Friday 15th January 2021
Swiss handball players surprise
France has a perfect start to the World Cup
At the start of the Handball World Cup in Egypt, France will live up to its role as favorites. In the top game against Norway, an ex-Bundesliga player in particular stands out. Switzerland achieved a respectable success against Austria.
Record champion France started with a respectable success in the world championship in Egypt. In the first top game of the tournament on Thursday evening in Giza, the French won 28:24 (13:13) against runner-up world champions Norway. The most successful thrower in France was former Bundesliga professional Kentin Mahé with nine goals. On the other hand, ten goals by Kiel superstar Sander Sagosen did not help the Norwegians to victory.
Like the French, co-favorites Sweden also successfully entered the tournament and won against North Macedonia with 32:20 (16:11). The outstanding Swede was Hampus Wanne from SG Flensburg-Handewitt with eleven goals.
Before that, Switzerland had already achieved the greatest success of the day. The Confederates, who had landed in Egypt just a few hours earlier, prevailed against Austria with 28:25 (13:13). The best thrower in Switzerland was playmaker Andy Schmid from Bundesliga club Rhein-Neckar Löwen with seven goals. For the Austrians, Robert Weber from HSG Nordhorn-Lingen was also the most successful with seven goals.
The Swiss who moved up for the USA landed in Egypt on Thursday afternoon and were then brought directly from the tarmac to the hall by bus. They only found out about their World Cup participation on Tuesday evening. Like the Czech Republic, the USA had canceled their participation at short notice due to several corona cases within some teams. Germany starts the tournament against Cape Verde on Sunday.
. (tagsToTranslate) Sport (t) Handball (t) Corona crisis (t) Handball World Cup