Group C: European powerhouses clash, Asian rivals play for main round berth

07 Dec. 2021

Group C: European powerhouses clash, Asian rivals play for main round berth

Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran will clash for their first-ever main round berth at the IHF Women’s World Championship on Tuesday, before an all-European match between Norway and Romania will decide the group’s winner in Castelló.

Kazakhstan vs Islamic Republic of Iran 18:00 CET

In their first two games at the IHF Women’s World Championship, Iran conceded 80 goals and scored only 20, the lowest amount from any side at Spain 2021.

But the games against European powerhouses Norway and Romania are now in the rearview mirror, with a do-or-die clash against fellow Asian rivals Kazakhstan following next, as the winner will earn a maiden main round berth.

With a superior goal difference, -49, to Iran’s -80, Kazakhstan will proceed to the next phase of the competition also in case of a draw. Yet the Kazakh side have won all four competitive matches played against Iran, with the latest in September 2021, when they won, 38:33, in the bronze-medal game at the AHF Asian Women’s Handball Championship.

Left back Irina Alexandrova has been nothing short of spectacular for the Kazakhstan side, scoring 15 goals in her first two matches, jumping on the fifth place in the top goal scorer standings. In fact, Alexandrova, who is now at her third IHF Women’s World Championship edition, has scored only five goals less by herself than the entire Iran national team.

“We have already met Iran several times in the past years, so we know this team very well. We know how to play against them too, so I hope we will win,” said Ishanova Lyzzat, Kazakhstan’s coach.

On the other side, Iran might still have a chance, provided goalkeeper Fatemeh Khalili Behfar enjoys another great outing. Khalili Behfar has become somewhat of a hero at Spain 2021, winning the hummel Player of the Match award against Norway on Sunday evening, boasting the most saves, 25, in the first two match days.

“It has always been my lifelong dream to play at the IHF Women’s World Championship, therefore to receive an award such as this is very special,” said the Iranian goalkeeper after the game against Norway, when she was moved to tears upon hearing her name being announced.

Norway vs Romania 20:30 CET
 
The two teams who won their first two matches in the group will clash on Tuesday evening in Castelló and it will be a battle between two teams that know each other well, having faced 13 times in the past 12 years. Norway have won 11 of those 13 clashes, including a 29:24 crunch game in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Podgorica, Montenegro, this March.

It will be a battle between an overwhelming attack, with Norway boasting the third-best attacking output in the competition, with 87 goals in their first two games, only behind the Netherlands and Sweden, and one of the three teams that conceded less than 30 goals in their first two matches, Romania. Only Sweden (25 goals) and Norway (27 goals) conceded less than the Romania team, which will face the first real test at Spain 2021.

Norway will surely be overwhelming favourites against Romania, who, despite their good results, are still an unexperienced team at this level, missing three key players in backs Cristina Neagu and Eliza Buceschi – who combined for 14 of Romania’s 24 goals in March - and goalkeeper Denisa Dedu.

“Our aim was to concede less than 15 goals against the Islamic Republic of Iran and less than 18 goals against Kazakhstan and we completed both those tasks. Now, a different challenge awaits and I hope we will be ready to play against Norway.”

“If we show the same strength and play for each other, we can stand a chance, but it will be a very, very difficult game. Norway are a machine, they usually do things well and are one of the favourites to win the title, so this will be a big challenge for us,” said Romania’s coach, Adrian Vasile.

On the other hand, Norway will have everything to play for on Tuesday, as they will aim to start the main round with four points. Both teams already will go through with two points, after winning against Kazakhstan and Iran, but the winner from this game will seal a big advantage, as future opponents will be reigning champions the Netherlands, Sweden and either Uzbekistan or Puerto Rico.

“We had some good wins until this point, but we need to roll up our sleeves and continue the streak against Romania, on Tuesday,” said Stine Bredal Oftedal, Norway’s captain, according to Norwegian TV station TV3.

Photo: RFEBM / Á. Bermejo