Norway extended their winning streak at Poland/Sweden 2023 to four wins in a row after a superb comeback in their first main round game in Katowice, delivering a huge blow to Serbia's chances of a quarter-final berth with a 31:28 win.
Main Round Group III
Norway vs Serbia 31:28 (14:17)
Fans at the TAURON Arena were treated to a high-quality handball spectacle as the 2023 IHF Men's World Championship preliminary group stage concluded in Krakow.
It was a real game of two halves, with Netherlands delivering the full force of their power in the first, taking the first 30 minutes 17:13.
But the 2017 and 2019 silver medallists – and any team featuring Sander Sagosen – should never be discounted.
The three best teams from Groups E and F are ready to face each other in Katowice. Four European sides, one South American and an Asian team will try to secure a quarter-finals spot. Germany and Norway proved to be powerhouses in the most balanced points distribution, starting with all four. Serbia and the Netherlands slipped against favourites in the group and will start with two points, while Qatar and Argentina begin from the bottom.
The 2017 and 2019 runners-up Norway are now through to the last 24 at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship after another focused performance against an Argentina side have one chance left at progressing through with them.
Group F
Norway vs Argentina 32:21 (16:12)
Norway coach Jonas Wille swapped out Sander Overjordet for Erik Toft as he made one change from his opening-day team, who took down North Macedonia with ease on Friday.
Jonas Wille ended his first IHF Men’s World Championship game as Norway coach with a double-digit victory against the legendary Macedonian Kiril Lazarov, now coach of the North Macedonia team.
A slow start to the game gave way to an eventual 66 goals as the Norwegians, who took silver at the 2017 and 2019 IHF Men’s World Championships, were able to ease into Poland/Sweden 2023.