The Palau d’Esports de Granollers welcomes the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 champions France to town as they take on the African champions Angola in the opening match of group A.

The second game sees an emotional courtside reunion as Slovenia, coached by Dragan Adzic, who led Montenegro to 2012 Olympic silver and European gold, take on his former side, coached by Bojana Popovic, his former captain with the young nation. 

France vs Angola 18:00 CET

Olympic champions France come to Spain 2021 as one of the clear favourites to not only reach its podium, but to top it and their first test is against African champions Angola. 

While France took that Olympic gold in Japan in August, Tokyo was not a good experience for the Angolans as they could only manage a preliminary group win and draw – not enough to qualify through, losing out to the Republic Korea on goal difference.

They face a French side continuing its conveyor belt of producing outstanding global handball superstars – a team that does not even have household names such as Amandine Leynaud, Siraba Dembele-Pavlovic, Alexandra Lacrabere and Camille Ayglon-Saurina in it anymore.

One player who has seen it all with France and who will also be in Spain is Alison Pineau and the  IHF Women’s World Player of the Year 2009 is raring to go once again.

“I am the most capped of the team…[but] I don't feel any pressure because I've been here for a long time. I know how it works,” said Pineau to the French Handball Federation ahead of their opening match. “In such a competition there will be ups and downs, moments of tension. It can sometimes get tense with misunderstandings, but above all you have to concentrate.”

Pineau also noted that Lucie Granier, Oriane Ondono and Alicia Toublanc, the new additions to the French squad, will bring “freshness”, but admitted that the loss of those legendary French names “leaves a void” in the side which Pineau admits has a status to maintain.

Angola, who have been preparing for Spain 2021 in Hungary, stand in the way of good beginning for Olivier Krumbholz’s French side who will hope that their last world championship result against their opponents will repeat (28:17 at Japan 2019) but that it will be the start of something special for the 2017 World Championship winners and not the 13-16 placement round again, like it was two years ago.

“Angola are very dangerous, maybe more and more dangerous,” said Krumbholz. “We are focused on preparing for this match by thinking that if we win, we will have already taken a first step and take some of the pressure off.”
 
Montenegro vs Slovenia 20:30 CET

"There can be no surprises between me and Dragan, we have spent many years together and we know each other very well,” said Montenegro coach Bojana Popovic ahead of the emotional clash which will see the former Montenegro captain under then Montenegro coach, now Slovenia coach, Dragan Adzic face off for the first time from the sidelines.

“There is no special duel between the two coaches, the game is like any other; everyone should be relaxed and let the one who is better win.”

Despite the raw feelings that will surely be on show, the two teams have very recent history against each other in an eventful match at the 2020 European Championship. Less than a year ago the sides – both with different coaches – met with Montenegro edging a 26:25 win, despite Slovenia coming back from eight goals down (15:23) with just over a quarter remaining.

While Montenegro can rely on the ever-present captain, right wing Jovanka Radicevic, to lead in Spain, they are missing the injured pair of Jelena Despotovic and Djurdjina Jaukovic, while Majda Mehmedovic, Andrea Klikovac and Milena Raicevic are no longer with the team which will feature five debutants in Spain. 

“Everyone will lead the game in their own way, and it is the girls who have to do the work on court,” added Popovic, whose ‘Lionesses’ lost twice against Sweden in their final preparation matches. 

“The first match in a big competition is always very important and the pressure is the greatest. Two points at the start opens the door for you, but we need to be relieved and do what we agreed. 

“There must be no burdens, because after Slovenia, we will have duels against Angola and France. We need to build our game and grow as a team, that's why we came, we just need to overcome that initial pressure and start the championship in a good rhythm.”

For the seasoned Adzic, who also coached many of the Montenegro players at club side Buducnost, where he won the EHF Champions League, he is more concerned about potential key players missing than any reunion.

“My biggest dilemma is if we will be able to play in full force, including Amra Pandzic and Elizabeth Omoregie, who have some knee problems,” said Adzic to the Slovenian Handball Federation website. 

“I am extremely satisfied with the attitude shown by the players. The game is demanding for every competitor – not only for us of course – as long as the Montenegrins have enough energy, which they will certainly not lack in the first round.”

“This time, the last 10,15 minutes of our match at the European Championship will have to be transferred to all 60 minutes – if so, I am sure of a positive outcome,” said Slovenian centre back Nina Zulic who played in that game and is at Kastamonu Belediyesi GSK in Turkey, alongside a number of Montenegrins including Radicevic, Raicevic, Mehmedovic and goalkeeper Marina Rajcic.

Despite having one of the world’s great players in Ana Gros in their ranks and the impressive backcourt player Tjasa Stanko, Slovenia recorded their worst-ever ranking in IHF Women’s World Championship history last time out, finishing 19th at Japan 2019, while Montenegro finished in their best-ever position of fifth.