The deadlock between Sweden and the Netherlands in the last game of Group D of the preliminary round has complicated the maths in Group II of the main round at Spain 2021, as the favourites will be chasing to win against their opponents by the largest margin possible.

Group leaders Norway will be heavily favoured against Puerto Rico, a team that has a -165 goal difference in six games against European sides, while the Netherlands face a familiar challenge against Romania.

On the other hand, Sweden will look to improve their goal difference against Kazakhstan, as everything points to a three-way battle for the two quarter-finals berths in Castelló.

Netherlands vs Romania 15:30 CET

This game is paramount to Romania’s chances in the competition, as Adrian Vasile’s side starts fourth in Group II with two points, two behind Norway and one behind the Netherlands and Sweden.

A loss would see Romania virtually out of contention if Norway and Sweden do not run into trouble in their first matches in the main round, after the European powerhouse stood no chance against a fiery Norway, conceding a 22:33 loss.

“We need to learn things from every defeat we have, but I am quite happy with how we conducted ourselves against Norway. The defence was on par for many minutes in the first half, but the lack of experience from some our players really hampered us throughout the game,” said Vasile.

Romania’s defence will be tested heavily once again when they measure up on Thursday against the Netherlands, who are boasting the best attack in the competition, scoring 144 goals in their first three matches, the most ever to start the IHF Women’s World Championship.

Distributing her player’s minutes evenly, coach Monique Tijsterman has done an amazing job of keeping the reigning champions fresh, yet the Netherlands still did not manage to win their last preliminary round game against Sweden, which ended in a 31:31 stalemate.

But the Dutch side will be favoured against a rebuilding Romania team, having won their last four matches between the two sides, including a 35:24 drubbing one year ago, in the main round at the Women’s EHF EURO 2020. However, Romania have won both games between the two teams at the IHF Women’s World Championship, most recently at Denmark/Norway 1999, 26:16, in the Round of 16.    

“It is a close group, so we need to win all our next three games. The IHF Women’s World Championship has really started for us now, so it will be a lot of fun,” said Dutch line player, Danick Snelder, according to Dutch broadcaster NOS.

Norway vs Puerto Rico 18:00 CET

After posting a +71 goal difference after their wins in the preliminary round against Kazakhstan, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Romania, Norway will be heavily favoured in their fourth match at Spain 2021, against Puerto Rico, where the Scandinavian side look to extend the winning streak.

At only their second participation at the IHF Women’s World Championship, Puerto Rico won only their second game in the competition, 30:25, against Uzbekistan, progressing from the preliminary round for the first time. It prompted a flurry of celebrations, despite their first two games at Spain 2021 being heavy losses, 15:55 against the Netherlands and 10:48 against Sweden.

The two sides have met previously at Denmark 2015, when Norway took a convincing 39:13 win. In fact, Puerto Rico’s record against European sides is a hint to the outcome of the game, as the North America and the Caribbean champions have lost all six of their games, scoring 90 goals and conceding 255.

“For such a small country to be in this scenario, it definitely is special. It is not only that we qualified, but that we are here and we show than handball is played in our country,” said Camilo Estevez, Puerto Rico’s coach.

The Norwegian side will face their biggest challenges yet at Spain 2021 in the next two match days, against Sweden and the Netherlands, and will use the game against Puerto Rico as another warm-up, before they embark on the business end of the competition.

Goalkeeper Katrine Lunde might be rested in this game and replaced by Rikke Granlund in Norway’s team, after the 41-year old goalkeeper posted a 19-save match against Romania on Tuesday. Her antics helped her jump to fourth place in the goalkeeper standings in the tournament, with an overall performance of 25 saves from 50 shots she faced, or a 50% saving efficiency.

But that might not deter Norway, who are still a powerhouse, both in defence, where they have conceded the fewest goals in the competition, 49, and in attack, where they have scored the third most goals, 120, in their first three games.

Kazakhstan vs Sweden 20:30 CET

Sweden can get close their best start at the IHF Women’s World Championship, four wins in the first four games, provided they win their match against Kazakhstan.

The Scandinavian side have won two games and drew the other, against the Netherlands, in Group D of the preliminary round and have the second best attacking output at Spain 2021, scoring 124 goals.

On the other hand, only Puerto Rico (127 goals) have conceded more goals than Kazakhstan from the 24 teams that earned main round berths, therefore Sweden will be overwhelming favourites against the Asian side on Thursday evening in Castelló.

While Sweden might find out their fate only after the games against Norway and Romania, they still need to win their next three matches to ensure safe passage to the quarter-finals. 

“We take it one match at a time and see how it goes. Now we may have to beat Norway, but we always want that anyway,” said Swedish line player, Linn Blohm.

The goal difference might be key in this situation, therefore Sweden have already stated their intention of winning against Kazakhstan by the largest margin possible. The Scandinavian side boast a +38 goal difference, close to the Netherlands (+40), whom they are tied at points to, and Norway (+38).

“It is not possible to rest players to the extent that one might have wanted to do in such a match, therefore we will give it our all,” said Sweden’s coach, Tomas Axner.

Kazakhstan have never won against a European side at the IHF Women’s World Championship and have only eight wins to their name in the competition.

Photo: RFEBM / J. L. Recio