Yes, that's nonsense: start a World Under-Five Championship after an Olympic final.
The pundits of international handball have still not understood that it is not by increasing the number of matches that their sport will be more popular.
Actors, such as the French coach Olivier Krumbholz, campaign to sanctify the Olympic year by organizing the World Cup every four years instead of two currently.
Due to the postponement of the Games due to Covid-19, this is the first time that the Olympics and Worlds have taken place in the same year.
The classic sequence is normally JO-Euro.
In the meantime, the Blue, Olympic champions, are going back to coal with a World Cup which begins this Wednesday in Spain.
France will enter the competition on Friday (6 p.m.) against Angola, in the suburbs of Barcelona.
The 1️⃣ 8️⃣ that will fly this Tuesday for the 2021 IHF World Cup in Spain!
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📅 Competition begins ➡️ Friday against Angola! #BleuetFier pic.twitter.com/NYPJxz3W5a
- French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) November 29, 2021
32 teams on deck, 24 in the main round
Thirty-two nations are participating in the 25th Women's World Championship which runs until December 19.
For the preliminary round, the 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four teams.
The top three from each group will advance to the main round.
The 4th ranked team will compete in the President's Cup.
The 24 teams in the main round will be split into four groups of six teams each.
The two best of each group will advance to the last table: quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
This Spanish World Cup is still under the threat of Covid-19.
If the public is still admitted, all team press briefings will take place by videoconference until further notice.
A start as a formality for the Blue
For the first round, France is placed in Group A with Slovenia, Angola and Montenegro. They play in Granollers, on the outskirts of Barcelona. “In terms of the media or the world of handball, everyone is waiting for us, anticipates goalkeeper Cléopâtre Darleux. They want us to achieve the same results, that we are always on top. It puts a little pressure, but we must not put too much. After Angola, the Blue will play Sunday (6 pm) against Slovenia, then on December 7 against Montenegro (8.30 pm). This first round is a formality for the Olympic champions. They will cross in the next round with Russia, their unfortunate opponent of the final in Tokyo. If all goes well, France will play all of their matches at Granollers.
🚨 Get out your agenda!
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👉 The program of 🇫🇷 on the preliminary round of the 2021 IHF World Cup 🇪🇸
📲 Follow @SheLOVsHandball for all the information on the competition! #BleuetFier #SheLovesHandball pic.twitter.com/dKZoTZC27e
- French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) November 29, 2021
France and Norway favorites
In the wake of the Olympics, the Blue are inevitably eagerly awaited at the World Cup. Sacred in 2003 and 2017, they can win a third world title. Only 13th in the previous World Cup in Japan, they also have a revenge to take "When we have won the Olympics, we can not arrive at the World Championship by saying that we do not have high goals. But if we don't go all the way, it won't be considered a tragedy. The objective is to work to go to the semi-finals, afterwards things will be done by themselves, ”warns the coach. There is another very ambitious team: Norway, already crowned in 2011 and 2015. Only 3rd in Japan, the partners of the former Parisian Stine Oftedal will not let France succeed in the Grand Slam. Also watch out for Russia and maybe even the Dutch title holders.
2024 already in sight
Before Paris 2024 and after this Iberian World Cup, the Blue will play one Euro in 2022 and another World Championship in 2023. But the Paris Games are already starting.
The Olympics which, as a reminder, will take place in ... Lille for all handball players "This World Cup is the first competition after the Games," says Olivier Krumbholz.
We are not just working on the intention to perform in 2024. We intend to do so in all the major competitions that will take place between now and then.
It is important for everyone: the team, the federation and Paris 2024. Being efficient in all the competitions will allow us to maintain the link with the French public.
"
The groups: group A
(in Granollers): France, Montenegro, Angola, Slovenia;
Group B
(in Lliria): Russia, Serbia, Cameroon, Poland;
Group C
(in Castello): Norway, Romania, Kazakhstan, Iran;
Group D
(in Torrevieja): Netherlands, Sweden, Puerto Rico, Uzbekistan;
Group E
(in Lliria): Germany, Hungary, Rep. Czech, Slovakia;
Group F
(at Granollers): Denmark, South Korea, Tunisia, Congo; Group G (in Castello): Croatia, Japan, Brazil, Paraguay;
Group H
(in Torrevieja): Spain, Austria, Argentina, China.
The program:
December 1 to 7: first round in Granollers, Torrevieja, Lliria and Castello;
December 8 to 13: main tour in Granollers and Torrevieja;
December 14 to 15: quarter-finals at Granollers;
December 17: semi-finals at Granollers;
December 19: match for 3rd place and final in Granollers.
