid of itself alone".

Yesterday in the semi-finals, the Swedish (who defeated the Yugoslavs with 25-24), waited the last three seconds for the 11th goal of Stefan Lovgren, who saved them from "uncertain overtime", Paris "Liberation" writes today.

"Liberation" also reminds that coach of Egypt's "Pharaohs" is Yugoslav Zoran Zivkovic, who managed to induce the strong and well-trained Egyptian team to "wondrous play which only Yugoslavs can give".

Did you know...

The World Handball Championship will also be remembered by the fact that all three Yugoslav national team goalkeepers stood out not only by defenses, but by scoring goals as well!

First Zoran Djordjic scored a goal against Algerians, and then his younger colleagues Arpad Sterbik and Nenad Puljezevic did the same in match against Kuwait.

Sterbik was twice precise in penalty kicks, and Puljezevic once.

ALL MEDALS OF YUGOSLAVIA'S HANDBALL

World championships

1970. - Paris (France) - bronze
1974. - Berlin (FR Germany) - bronze
1982. - Dortmund (FR Germany) - silver
1986. - Zurich (Switzerland) - gold
1999. - Kairo (Egypt) - bronze
2001. - Paris (France) - bronze

Olympic Games

1972. - Munchen (FR Germany) - gold
1984. - Los Angeles (USA) - gold
1988. - Seoul (South Korea) - bronze

European Championships

1996. - Sevilla - bronze