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.
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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.
48 games are now elapsed at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, with 24 teams progressing to the main round, while eight are heading to the President’s Cup. It is high time we get into what has happened over the first week of handball at Poland/Sweden 2023, talking about handball, numbers and trends.
Five continents represented in the main round
With a focused and commanding performance, the Netherlands secured their passage through to the main round of the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, taking a 10-goal victory against North Macedonia in their group F preliminary group clash at the Tauron Arena in Krakow.
Group F
North Macedonia vs Netherlands 24:34 (11:18)