Co-host Denmark showed the surprise team from Italy the limits with their 39:20 (18:8) victory and underlined their position as favorites at the Handball World Cup. Record world champions France also clearly won against Austria with 35:27 (19:15).
The crux of the game between the reigning world champions from Denmark and the tournament surprise from Italy was in the first half. For just over 16 minutes in a row, the Southern Europeans failed to score their own goal and the Danes pulled ahead to 18:8 by the break.
So it’s not surprising that goalkeeper Emil Nielsen (FC Barcelona) was voted the best player of the game. In the second half, coach Nikolaj Jacobsen made a lot of changes without the well-rehearsed Danish “machine” suffering. The 39:20 final result should certainly garner respect from the German team. The new edition of the Olympic final in Paris is expected to follow on the first match day of main round group 1.
The last German main round opponent was sought in the game between Algeria and Tunisia in Herning, Denmark. Both teams have been disappointing in the tournament so far and lost their games relatively clearly against Italy and Denmark. Tunisia started strong and stayed in the lead for the entire first half. Thanks to the outstanding saves by Khalifa Ghedbane (HC Erlangen), the Algerians went into the dressing room at half-time only four goals behind (9:13). In the second half it remained exciting until the end, as Algeria pushed for victory with all their might – only success could have secured their place in the main round. Hazem Bacha’s goal to make it 26:25 with the final siren finally ended all Algerian main round dreams and Tunisia could celebrate.
Group C: France secures group victory, Qatar books main round
France started the game aggressively, prompting Austria coach Aleš Pajovič to call an early timeout in the 17th minute. The Austrians’ otherwise strong goalkeeper, Constantin Möstl, wasn’t always happy and the French also made an early change in goal.
After Samir Bellahcene (TVB Stuttgart) left the tournament due to injury, Charles Bolzinger made his first World Cup appearance in the French goal. The 24-year-old from Montpellier Handball promptly bought a top-class chance from the previously flawless Sebastian Frimmel from the seven-meter point and was able to distinguish himself several times as the game progressed. In the end, the breadth of the French squad prevailed and the 35:27 (19:15) success of the “Équipe Tricolore” was synonymous with group victory and the maximum score of four points for the main round.
In the fight for third place in the World Cup Group C and the associated qualification for the main round, Qatar prevailed against Kuwait. In the 25:22 (11:7) win, Žarko Marković was the Qatari’s best scorer with seven goals, while Abdulaziz Al-Shammari impressed on Kuwait’s side (8 goals).
Group F: Spain without much trouble, Sweden has to fight again
In the opening game, Spain initially struggled against a stubborn Chilean team, but ultimately won comfortably. This time, the team of legendary coach Jordi Ribera started with great concentration against the “Comets” from Japan and went on a 6-0 run at the beginning. Andi Wolff’s soon-to-be goalkeeper colleague from Kiel, Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, once again showed his world class and impressed with a catch rate of almost 50 percent in the 39:20 (19:11) win. The only downside is the injury to left winger Daniel Fernández (TVB Stuttgart), who was only able to leave the hall supported at half-time.
Without their regular number one, Andreas Palicka (was rested), the Swedish team once again had a poor start to their second World Cup game. Against Chile, former Bundesliga professional Erwin Feuchtmann (7 goals) repeatedly posed problems for the Swedish defense. As the game progressed, the Scandinavians were able to stabilize themselves and ultimately celebrate a 42:30 (20:19) win. The player of the game was SC Magdeburg’s backcourt right-hander: Albert Lagergren (8 goals).
Group G: Iceland wins on Pálmarsson’s return, Slovenia convinces
The return of Aron Pálmarsson after missing the opening game due to injury has given his teammates a particular boost of motivation. The performance of the Icelanders certainly suggests that. The team, full of Bundesliga professionals, outclassed their opponent from Cuba with 40:19 (21:9). In the last group game on Monday evening, Iceland will face the also unbeaten Slovenians.
The “Blue Sharks”, as the players from the Cape Verde Islands call themselves, got off to a good start in their second group game against Slovenia. The favorites struggled for a long time, but, as on matchday 1, they were able to rely on the goals from backcourt player Aleks Vlah. The 27-year-old from the top Danish club Aalborg Håndbold scored eight times and gave his team an unchallenged second preliminary round victory (36:24) and thus a ticket to the main round in Zagreb.