With three wins from three games, the DHB team moved into the main round of the World Cup. There is a tough test right from the start.
With six out of six possible points, the DHB selection moves into the main round as leaders of Group A and also takes the maximum possible number of four points into the next round. To explain: The format of the World Cup tournament stipulates that Germany’s main round group is made up of the three best teams in Group B as well as the other two qualified teams from the German preliminary round group, i.e. the Czech Republic and Switzerland.
The Germans will not play against the Czechs and Swiss again, but will instead take the points they scored against these teams in the preliminary round with them into the main round. Since there was a win against both teams, the DHB team starts the main round with four points.
The qualified teams from Group B have already been determined since Saturday: Denmark also made it into the main round with three wins and as league leaders. Italy and Tunisia also qualified.
Due to the established placements in the German preliminary group, the order of the main round duels has now been determined. At the start, the German team has to solve the most difficult task: next Tuesday (January 21st) at 8:30 p.m. they will face World Cup hosts, defending champions and Olympic champions Denmark. The last meeting between the two teams in the Olympic final ended with a hearty 26:39 defeat for the Germans. This time they want to do better.
In the second duel on Thursday (January 23rd), Germany will face a real surprise team. Italy managed to qualify for a World Cup for the first time in 28 years and now moved straight into the main round. Germany goes into the game as the clear favorite.
This also applies to the last main round duel against Tunisia on Saturday (January 25th). The Tunisians qualified for the main round with a last-minute win against Algeria on the last day of the preliminary round.
However, the German team does not have to endure the strain of travel. Just like the preliminary round, the German main round group will take place in Herning, Denmark. Only for a potential final round would there be a trip to the Norwegian capital Oslo. But that also means: Germany will have the audience against them in the cracking game against Denmark.