With the current format of the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, the two qualified teams from groups E and F will face off in the main round. The four sides in Group III of the main round will likely be 100% European teams, as six of the eight sides combined in the two groups of the preliminary round are from Europe.

In Group E, Denmark, who have recently won the Scandinavian Open, a friendly competition where Egypt, Sweden and Norway also featured, are overwhelming favourites, facing Austria, Chile and Mexico.

Denmark, one of the five sides which have featured in each and every edition of the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, have more experience in the competition than Mexico and Austria combined, with Austria making their comeback for the first time since Hungary 2013, while Mexico have also featured only once in the world handball flagship competition at this age category, at Georgia 2017.

Group F is the only 100% group with European sides facing off, but it is difficult to name a favourite, as it will likely be a well-balanced affair. While Montenegro are making their debut at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, North Macedonia are returning for the second time after finishing on the 13th place as hosts.

Georgia are also coming back for the second time, after a 20th place when they hosted the competition in 2017, while Norway have missed the top 10 in the two previous editions, finishing 17th in 2017 and 12th in 2019, as they have also lost all matches in the Scandinavian Open, against Denmark, Egypt and Sweden, with plenty to digest from those results.

Group E

• Denmark

Alongside Argentina, Croatia and Egypt, Denmark are one of the four nations to have participated in all eight previous editions of the IHF Men's Youth World Championship. And the European side is the most decorated team in the competition's history, as they won it three times, in 2007, 2011 and 2013, and earned bronze twice, in 2017 and 2019.

Last year, this generation of Danish players failed to win a medal at the 2022 European Men's Youth Championship, but the sixth place was enough to book a ticket to the World Championship. However, the squad of the team has changed since then.

Now head coach Simon Sørensen has as many as 12 new players at his disposal – those who did not compete in the European Championship last year. Denmark generates a lot of talent every year, and the age group born in 2004/05 is no exception. So the Danes are looking forward to the World Championship with optimism, as they rely on a number of players who can play key roles in a specific match.

At Croatia 2023, Denmark's primary goal is to qualify for the main round, and then they will go step by step – but obviously, the Nordic side hope to add another World Championship medal to their collection. 

Key players: Emil Tonnesen (centre back), Lasse Vilhelmsen (right back), William Dalby (left wing) 
Qualification for Croatia 2023: 2022 European Men's Youth Championship – 6th place
History in tournament: 2005: 4th, 2007: 1st, 2009: 5th, 2011: 1st, 2013: 1st, 2015: 7th, 2017: 3th, 2019: 3th 

• Austria

Austria's only participation in the IHF Men's Youth World Championship so far dates back to 2013, when they finished 16th in the tournament held in Hungary. After missing the next three editions of the event, they are now back at this level after a 10-year break and hope to do a good job at Croatia 2023.

The Austrians qualified for the World Championship at the M18 EHF Championship 2022 3, which took place in Romania last August. In the semi-finals, they needed a post-match shootout to beat home side Romania, but their win against Ukraine in the final was more straightforward (30:23).

In Croatia, it will probably be hard for Austria to compete with the three-time champions Denmark, but they are determined to beat both non-European sides in Group E, Chile and Mexico. In the opening match, the European team meet Mexico, and a good start could boost their morale and confidence. 

With a number of promising players in their squad, such as right back Nicolas Paulnsteiner and line player Clemens Meleschnig, who both represent Union West Wien Handball at club level, the Austrians certainly have a chance to reach the main round and achieve the best result in their World Championship history. 

Key players: Nicolas Paulnsteiner (right back), Clemens Meleschnig (line player), Leon Bergmann (goalkeeper)
Qualification for Croatia 2023: M18 EHF Championship 2022 3 – 1st place
History in tournament: 2013: 16th

• Chile

For Chile, it will be the sixth IHF Men's Youth World Championship in a row. After making their debut at Argentina 2011, the South American side have not missed any edition of the tournament, finishing between the 16th and 24th positions.

Last year, they earned bronze at the 2022 Central and South America Men's Youth Championship, which was just enough to book a World Championship ticket. A 23:19 victory against Uruguay in the third-place encounter was crucial for the Chileans, as only the three best teams of the competition sealed their berths at Croatia 2023.

Chile will not be among the favourites at the World Championship, but the team coached by Claudio Lira Mendiguren hope to be competitive. While their first goal is to live the experience of being at the highest level of competition in their age category worldwide, the South Americans are also determined to get some positive results.

With the help of their key players, such as goalkeeper Francisco Latorre and centre back Cristóbal Oyarzún, Chile will be looking to make the most of their opening game against Denmark, and then try to fight hard against Austria and beat Mexico. 

Key players: Cristóbal Oyarzún (centre back), Camilo Hernández (right back), Francisco Latorre (goalkeeper)
Qualification for Croatia 2023: 2022 Central and South America Men's Youth Championship – 3rd place
History in tournament: 2011: 16th, 2013: 24th, 2015: 24th, 2017: 16th, 2019: 22th 

• Mexico

Mexico made their debut at the IHF Men's Youth World Championship at Georgia 2017, and it was not an easy tournament for the Central American team, who lost all seven matches to finish 24th.

Six years later, the new generation of Mexicans is determined to do better and claim their maiden win at this level. They qualified for Croatia 2023 after earning silver at the 2022 North American and Caribbean Championship, which took place in Mexico City last November.

Following a round-robin tournament, Mexico finished behind Guadeloupe, but as Guadeloupe could not qualify for the World Championship due to their status as regional members, it was the Mexicans who ultimately booked their tickets to Croatia.

They have a rather balanced squad, and quite a number of players are capable of leading the team in a specific match. While reaching the main round is not an easy task, Mexico will definitely try to create surprises and grab some points – possibly already in their opening game against Austria. 

Key players: Juan Anguiano (right back), Leonardo Ayala (left wing), Brian Navarro (centre back)
Qualification for Croatia 2023: 2022 North American and Caribbean Championship – 2nd place
History in tournament: 2017: 24th

Group F

• Norway

After their debut at Tunisia 2009, Norway have missed only one edition of the IHF Men's Youth World Championship, as they failed to qualify for Argentina 2011. So now they are heading into their sixth tournament at this level – but so far, the European side have been unable to win any medals.

Fifth place at Hungary 2013 is still their best-ever result, and the two most recent World Championships proved to be quite frustrating for the Scandinavians, as they finished only 17th in 2017 and 12th two years later.
The Norwegians have never reached the podium of the European Men's Youth Championship either, but the seventh place in Podgorica last August was enough to secure a spot at the World Championship. 

As part of the preparation for Croatia 2023, Norway participated in the Scandinavian Open Championship in Lindesberg, Sweden, which took place from 24 to 26 July. The team lost all three matches against Denmark, Egypt and Sweden. 

However, the Nordic team hope to do better at the World Championship, and they have a good chance to advance from Group F, where they face three other European sides, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Georgia. 

Key players: Oscar Syvertsen (goalkeeper), Marius Olseth (left wing), Lasse Sunde Lid (right back)
Qualification for Croatia 2023: 2022 European Men's Youth Championship – 7th place
History in tournament: 2009: 8th, 2013: 5th, 2015: 6th, 2017: 17th, 2019: 12th

• Montenegro

Montenegro have never played in the IHF Men's Youth World Championship before, but now the European team are heading into their debut tournament at this level and hope to do a good job.

Last year, the Balkan team qualified for Croatia 2023, taking the 12th position at the 2022 European Men's Youth Championship, which was held in their home country. A 30:27 win against Poland in the intermediate round played a key role for Montenegro, allowing them to secure a top-12 finish and thus book a ticket to the World Championship.

Now the team coached by Draško Mrvaljević will not play on home court, but Croatia is Montenegro's neighbouring country, so they should feel quite comfortable. At the maiden World Championship, their primary goal is to claim some points from their rivals in Group F – Norway, North Macedonia and Georgia - and reach the main round.

Mrvaljević, who is a former captain of Montenegro's senior national team, cannot rely on a number of players – in particular Rados Premovic, Dejan Kolovic and Igor Mrvaljevic, who are injured. However, their teammates are expected to step up and help their team to succeed at Croatia 2023. 

Key players: Milorad Bakic (left back), Andrej Dobrkovic (centre back), Savo Vujovic (goalkeeper)
Qualification for Croatia 2023: 2022 European Men's Youth Championship – 12th place
History in tournament: Debutants

• North Macedonia

In 2019, North Macedonia made their debut at the IHF Men's Youth World Championship, which took place in their home country. The Europeans did quite a decent job, progressing to the last 16 from their group and ultimately taking the 13th position.

Four years later, the Balkan side are heading into their second straight World Championship. North Macedonia secured their participation in the tournament last August when they won the M18 EHF Championship 2 2022 in Riga, finishing ahead of Switzerland, home side Latvia and Luxembourg, Türkiye, Belgium and Kosovo.

In the decisive game against Switzerland, North Macedonia were down 20:22 with seven minutes to go, but they showed character, as a 4:0 run in the remaining time saw them grab a 24:22 win and secure a spot at Croatia 2023.

Now the European team, which have some promising talents in their squad, hope to show their fighting spirit again. It will not be easy for them to progress from the group with Norway, Montenegro and Georgia, but the North Macedonians are determined to do a good job. 

Key players: David Brestovac (goalkeeper), Tomislav Dimkovski (centre back), Aleksandar Petkovski (right wing)
Qualification for Croatia 2023: M18 EHF Championship 2 2022 – 1st place
History in tournament: 2019: 13th

• Georgia

Men's handball in Georgia is on the rise - the senior national team have qualified for the EHF EURO 2024, the first big tournament in their history. And some young talents are also coming, as the Georgians will participate in the IHF Men's Youth World Championship for the second time in history.
Their debut took place in 2017 when they hosted the competition and won their opening match, 28:24 against Algeria, before losing all six remaining games and finishing 20th.

Six years later, Georgia secured their berth at the World Championship following a successful performance at the Men's IHF Trophy InterContinental Phase. Although they finished second behind Guadeloupe, the Caribbean team could not qualify for Croatia 2023 due to their status as regional members, so it was the Georgians who took their place.

Left wing Vakhtang Khelisupali and right back Sandro Darsania were the team's lethal weapons at that tournament, as they finished among top three scorers with 31 and 30 goals respectively. In Croatia, both are expected to lead by example again, and although the Georgians face tough competition in Group F, they hope to obtain some positive results. 

Key players: Sandro Darsania (right back), Vakhtang Khelisupali (left wing), Gigi Rukhadze (goalkeeper)
Qualification for Croatia 2023: Men's IHF Trophy InterContinental Phase – 2nd place
History in tournament: 2017: 20th

Photos: Handball Federation Georgia / Handball Federation Chile