Since 2013, Hungary have been one of the most consistent teams at the IHF Men’s World Championship, making the quarter-finals four times – in 2013, 2017, 2021 and, now, at Poland/Sweden 2023 – somehow always finding the right way to deliver in crucial matches.
They are still waiting for a semi-finals berth since Japan 1997 but have always been there, close to upsetting the favourites, only for the powerhouses they met to bounce back and clinch the win in clutch time.
Missing three editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship between 2015 and 2021 was too much for a team that won the bronze medal at Egypt 1999 and France 2001 and had always finished in the top 10 since 1997.
Their performance at Denmark/Germany 2019 was also truly disappointing, as Serbia finished on the 18th place, with a huge step back from their consistent displays, which yielded so many great performances in the world handball flagship competition.
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Swedish duo steers Löwen to third spot EHF / Björn Pazen23 May 2021, 19:40 Share URL via E-Mail Copy URL to clipboard
After missing the final due to the defeat against Füchse Berlin, EHF Finals 2021 hosts Rhein-Neckar Löwen were highly motivated to finish the event on a high - and they delivered a completely different performance. Beating Orlen Wisla Plock 32:27 after a dominant performance in the 3-4 placement match, the “Lions” secured a prize money of 40,000 EUR, 10,000 more than their Polish rivals.
Like in their semi against Magdeburg, Plock proved that the gap to strong German clubs is not that big. Again, the team of Xavi Sabate was not that far away from the 2013 EHF Cup winners.