Handball: Steven Larsson goals for Team GB show future may be bright

Steven Larsson shoots for Team GB (GETTY IMAGES)

Great Britain's men may have lost their third successive game at the Olympics at the hands of Argentina 32-21, but the manner of their rousing first-half performance will only have enhanced the growing popularity of handball in the country.

Although they were thoroughly outclassed in heavy losses against 2008 Olympic and world champions France and three-time silver medallists Sweden in their opening two outings, their display against the South Americans in the opening half belied their six-year infancy as a team and gave tremendous hope for the future.

While it is worth pointing out that coach Dragan Djukic had publicly targeted this game as a realistic one to win and the second half took considerable shine off the result, the first-half showing in particular must have exceeded the Serbian tactician's expectations.

The defence put in a sterling show in the opening 30 minutes, while Steven Larsson continued to live up to his billing of star man with six goals.

Three defeats leaves Team GB rooted to the bottom of Group A, while Argentina's win, which came with the aid of six goals for Sebastian Simonet, gets them off and running. France lead the group after beating Tunisia 25-19.