Denmark’s three-time reigning champion puts its trophy on the line during a competition which will take place from January 14 to February 2.
At what time and on which channels to watch the World Handball Championship?
The Handball World Cup takes place every two years. This year, it can be found from January 14 to February 2. It takes place in Europe in five cities spread across three different countries: Porec, Varazdin and Zagreb (Croatia), Oslo (Norway) and Herning (Denmark). As for several years already, beIN Sports will broadcast the entire competition. The first two matches of the Blues against Qatar and Kuwait will be broadcast on beIN at 6 p.m. on January 14 and 16, the last meeting against Austria on January 18 will be on beIN 3 and TMC at 6 p.m. As since 2019, the TF1 group will co-broadcast part of the competition on its channels TF1, TMC et TFX. Three of the six matches of the French team in the preliminary round and the main round will be broadcast, as well as the half and the final of the Blues in the event of qualification.
What format?
32 nations are competing in this World Cup, each divided into eight groups of four teams (A to H). The first three selections from each group are qualified for the main round, made up of four groups of six teams. The teams from group A are placed with those from B, those from group C with those from D and so on. They then play three new matches against teams they have not met and retain their results from the preliminary phase against the two teams they have already faced. The first two teams from each of the 4 groups of the main round then participate in the quarter-finals, then the tournament follows a classic operation until the final. In total, the finalists will have played nine matches in 18 to 20 days.
Who are the favorites?
Who else but Denmark to ensure his succession? Triple title holders (2019, 2021, 2023), the Danish selection, Olympic champion in Paris last summer, presents itself as the nation to beat. Nikolaj Jacobsen’s men are on a big streak of 15 consecutive victories. Behind, Sweden, despite several setbacks and complicated Olympics, remains one of the dominant forces. Finalists in 2021 and winners of the European Championship in 2022, the Swedes could benefit from the return of legendary winger Niklas Ekberg to climb to the roof of the world. Finally, the Germans, finalists of the Olympic Games and executioners of the Blues, will also have a card to play. Without a major title since 2016 (Euro) but still well placed, the team of goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, triple world champion (1938, 1978, 2007), could defy the predictions.
Among the outsiders, note Spain (3rd in the last World Cup, bronze medal at the Olympics). The Hispanics will have a hell of an entry challenge with the presence of Sweden in their group. Finally, present in the toughest group with Bahrain, Croatia and Argentina, Egypt, led by Parisian Yahia Omar Khaled, could create a surprise during this World Cup.
What objective for France?
France is the most successful nation at the World Cup, with 7 victories to its credit (1995, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2017), two silver medals (1993, 2023) as well as four bronze medals (1997, 2003, 2005 and 2019). But the Blues are haunted by the cataclysmic scenario of the end of the quarter-final of the Paris Games against Germany which saw the Tricolores lose in overtime (34-35) after having had a two-goal lead at less than 15 seconds from the end of regulation time. Since then, the French team has not really had time to recover from such a failure.
Among the positive points, Guillaume Gille’s training is less decimated than expected. Despite the retirement of Nikola Karabatic, and the absence of former Montpellier Hugo Descat, the Tricolores will be able to count on Dika Mem and Elohim Prandi who have received the medical green light. In terms of drawing, the French team was lucky. In addition to having inherited modest entry nations (Qatar, Kuwait and Austria), the French are in the good part of the table. During the second phase they should, barring any surprises, find Hungary, the Netherlands and North Macedonia, nations that are also affordable on paper. If they finish first, Guillaume Gille’s men would avoid the triple defending champions Denmark, the Swedes, the Germans and the Norwegians in the quarter-finals in Zagreb. Even if the chances of winning the title are low, the Blues can legitimately hope to reach at least the last four of this World Cup.
The 5 players to follow
Mathias Gidsel (Denmark): At 25 years old, the Danish right-back is undoubtedly the current best player in the world. Rewarded with the equivalent of the Ballon d’Or in 2023, that same year he was logically elected best player of the World Cup with the added bonus of the trophy for top scorer in the competition (60 goals). The Blues remember it well, in the final, the mastery of the Füchse player had crucified the French hopes.
Juri Knorr (Germany): The 24-year-old German nugget has been shining and has been scoring goals on European courts for several seasons. Courted by many big names this summer, the center-half joined the Danish team Aalborg until 2028. Son of former international Thomas Knorr (who participated in the 1996 Olympics), Juri Knorr represents the new generation which takes Germany from the retirements of Uwe Gensheimer or full-back Steffen Weinhold.
Jim Gottfridsson (Suède) : 31 years old, 1m95 and 91kg, a red beard, centre-half, playmaker, shooter, facilitator, defender: Gottfridsson is all in one. Above all, he is the fierce soul of the Swedish selection that he has been playing for more than ten years. Capable of derailing any nation on a big night, the executioner of the Blues during the semi-final of Euro 2022 with his XXL performance (9 goals and 6 assists) plays in Germany, in Flensburg.
Sander Sagosen (Norway): The former PSG player, star of the Norwegian selection, is one of the players capable of changing the course of a match. A formidable shooter from 9 meters, the center-half from Kolstad will still start the World Cup in particular form given that he is coming off a serious injury to his right shoulder.
Aymeric Minne (France) : Maybe it’s time for him to take a step forward. At 27, Aymeric Minne is clearly in the form of his life and could become one of the leaders of the Blues. Trained in Toulouse, after a stint in Aix in 2015, since his arrival in Nantes in 2019, the Habs leader continues to progress. Author of an incredible season, he has so far allowed Nantais to rank at the top of D1 ahead of PSG, reigning champion since 2015. He hopes to offer a first major title to his club before leaving for the Bundesliga, where it already has a verbal agreement with Flensburg for June 2026.
