French players pose for group photo after the awarding ceremony of the men's handball event at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 24, 2008. France beat Iceland 28-23 and clinched the gold medal in this event. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- France prevailed giant killer Iceland 28-23 on Sunday to win its first ever Olympic gold medal in men's handball.

    "Our team is very focused on the match. After years of preparation, we finally achieved our goal. I know it was the last medal in the Games, and the Olympic Village is in the mood of departure. But our team is a small village inside the Village. We were not distracted at all,"said French coach Claude Onesta.

    Both teams paid much attention to their defence at the beginning of the game, tying 2-2 eight minutes into the match. The Icelanders, who were known for their sharp attack, appeared nail-biting in front of solid French defence line, with their top scorer Snorri Steinn Gudjonsson only netting once before the break.

    The French side launched a 5-0 surge midway into the first half to build up their advantage. Left back Nikola Karabatic, newly elected IHF World Handball Player of the Year in 2007, converted four goals from four shots to give "Les bleus" a 15-10 lead.

    "This is a dream. It is the most beautiful moment in my life. I can not realize that we won today. The defence is one of our big points. We played with great defence and in our own style,"said Karabatic after the match.

    "We lost in the quarterfinals in last Olympics. That was a nightmare, really a nihtmare. It took us long time to forget it. But I think it is maybe part of Olympics. We lost and learned from it, and today we won because of it," said the 24-year-old left back, whose team finished fifth at Athens.

    Karabatic continued his sound shape after the game resumed, added another four points to top the scorers' list. The five points' margin was maintained till the end of the game.

    France's previous best Olympic performance was a bronze in the 1992 Barcelona Games, but it won the European title in 2006 and world championship title in 1995 and 2001.

    Being an underdog in the handball world, Iceland had taken part in Olympic handball tournaments for five times, with the best placing being fourth in 1992 in Barcelona.

    The silver was not only the Icelanders' first Olympic handball medal, but also the only medal earned by the Nordic country in Beijing.

    On their way to cruise to the podium, the island country with a population of about 316,000, trounced a number of handball titans, including reigning world champion Germany, Athens Games bronze medalist Russia, 2007 World Championship runner-up Poland and 2005 world champ Spain.

    The bronze medal went to Spain, who upset defending champion Croatia 35-29.

Daniel Narcisse (R) of France comforts Alexander Petersson of Iceland after the men's gold medal match of handball event between France and Iceland at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 24, 2008. France beat Iceland 28-23 and clinched the gold medal in this event. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Photo Gallery>>>