WCh 2019 - Germany & Denmark

[mikh]

Some important news that passed a bit unnoticed: Korea will take part with a Unified team at the WCh in Denmark/Germany next January. This has been confirmed by IHF, which will also allow the Koreans to take part with a larger roster.

To facilitate the integration of players from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea into the Republic of Korea team, the IHF have decided to increase the number of players in the unified team at GER/DEN 2019.

The Unified Korean team will play the opening match vs. Germany.

[Ivar]

Is Duvnjak injured? I don't see him on the Wikipedia squad page.

[Synchrony]

Is Duvnjak injured? I don't see him on the Wikipedia squad page.

He's with the squad. Wiki article is wrong.

[mikh]

Angola - Qatar 24:23

Angola lead throughout the game even by +4, but were 22:23 down with 1 min left. They equalised with 20s left and then got the winner on the fast break with only 1s on the clock.
They showed very good structure in their game and had they not missed so many fast breaks, they would've won clearly. have some really interesting players. Check out the 2 backs: Hebo (also good defender) and the RB Pestana! Also the second CB Lopes has some amazing one-on-one skills and really fast accelerations. GK Muachissengue was impressive as well! Certainly a team to watch in this WCh!

[kleber]

A nightmare world championship for russia

start with the worst draw possible and in last months 5 keys players out.

so now they are eliminated after the first game.

[kleber]

Serbia is very poor,almost lost the game.

france and germany will destroy russia B or serbia if they play full squad.

Brasil have good chances to finnish in third.

[wossen]

Germany versus Croatia. Germany versus Croatia. Some decisions of the danish referees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owofNiL ... gTTIB9fZbs

[mikh]

Great match last night, but Norway was simply better than Germany!
The defensive tactics put in place by Berge and Mammelund were superb, with O'Sullivan coordinating one of the most effective and clean defences. Props for his effort!
Germans thought Sagosen was the key of the match and stopping him from shooting (sometimes with butcher style fouls) would be enough. They were partially right, Sagosen was the key, but Norway was prepared for a physical game against him as Roed (21!) and Myrhol (37!) stepped up to help the team. Roed was particularly reliable in key moments and he did great to replace Toennesen at such a young age. I hope he will recover for the final!

Germany seemed a bit over-confident all the time and as time passed they fell straight into the defensive trap laid down by the Norwegian team. For me, the keys of the German defeat were:
- too much shooting from distance (only Bohm excelled there)
- too many attacks going in-court, thus neglecting the great wings they have: Gensheimer, Groetzki and Musche (who gets sooo little court time for what he is able to provide)
- exaggerating the LP game in key moments, when it was clear that Wiencek can't get the ball
- too little time for Weinhold on court
- waaaaaaay too much time for Wiencek on court; he has shown his limits both in attack and especially in defence, where all he can be is a brute. It's a shame since Kohlbacher (23!) is a way better pivot, at least in attack, at the moment

Props to a nearly perfect ref couple! I know we don't say this too often here, but this time we have to congratulate them for handling a very tough game, without giving anything to the hosts in front of an absolutely amazing arena! In fact, this also had an impact on German players who were probably expecting the proverbial push but got nothing and as time passed you could see how their frustration grows. In the end Heinevetter didn't miss the opportunity to show everyone what a huge clown he is, by running across court to fight with Sagosen during game time or refusing to defend the goal at the last actions and then ironically applauding the Norwegians. Such a shame for an amazing athlete, but a perpetually sour loser!

Back to Norway, I really believe it's time for them to go all the way (again a final against the hosts)! It won't be an easy task against a Denmark which looked completely unleashed against France (who lost while scoring 30 goals!!!)

@Mr. 007, we're waiting for your pictorial account of the semifinal and final!

[mikh]

A nightmare world championship for russia

start with the worst draw possible and in last months 5 keys players out.

so now they are eliminated after the first game.

In the end, not a bad WCh for Russia B. They were able to push the hosts and France to the limit. Pity for the match vs. Serbia. Brazil is getting better and better and their level at this WCh has been truly impressive. Russia can look back at some little details from all matches that would've allowed it to be even first in this group!
I think they can look at the next Euro with lots of optimism. They seem to be perfectly capable of defeating anyone, bar probably Denmark.

[kleber]

A nightmare world championship for russia

start with the worst draw possible and in last months 5 keys players out.

so now they are eliminated after the first game.

In the end, not a bad WCh for Russia B. They were able to push the hosts and France to the limit. Pity for the match vs. Serbia. Brazil is getting better and better and their level at this WCh has been truly impressive. Russia can look back at some little details from all matches that would've allowed it to be even first in this group!
I think they can look at the next Euro with lots of optimism. They seem to be perfectly capable of defeating anyone, bar probably Denmark.

A nightmare group,they key game was against brazil and brazil is getting better every year,9 place overall......

Now the goal in the euro is to get the olympic qual tour spot.....

denmark(already in tokyo),norway,france,germany,sweden,croatia,spain in the qual tournament.

so it will be between slovenia,hungary,russia,austria(home factor),iceland,.....a lot will depend on the draw.

congrats to Denmark on the world title,clearly best team in the world by now.
Norway second and Sweden fifth...Scandinavia male handball the best in the world now,no one would say that 15
years ago.