With the 32:23 (16:11) win on the second matchday of Group B, the Italian handball players made it into the main round of the World Cup. Denmark and France are marching on, Spain and Sweden are off to a confident start.
Two games, two shows of force. The Danish handball players achieved their next big win against Tunisia. The possible German main round opponent slows down a bit in the second half and spares stars like Mathias Gidsel and captain Magnus Saugstrup.
Gidsel was still the best thrower of the game (9 goals). In Group B there will be a final on the third matchday for group victory – against the underdog from Italy.
The southern Europeans are in the main round of the World Cup for the first time after their 32:23 (16:11) win against Algeria. After 30 minutes, Bundesliga goalkeeper Domenico Ebner (SC DHfK Leipzig) had already celebrated eleven times and, with his 50% catch rate, played a significant role in his team’s 16:11 lead. In the second half, it was mainly the simple counter-attack goals from wingers Leo Prantner (7 goals) and Gianluca Dapiran (4 goals) that led Italy to only their third World Cup victory ever. In the main round there could be a duel with Germany.
“Now we already have two wins, which is equivalent to being the best Italian team ever at a World Cup,” said Ebner beaming at the Sportschau microphone. “It’s just nice, the boys are fun, it’s like a family.”
Group C: Austria and France book the main round
The French also lived up to their role as favorites on the second matchday of Group C. The game against Kuwait was already decided with a score of 21:8 at halftime. As expected, the record world champion booked the main round thanks to the second win in the second game. The best thrower in the 43:19 win was the French backcourt player Nedim Remili with six goals.
Austria also won the second game at the World Cup. Coach Aleš Pajovič’s team prevailed against Qatar with 28:26 (15:14). The best thrower of the game was Qatar’s Frankis Marzo (11 goals). The backcourt player was voted the best player of the game after the game. On the last matchday of Group C, Qatar faces Kuwait for a place in the main round. Austria is fighting against France for group victory and important points for the rest of the tournament.
Group F: Spain struggles for a long time
On paper, the opening hurdle in Chile seemed to be a good one for the Spaniards, but the team around the strong Dujshebaev brothers initially struggled. Chile was currently leading 10:7. Led by the saves of Magdeburg goalkeeper Sergey Hernández, the favorite turned the game around and secured an unchallenged 31:22 (17:13) win in the end.
Group opponents Sweden had a similarly bumpy start to the World Cup tournament. The team, which had to do without their star Felix Claar due to injury, had a difficult time against Japan for a long time. A 7:1 run after the break brought about the preliminary decision. Overall, the Swedish defense stabilized in the second half, meaning Japan could only score eight goals. The Swedish winger Sebastian Karlsson (8 goals) was the most successful shooter of the game in his team’s 39:21 (17:13) victory.
Group G: Slovenia and Iceland start confidently
After fourth place at the Olympic Games in Paris, the Slovenians have worked their way into the favorites for this World Cup. The 41:19 (18:8) win on the first match day against Cuba underlined the medal ambitions of coach Uroš Zorman’s team. Director Aleks Vlah was the game’s top scorer with eight goals.
The group victory will probably be decided in the final preliminary round game against the Icelanders. They won their opening game similarly confidently against the Cape Verde Islands with 34:21 (18:8). Coach Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson had to do without middleman Aron Pálmarsson in the first game. The Icelandic star is suffering from a calf injury, but a comeback later in the tournament cannot be ruled out. The man of the game was backcourt player Janus Daði Smárason (SC Magdeburg), who was voted best player of the game.