World Handball Championship 2015: Final Schedule Set After Semifinal Results

Hosts Qatar will take on four-time winners France in the final of the 2015 World Handball Championship on Sunday after both came through their last-four encounters on Friday. 

The French beat defending champions Spain 26-22 in a closely matched clash while the Qataris overcame Poland 31-29 in a high-scoring match.

Qatar become the first non-European side to reach the final of a world championship and will have the backing of the home crowd at the Lusail Arena in Sunday's showpiece event.

Here are full details ahead of what should be an intriguing match-up in the final.

Date: Sunday, Feb. 1

Time: 4:15 p.m. GMT, 11:15 p.m. ET 

TV Info: Sky Sports 2 (UK), beIN Sports 7 (U.S.)

Live Stream: Sky Go, beIN Sports Connect

Preview

Osama Faisal/Associated Press

Qatar have strung together a remarkable run of results to reach the final of their home tournament, beating the likes of Poland and Austria as well as former champions Germany.

In the knockout stages, they have scraped through with three two-goal victories after coming second to Spain in Group A—where they beat Brazil, Chile, Slovenia and Belarus.

Qatar's Bosnian goalkeeper Danijel Saric has been one of the stars of the tournament, making 12 saves in the hosts' triumphant semi-final, per Reuters (h/t Yahoo News).

While the Asian champions have been accused of buying in a championship-winning side—eight of their players were granted Qatari citizenship ahead of the tournament—handball broadcaster Tom O'Brannigan has hailed the side's togetherness:

"

I'm tired of hearing Qatar bought a team Not one of these players was a 'superstar' b4 except Saric. Just good honest pros moulded to a team

— Tom Ó Brannagáin (@obrannt) January 30, 2015"

Qatar coach Valero Rivera—victorious with his home country Spain in 2013—lauded his side's achievement following jubilant celebrations after the Poland victory, per the International Handball Federation: 

"

This is a success. This is the first team that non-European team that made it to the final, and I very very happy for the country, for the players, for the Federation, and people that work in the sport, especially in handball. 

"

The Lusail Arena will likely be full to its 15,000 capacity on Sunday as the home crowd will push their side on towards what would be an extraordinary tournament win.

However, they come up against a very strong, very experienced French team who have a storied history in the competition.

They last claimed the gold back in 2011 and were impressive as they dispatched a strong Spain side on Friday to secure their place alongside Qatar in the final.

They held the lead early on against the Spanish and never relinquished it with another keeper, Thierry Omeyer, once again starring in the semi-final, per Swedish shot-stopper Mattias Andersson:

France's route through the tournament has been much more serene than their final opponents. They topped their group with four wins and a draw and eased past Argentina and Slovenia in the first two knockout rounds.

Both teams will be hugely buoyed after impressive semifinal wins but, on pure quality alone, France have to be seen as favourites to take the title.

However, home advantage could prove key for Qatar and it is certainly set to be quite an occasion in Lusail on Sunday.