Norway will be overwhelming favourites in Group C at Spain 2021, as the reigning European champions are set to face Romania, Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran in Castelló. With two European sides and two Asian teams in the line-up and three berths for the main round at stake, it is likely that the battle between Kazakhstan and Iran will decide who joins the two European teams in the next phase of the competition.

The Scandinavian powerhouse boasts a positive head-to-head record against all their opponents in the group, but their meetings against Romania definitely produced some all-time classics in the past decade.

The two sides met 27 times in history, with Norway taking 18 wins, including a vintage one at Denmark 2015, when the Scandinavian side won the semi-final against Romania 35:33 after extra-time, denying their opponents their first final berth since Russia 2005.

In fact, the Norwegian side won 11 of the last 13 mutual meetings of the two European teams in the group, including an eight-goal win at the EHF EURO 2020 last December (28:20), and a 29:24 win at the Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 in Montenegro this March.

The reigning European champions, who are likely to count on a star-studded line-up, featuring experienced players like right back Nora Mork, goalkeeper Katrine Lunde or line player Kari Brattset Dale, also have a positive record against Kazakhstan, with two clear wins: 35:19 at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and 40:19 at Denmark 2015.

However, Romania will have their work cut out, as superstar left back Cristina Neagu is taking a leave of absence from international handball this year and will be missing at Spain 2021. The impact will be huge for a young Romanian team, who will also be missing centre back Eliza Buceschi as well as influential line player Crina Pintea.

Yet, the Romanian side will be considered the second best team in the group, boasting a positive head-to-head record against Kazakhstan.

The two teams met three times, with Romania taking all three wins. A 31:19 flawless one was recorded at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, followed by another clear win, 36:20 at Denmark 2015, in the preliminary round.

However, the last game between the two sides, which took place in the preliminary round at Japan 2019, underlined Romania’s flaws, with Kazakhstan close to taking a surprising win, their first-ever against a European side at an IHF Women’s World Championship. Eventually, a good game from Crina Pintea secured a precious 22:20 win, which enabled them to progress to the main round.

Whether Kazakhstan will proceed for the first time ever to the main round of an IHF Women’s World Championship edition will be determined by their match against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a clash between two Asian sides who are on the up in the last decade.

Sure, neither Kazakhstan nor Iran have come close to the performances displayed by Asian powerhouses like the Republic of Korea or Japan, but their emergence could signal plenty of place for improvement.

Iran, who will make their debut at the IHF Women’s World Championship come December, have lost all four competitive matches against Kazakhstan, played at the AHF Asian Women’s Championship.

Yet, they have cut the gap significantly in the past years. Since conceding a 41:18 loss in their first edition of the Asian top competition, they have made serious strides, cutting the difference in the past decade.

Sure, they still conceded a 38:33 loss against Kazakhstan in the bronze-medal game this in Jordan this September, but they did put up a fight throughout the whole game. Whether they will replicate it or not at Spain 2021 could make all the difference in their final ranking.