More than 11,000 spectators watched this Group B encounter as the visitors refused to buckle under the pressure of facing, not only the home team, but also their fanatical group of fans.

It was a good win for France, who were missing captain Luka Karabatic and Valentin Porte, both members of the Olympic gold medal-winning squad at Tokyo 2020.

A number of errors in the first half made things difficult for Les Bleus and they went in at half-time only 14-13 ahead.

Poland, missing their own star player, Kamil Syprzak, who plays his club handball in France for Paris Saint-Germain, put up a spirited display.

In the closing stages, France had opened up a 24-21 lead as Poland went more than eight minutes without a goal and could only score three times in the final 12 minutes as their rivals held on.

It was France’s 33rd win in their last 38 World Championship matches as they seek to lift the title for the seventh time, but the first since they hosted the tournament in 2017.

"It's a first match, obviously it's difficult, against Poles who put a lot of intensity, a lot of energy," French goalkeeper Vincent Gérard told L’Equipe.

"We dominated, but we are never safe.

"It's a satisfaction, because to beat Poland at home in an opening match, it's a difficult challenge that we took up."

There is due to be seven matches tomorrow as the tournament really takes off, including co-hosts and 2021 runners-up Sweden playing Brazil at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg in a Group C match.

The defending two-time champions Denmark are scheduled to begin their campaign on Friday (January 13) when they play Belgium in Group H at the Malmö Arena.