Nikola Karabatic celebrates after France defeated Slovenia.

By Sports Reporter/Doha

It will be a meeting of the only two undefeated teams at these 24th Men’s Handball World Championship when France and Spain take to the court in their semi-final match today.
While Spain have won all their matches so far, France have lost a single point on the way, against Iceland in the preliminary round.
Ahead of the semi-final, one of France’s greatest stars, Nikola Karabatic, tries to put the pressure of the favourites role on Spain.

What do you think of your team’s performance in the tournament this far?
Nikola Karabatic: I think we have been doing okay so far. We have been playing very well and got our game going, I think.
Now we are in the semi-final, and that was our first aim.
We aimed to qualify for the Olympics, and that objective is still within reach, so I think we can be content.

Can you still improve?
NK: Yes, I still think we can play better, and actually I think we will need that in our semi-final against Spain, if we are going to have a chance to win that one.

Does it surprise you that your team has been so convincing with your star on the right win, Luc Abalo who has missed the entire tournament due to an injury?
NK: No, this does not really surprise me. Of course, Luc is important to our team, and he brings a lot to our game, but we have very good players to replace him, and I think that Portes and Jolie have both done very well in his absence, so the handicap did not become that big.

You said that have reached your first goal. What is the next?
NK: Of course, we would like very much for be world champions, but first we have a very difficult semi-final against Spain, and I actually see Spain as favourites.
They have beaten Qatar, and they have beaten Denmark, two of the strongest teams at this tournament so far, and in general they have played a great tournament, so I expect a very difficult game for us.

That semi-final will be a remake of your semi-final from the European Championship in Denmark a year ago. What will be the deciding factor this time, do you think?
NK: I think pretty much the same things will be deciding this time that decided the game a year ago.
The defences, the goalkeepers and counter attacks will play a deciding part, but as I said, Spain are favourites this time.