Norway players celebrate after winning the 25th IHF Men's World Championship 2017 semi-final handball match against Croatia on January 27, 2017 (AFP Photo/Antonin Thuillier)

Paris (AFP) - Norway reached the final of the world handball championships for the first time on Friday with a dramatic 28-25 extra-time victory over Croatia.

The Norwegians, who were only fourth at the last European championships, will face defending champions France in Sunday's final.

France will be going for a sixth world crown and will be buoyed by knowing that they beat Norway, who only qualified for the championships after being granted a wildcard, 31-28 in the preliminary round.

But Norway, who failed to make the Olympics in Rio, know that they have the measure of France having defeated them 29-24 at the European championships in Poland in 2016.

"It's my 10th championship and at last we have achieved our main goal of winning a medal. It's incredible," said Norway pivot Bjarte Myrhol.

"We never stopped believing, we were on the attack all the time. We always said our time would come and that this is our year.

"I am not going to think about France tonight. I am going to sleep well and continue this dream."

Goalkeeper Torbjorn Bergerud was named man of the match in Friday's semi-final after the 22-year-old pulled off a fine save from a penalty taken by Zlatko Horvat in the last minute of normal time.

That kept the score at 22-22, sending the tie into two five-minute periods of extra-time.

Croatia, world champions in 2003, led 24-22 in the extra period but the faster style of Norway eventually paid dividends.

"We are devastated, but the most important thing is to stay united and try and rest for Saturday (third-placed game against Slovenia) because there is a bronze medal at stake," said Croatia's right-back Luka Stepancic.

"After we missed the penalty in the last minute, we scored two goals. But in the last five minutes we just couldn't find a way to their goal. We had a red card and they took advantage."

France defeated Slovenia 31-25 on Thursday to reach the final and get to within touching distance of a sixth major international title.

France, world champions in 1995, 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2015, will start as favourites on Sunday having seen Olympic champions Denmark and European champions Germany knocked out in the last 16.