The French took a 2-0 lead after just two minutes thanks to goals from Siraba Dembélé and Laurisa Landre, but defending champions Norway scored four unanswered goals to go 4-2 up.

Both teams were in front several times during the first half, but it was France who held a slender 11-10 lead at the break.

This gave the 2016 Olympic silver medalists confidence going into the second-half and they were 15-12 up after 37 minutes.

France continued to hold onto the lead until the 42nd minute when Norway, who won bronze at Rio 2016, equalised through Heidi Løke to make it 16-16.

The lead then changed hands multiple times with neither team able to get a grip on the game.

However, France grabbed the initiative two minutes from time as Allison Pineau kept her composure to score an important seven-metre throw, putting her team into a 22-20 lead.

The two-point gap was too much for Norway to overcome and France eventually won the game 23-21.

This victory gave France their first world title since 2003.

There was small consolation for Norway as captain Stine Bredal Oftedal was named the tournament's most valuable player whilst Nora Mørk clinched the top goalscorer award thanks to her 59 goals in Germany.

France now hold both the men's and women's handball world titles. 

The third-place match saw The Netherlands come out on top against Sweden with relative ease at the Barclaycard Arena.

Sweden had gone into an early lead in the first half and were 4-2 up inside eight minutes thanks to two goals from Olivia Mellegård.

However, The Netherlands struck back with four quick-fire goals to make it 6-4 after a quarter of an hour.

The Dutch were then in total control for the rest of the first half and went into the changing rooms with a 14-8 lead.

After The Netherlands had increased their lead to 16-9 just after half-time through two Lois Abbingh goals, Sweden had an incredible purple patch which saw them score nine goals without reply to make it 18-16 with ten minutes to go.

Unfortunately for them, the lead was too slender and 2015 World Championship silver medalists The Netherlands wrestled back control of the game.

The Dutch then dominated the final three minutes, scoring five goals to Sweden’s one to seal a 24-21 win, and the bronze medal.