Denmark are one of the most decorated teams in the history of the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, winning eight medals so far, with only the Republic of Korea securing more medals in their history – nine.

The objective at North Macedonia 2024 is clearly to tie that total, with Denmark having a superb generation, which secured the silver medal at the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, also in North Macedonia, as well as the silver medal at the W19 EHF EURO 2023, where they lost against Hungary.

Coach Flemming Larsen will have serious firepower at his disposal, with experienced players who have plied their trade already in the Danish league, one of the best in Europe, but will seriously miss their star player in the previous two major international competitions, left back Julie Scaglione.

The 19-year-old left back was the All-Star left back and the top goal scorer at the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, with 62 goals, as well as the All-Star left back at the W17 EHF EURO 2021 and the All-Star left back and the top goal scorer at the W19 EHF EURO 2023, with 68 goals.

Scaglione has already featured for the senior team, including at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, where Denmark clinched the bronze medal on their home court, and will surely make her mark for Jesper Jensen’s senior side from now on, as she was not selected in the 16-player team for North Macedonia 2024.

But players like right back Anne With Johansen, who scored 10 goals for the EHF Champions League Women runners-up, SG BBM Bietigheim, this season, or goalkeeper Ida Marie Kaysen are experienced players, who can help Denmark battle once again for the trophy here, at North Macedonia 2024.

With a group where they will be favoured, featuring another Scandinavian side, Norway, and two Asian sides, Chinese Taipei and Japan, Denmark will be looking to improve their results from the previous editions, which saw the European powerhouse finish sixth in 2018 and fifth at Slovenia 2022.

Key players: Anne With Johansen (right back), Ida Marie Kaysen (goalkeeper), Matilde Vestergaard (left wing)

Qualification: W19 EHF EURO 2023: Silver medal

History in the competition: 1977: 10th, 1979: 5th, 1981: 5th, 1983: 10th, 1985: 11th, 1987: Silver medal, 1989: 7th, 1991: Bronze medal, 1993: 4th, 1995: Silver medal, 1997: Winners, 1999: Bronze medal, 2001: 7th, 2003: 7th, 2005: 5th, 2008: Silver medal, 2012: 9th, 2014: Bronze medal, 2016: Winners, 2018: 6th, 2022: 5th  

Group at North Macedonia 2024: Group D (Denmark, Norway, Japan, Chinese Taipei)