Germany's 30-year-old keeper Carsten Lichtlein got the man-of-the-match award after an inspired display in which he ultimately demoralised a team which had beaten the African champions Algeria in its first match.

Lichtlein had a save percentage of 56 per cent overall, dominating the Egpytians to the point that they no longer just missed but also shot wide of the goal.

All four top seeds have now reached the quarter-finals on Wednesday (January 28).  

Denmark beat Iceland 30-25 tonight to earn a match against defending champions Spain, 28-20 winners against Tunisia yesterday.

Favourites France, the Olympic and European champions, defeated Pan-American champions Argentina 33-20 to book a meeting with Slovenia, 30-28 victors over Macedonia the day before.

And the fourth team in the top pot, Croatia, will meet Poland - 24-20 winners over London 2012 silver medallists Sweden today - having squeezed past Brazil 26-25 last night.

Poland earned a quarter-final meeting with joint top seeds Croatia after beating Olympic 2012 silver medallists Sweden 24-20 ©Qatar2015

France's victory over an Argentina team which has made a breakthrough in world terms here, having drawn against Denmark and beaten Russia, was founded on the defensive power of the Karabatic brothers, Nikola and Luka, plus their outstanding keeper Thierry Omeyer, the former World Handball Player of the Year.

Claude Onestam, the French coach, was taking the game seriously and played all of his first selections for the majority of the game, with Cedric Sorhaindo, Jerome Fernandez, Daniel Narcisse and Michael Guigou spending extended periods on court.

Poland surpassed their previous best World Championship performance with a win over a Swedish team which seemed oddly out of sorts.

Goals in the 38th, 40th and 42nd minute for Poland effectively turned the match in their favour.

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