The spotlight will be on Men’s EHF EURO 2020 champions Spain when they start their Egypt 2021 campaign against Brazil, as Los Hispanos eye their first medal IHF Men’s World Championship since 2013.

In the second game of the group, everything will be on the table, with a young Poland team facing a tough test against Tunisia.

Spain vs Brazil 19:00 CAT

Since winning the World Championship in 2013, Spain have failed to win a medal at the men’s handball flagship event.

However, Los Hispanos have found recent success at the Men’s EHF EURO, which they won twice in the past three years.

Therefore, the reigning European champions will have a target on their back when they throw off their Egypt 2021 campaign against Brazil today.

Coach Jordi Ribera recently extended his contract until 2024, which signals Spain’s plans to continue the pursue of medals in the next years.

Egypt 2021 could be one of the biggest challenges for Spain, despite their core staying intact in most parts, with goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas, Germany/Denmark 2019 All-star left wing Ferran Sole and backs Jorge Maqueda, Alex Dujshebaev and Raul Entrerrios still featuring in the side.

The experience and depth are Spain’s main advantages, but they lost their last official game against Croatia in the EHF EURO Cup 2022 (28:31) and therefore, their current level remains a bit of a question mark.

However, Spain will be overwhelming favourites against Brazil, who will be missing both their coach, Marcus Oliveira, and their best defender, Barça’s line player Thiagus Petrus, who both returned positive COVID-19 tests.

Despite the issues, Brazil are still confident that they can compete with Spain, with a main round berth in the balance for both sides.

They will surely try to emulate their result during the Round of 16 at France 2017, when Spain eked out a 28:27 win after Brazil led for 40 minutes.

Tunisia vs Poland 21:30 CAT

With every point being key in securing a main round place, Tunisia and Poland meet in the New Capital Sports Hall aiming for the win in their first game at Egypt 2021.

It will be the fifth game between the two sides at the IHF Men’s World Championship, with Poland taking four wins, by an average margin of 4.25 goals per game.

Four years ago, the two sides met in the 17-20th placement round in the President Cup, as Poland took a narrow 28:26 win.

Yet things have changed for both sides since then, with a new wave of young players being ushered in.

Poland have been awarded a Wild Card for the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship in Egypt last July, but will have their work cut out, being pitted against three strong sides: Spain, Brazil and Tunisia.

With one player aged 19 and several others in their mid-20’s, Poland are trying to build for the future, as they will host the 28th IHF Men’s World Championship alongside Sweden in 2023.

But their first challenge will be stiff. The silver medalists at the CAHB Men’s African Championship 2020, Tunisia, are also eyeing a main round berth, in their 14th consecutive World Championship.

With a squad built around a strong Tunisian core, with key additional players who are plying their trade in Europe, like right back Amine Bannour at Dinamo Bucuresti in Romania and centre back Mohamed Soussi at Tremblay in France, the African side are no pushovers.

As the tournament is held in Egypt, they still have a point to prove and will be vying to proceed to the next phase, as at least one African side will progress to the main round, with Algeria and Morocco drawn in the same group.