Handball World Championship

[S93]

The 2011 handball WC is starting this week in sweden.
Great opportunity for betting and obvs to watch seeing as its one of the best sports in the world imo.

Top 3 from the last 3 major tournaments.

2008 Olympics:
1.France
2.Iceland
3.Spain

2009 World Championship
1.France
2.Croatia
3.Poland

2010 European Championship.
1.France
2.Croatia
3.Iceland


The groups:
Bahrain
Egypt
France
Germany
Spain
Tunisia

Austria
Brazil
Hungary
Iceland
Japan
Norway

Algeria
Australia
Croatia
Denmark
Romania
Serbia

Argentina
Chile
South Korea
Poland
Slovakia
Sweden

france are clearly the favorites as the raining World,Euro and Olympic champions.
Might be smart to bet on them to draw there first game as they are usually slow starters.
They are 2,1-1 to win the whole thing.

Other teams capable of winning it/going far: Croatia,Iceland,Poland,Sweden,Denmark,Spain and germany.

Croatia,Iceland,Spain and Poland have been the only ones in recent years to threaten France´s dominance.
Croatia always look strong but have had some issues with there coach recently.
Iceland have looked good in pre-games(beat Germany by 4 earlier tonight).
Poland has a aging squad and it might be there last shot at a big trophy with there current players.
Spain also has a aging squad.
Denmark,Germany and Sweden are all traditional power houses in handball and all 3 teams are currently renewing a lot of players and young players replacing the older ones.
All 3 could go far imo.
Sweden also has the bonus of being at home.
Egypt,Tunisia and South Korea are the only non Euro teams capable of making it to the second stage but seeing as Egypt and Tunisia are in the "death" group they dont look like advancing, that leaves SK as the only shot for the rest of the world imo.
But to be fair argentina and brazil have improved a lot lately and finally got some players playing in the big Euro leagues(German and Spanish).


Some friendly results:
Sweden : Tunisia 24 :19
Denmark: Brazil 38: 29
Argentina-Brazil 21-18
Slovakia v Algeria 25-23
Tunisia : Serbia 34:30
Tunisia : Serbia 26:24
Germany:Sweden 28-23
Norway : Sweden 30 : 37
Norway : Brazil: 31-32
Hungary-CZE: 31-24
Poland-Slovakia: 32-24
Iceland-Germany 27-23


My prediction for the WC.
France (But I really hope Iceland can finally beat them)
Iceland
Croatia
Sweden
Germany
Poland
Denmark
Spain

 

[S93]

Last pre WC friendly for these teams just finished.

Iceland-Germany 31-27
Ólafur Stefánsson and Aron Pálmarsson where great for Iceland and Kraus was fantastic for Germany.

 

[Worak]

I'm looking forward to watching the WC since I like handball (not as much as football and eggball but still).

Iceland really looked strong in the two friendlies against Germany and showed that the Germans have still a lot to work on, especially in the defense against 2nd row throws.

My pics for the 2nd round:

The groups:

Bahrain
Egypt
France (big favourite in this group and for the overall win)
Germany
Spain
Tunisia

austria
Brazil
Hungary
Iceland
Japan
Norway

Algeria
Australia
Croatia
Denmark
Romania
Serbia

Argentina
chile
South Korea
Poland
Slovakia
Sweden

Since the modus of the 2nd round is a bit complicated anything can happen there including big favourites eliminating each other.

Prediction for final results:

France
Iceland
Denmark
Germany
Croatia
Spain
Sweden
Poland

 

[AtiFCOD]

I used to watch handball tournaments. Hungary is doing well at (women) handball tourneys.
But I think the referees have too much effect on this sport...

 

[Jillychemung]

I watched the 11th/12th place game at the LA Olympics. First and last time I've seen team handball

 

[Worak]

I watched the 11th/12th place game at the LA Olympics. First and last time I've seen team handball

11th vs. 12th ?

That is like watching nicaragua vs. puerto rico in baseball .... what did you expect ?

 

[S93]

I watched the 11th/12th place game at the LA Olympics. First and last time I've seen team handball

You where alive in 1932?
but the game has changed a lot since 1984 tbh.
You should give another game a watch, u might like it .


My group prediction:

Im still shocked at how sick this group is.

France
Germany
Spain
Egypt
Tunisia
Bahrain

Iceland
norway
Hungary/Austria
Hungary/Austria
Brazil
Japan

Croatia
Denmark
Romania
Serbia
Algeria
Australia

Poland
Sweden
South Korea
Slovakia
Argentina
Chile

 

[S93]

Opening game over and as expected Sweden beat Chile comfortably.
28-18.

For those that cant watch games on tv this site usually has streams http://myp2p.eu/.
Plenty of games tomorrow.

 

[S93]

First round of the group stage finished.
No big surprises except maybe Austria-Brazil(Austria shouldnt have won with so much) and South Korea-Argentina(Argentina getting the draw).

Group A
France-Tunisia 32-19
Germany-Egypt 30-25
Spain-Bahrain 33-22

Group B
Iceland-Hungary 32-26
Austria-Brazil 34-24
Norway-Japan 35-29

Group C
Croatia-Romania 27-21
Denmark-Australia 47-12
Serbia-Algeria 25-24

Group D
Sweden-Chile 28-18
S-Korea-Argentina 25-25
Poland-Slovakia 35-33


2nd round of the group stage is tomorrow and there are some big games.

 

[beardyian]

I think Britain has totally missed out on the Handball game, i have only seen glimpses of it and would like to see more.

Eurosport is probably the only place to see any so i better keep a look out :top:

 

[AtiFCOD]

I think Britain has totally missed out on the Handball game, i have only seen glimpses of it and would like to see more.

Eurosport is probably the only place to see any so i better keep a look out :top:

I watch Eurosport too.
There are also poker tournaments there sometimes.

 

[S93]

I think Britain has totally missed out on the Handball game, i have only seen glimpses of it and would like to see more.

Eurosport is probably the only place to see any so i better keep a look out :top:

If heard that the 2012 Olympic comity is trying to develope handball to avoid humiliation at the London Olympics, so far its not going to well since they lost the other day to Greenland.
I know u use myp2p so u have no excuse to not check out a game.
Games every day for the next 10days or so.


Another great day of handball today.
Only group B and D played to day and its A and C tomorrow.
Im really happy with Iceland easy win against Brazil.
Im also pretty shocked that Austria lost to Japan and that Argentina just barely lost out to Poland.

Group B standings after day 2
Iceland-4 points.
Norway-2
Hungary-2
Japan-2
Austria-2
Brazil-0

Group D:
Sweden-4
Poland-4
S-Korea-3
Argentina-1
Slovakia-0
Chile-0

 

[beardyian]

I know u use myp2p so u have no excuse to not check out a game.
Games every day for the next 10days or so.

Having terrible internet connection lately so i hope it kicks in at the right time :top:

 

[S93]

Iceland and Denmark the only teams with a perfect record so far.
Nordic power ftw!

Final group standings:

France 5 4 1 0 159 106 +53 9

Spain 5 4 1 0 139 110 +29 9

Germany 5 3 0 2 151 125 +26 6

Egypt 5 1 0 4 115 139 −24 2

Tunisia 5 1 0 4 114 137 −23 2

Bahrain 5 1 0 4 105 166 −61 2

Iceland 5 5 0 0 157 119 +38 10

Hungary 4 3 0 1 116 103 +13 6

Norway 5 3 0 2 139 136 +3 6

Japan 5 2 0 3 141 161 −20 4

Austria 4 1 0 3 114 116 −2 2

Brazil 5 0 0 5 131 163 −32 0

Denmark 5 5 0 0 181 117 +64 10

Croatia 5 3 1 1 148 109 +39 7

Serbia 5 2 1 2 139 139 0 5

Algeria 5 2 0 3 100 109 −9 4

Romania 5 2 0 3 132 123 +9 4

Australia 5 0 0 5 77 180 −103 0

Sweden 5 4 0 1 142 112 +30 8

Poland 5 4 0 1 143 123 +20 8

Argentina 5 3 1 1 133 114 +19 7

South Korea 5 2 1 2 137 128 +9 5

Slovakia 5 0 1 4 128 156 −28 1

Chile 5 0 1 4 117 167 −50 1

For those not farmiliar with the format at the WC the top 3 teams from each group advance to another group with 3other nations and the teams take up there points they got against the team that where with them in the first group.

So it stands like this atm and top 2 teams from each of these groups go to the semi finals and the others play for a place 5-12(important since top 7 give a spot to the Olympics)

Iceland 2 2 0 0 61 48 +13 4

France 2 1 1 0 58 51 +7 3

Spain 2 1 1 0 54 52 +2 3

Hungary 2 1 0 1 52 55 −3 2

Germany 2 0 0 2 47 56 −9 0

Norway 2 0 0 2 45 55 −10 0

Denmark 2 2 0 0 69 56 +13 4

Argentina 2 1 0 1 50 46 +4 2

Sweden 2 1 0 1 46 48 −2 2

Poland 2 1 0 1 45 47 −2 2

Croatia 2 0 1 1 53 58 −5 1

Serbia 2 0 1 1 51 59 −8 1

Really hard to predict who will make it to the Semi-finals but im gonna go with Iceland-Croatia and Denmark-France in the semis.
Spain,Sweden,Poland and Germany might all squeeze in as well but I wouldnt consider them favorites.
I dont think Serbia,Argentina,Norway or Hungary are strong enough to go all the way.

P.S
Iceland-Norway 29-22. HAHAHAHA Norge.

 

[S93]

Highlights.

http://www.tv4play.se/sport/tv4_sporten?title=highlights_island-norge&videoid=1201456

http://www.tv4play.se/sport/tv4_sporten?title=highlights_frankrike-spanien&videoid=1201528

 

[Worak]

Interesting WC so far imo.

The Germans gave away a big chance against Spain and were without a chance vs. France, the other teams of the group stage were no real match for France, Spain and Germany imo.

I thought that the modus wouldn't favour Germany - they probably won't make it to the semifinal starting into the 2nd round with 0 points .

Looking forward to the game against Island who had difficulties against Austria in the first round but still look pretty strong. Should be a very interesting and close game.

 

[S93]

Sweden-France and Denmark-Spain play in the semi finals.

Iceland-Croatia play for 5-6 place and Hungary-Poland for 6-7.
Hungary-Poland game is especially important since it deceits which of those teams get the Olympic qualifiers(World Champs and continental champs go straight to the Olympics, teams 2-7 at the WC and 2-3 at continental competition go to the play offs)