The quarter-finals on Wednesday have already been booked – now the German national handball team should continue successfully at the World Cup in Poland and Sweden (until January 29).
By the clear 33:26 victory against the Netherlands the DHB team at the top of the main round group III again passed the Norwegians, who also qualified. (DATA: Groups and tables of the Handball World Cup)
Against the Scandinavians in the last main round game on Monday in Kattowitz, a draw is enough for the group victory. (Handball World Cup: Germany – Norway, Monday from 8.30 p.m. in the LIVETICKER)
So far, so good – but this constellation could make the further course of the tournament stressful.
Germany against Norway – and then in the quarterfinals
Specifically: There is a risk of a certain degree of planning chaos in view of flights and hotels that have already been planned and booked long ago, should the team of national coach Alfred Gislason come first in the main round.
One after the other: According to the tournament regulations, the hosts Sweden (in Stockholm) and Poland (in Gdansk) will each play a semi-final, the final, the match for third place and the placement games, which are so important for the Olympic qualification, will also be held in Stockholm (Ranks five to eight) go across the stage.
Means: For Germany, as the first in the main round, a semi-final in Gdansk on January 27th would increase if they progressed again, the flight to the final or the match for 3rd place in the Swedish capital would then be a day later.
Should the DHB selection lose the quarter-finals to be held in Gdansk – the exact time will only be determined after the end of the main round – it would also go to Stockholm. Then, however, already to the placement games that take place on January 26th and thus one day earlier.
Complicated travel constellation threatens
From a German point of view, it would be logistically much less complicated to be able to contest a semi-final in Stockholm from the outset in the event of a defeat against Norway as second in the main round in the subsequent quarter-final success. The Scandinavia trip would then take place on January 26th, for a small as well as a big finale, one would already be there and would not have to undertake another exhausting journey.
Either way: Before the direct duel, the two top teams each have 8:0 points to book, in terms of goal difference Germany (137:105) is ahead of Norway (120:92).
The two potential opponents have already been determined: In the main round group I, France (8:0 points, 137:108 goals) and Spain (8:0, 123:96) were unscathed and are now also playing for group victory in a direct duel.
In the round of the last eight, the group winners then meet the runners-up from the other group.
Also Sweden and Egypt in the World Cup quarterfinals
In the main round groups II and IV, in which the participants of the other two quarter-finals are determined, the situation is not quite as clear.
Although the Swedes and Egyptians, who have no loss of points, are already safely qualified, there is still a lot possible behind them, especially in Group II: Portugal, Iceland and Hungary all still have chances of progressing behind the Swedes who have already been determined as group winners. (DATA: schedule and results of the Handball World Cup 2023)
In Group IV, Croatia (5:3, 128:111) must hope for a defeat by the Danes (7:1, 144:105) in a duel with Egypt (8:0, 125:88) and are clearly behind in terms of goal difference to make up for a place in the quarter-finals. Denmark, on the other hand, can still top their group if they beat Egypt.