Everything is clear after the group phase. Men's handball team. This is what awaits Poles now

Poland handball is currently going through further difficult moments, perhaps even the most difficult ones since the era of “Wenta's Eagles” ended. Our representatives lost on Sunday, January 19, 28:30 to Switzerland, which meant that they took the last place in group A and were left only fight for the President's Cup, i.e. places 25-32. This is the worst performance of the Polish team at a world championship among the tournaments we have participated in.

Spain's great comeback

Monday, January 20, was the last day of competition in the preliminary round, i.e. in the first group phase. It ended with clashes in groups F and G. In the first group, Sweden and Spain fought an exciting fight to win the group and get more points to start the next group phase. Ultimately, it ended in a draw 29:29 (16:11). The Swedes took first place thanks to the fact that they scored more goals in total (110 vs 99), but both teams will start the next phase with three points. On the other hand game Japan and Chile continued to play to avoid playing in the President's Cup and advance. The South American team won 31:26 (14:11).

Invincible Iceland

Group G matches had the same stakes as in group F. Iceland and Slovenia played for first place. The former triumphed 23:18, mainly thanks to a great first half (14:8). Thanks to this, the Icelanders will enter the competition for the quarter-finals with four points, and Slovenia with two. The next phase will start without points for the Cape Verde Islands, which defeated Cuba 38:28. The latter will fight for the President's Cup.

The President's Cup is the only thing Poland has left. Rivals? Economy class

Speaking of the “consolation tournament”, we already know all the teams participating in it. These are: Poland, Algeria, Kuwait, Guinea, Cuba, Bahrain, USA and Japan. The teams were divided into two groups. The winners will play for the President's Cup and 25th place. The second-place teams for 27th place, the third-placed teams for 29th place, and the last placed teams for 31st place. Our team will face:

• Algeria (January 21, 18:00)
• Kuwait (January 23, 18:00)
• Guinea (January 25, 18:00)

As for the fight for the quarterfinals, there are four groups of six teams, the best two of which will advance to the quarterfinals. Everyone starts the competition with the points scored by the other members of the group. That is, someone who won all matches in the preliminary round starts with 4 points (two points are eliminated for winning against a team from the President's Cup).

Groups in the fight for the quarterfinals:

Group I:

1. Germany – 4 points
2. Denmark – 4 points
3. Italy – 2 points
4. Czech Republic – 1 point
5. Switzerland – 1 point
6. Tunisia – 0 points

Group II:

1. France – 4 points
2. Hungary – 3 points
3. Netherlands – 2 points
4. Austria – 2 points
5. North Macedonia – 1 point
6. Qatar – 0 points

Group III:

1. Portugal – 4 points
2. Sweden – 3 points
3. Spain – 3 points
4. Brazil – 2 points
5. Norway – 0 points
6. Chile – 0 points

Group IV:

1. Egypt – 4 points
2. Iceland – 4 points
3. Croatia – 2 points
4. Slovenia – 2 points
5. Cape Verde Islands – 0 points
6. Argentina – 0 points