Slovenia arrived at the 2019 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship as the European champions – a status that automatically makes them a favourite to contest the medals at Spain 2019. 

In their opening Group A match, versus Tunisia, Slovenia showed they are determined to live up to that name, as they put on an impressive display with strong defence and fast-paced counter attacks that left the African Junior Championship runners-up chasing throughout the entire game. 

The U20 EHF EURO 2018 champions collected a 32:25 victory over Tunisia, taking their first two points on the path to what they hope will be, and would seem likely to end in, an eighth-final ticket. 

ihf.info spoke with team captain Domen Novak following the win, discussing the opening match, the two years of development since Georgia, and the challenges of a World Championship campaign. 

ihf.info: This was a tough game. Is this the kind of opening you were expecting against Tunisia? 

Domen Novak: “Of course, we were expecting a hard game. We are really happy to open this World Championship with a win. Actually, we did everything [we prepared for]. Our focus was on this game, the first game, because we know it’s one of the most important games in the World Championship.” 

ihf.info: It did not take a second for you to settle into the game – you were at 100% from the first whistle. 

Domen Novak: “We know our goals; why we are here. This is the only way to achieve our goals – to play hard in defence, to play fast, and I think we did it really great.”

ihf.info: In Georgia at the Youth World Championship two years ago this squad placed 13th. Then last year, you won the U20 EURO. Can you tell us about how this team has changed over the last two years? 

Domen Novak: “In Georgia, we had a few injuries for our key players. We still have one injured or two injured players. We are more like our best team here. Last year we were all together and at home, and we found out we could actually do that. Now we are here as European champions, a little bit more self-confident.”

ihf.info: As European champions you are naturally favourites to reach the final stages here at Spain 2019. Does that add extra pressure? 

Domen Novak: “I think not. What happened, happened there. It’s a new World Championship, new games. We have to make something more and I think we can do it.”

ihf.info: In the preparation your coach talked about how the World Championship starts again in the knock-out round, and in this way it is very different from a EURO. What do you think about the different challenge of a World Championship? 

Domen Novak: “I think in the knock-out stage, you only have one game. You have to win two – the eighth-final then the quarter-final. In the EURO, you have two matches in the quarter-final group, so there is space to do something wrong; you can lose one game. So, this is maybe why a World Championship is a bit special.”

ihf.info: Next up you will play Japan. What do you think about this match? 

Domen Novak: “Actually, we don’t know anything about them. We will now take a look and we will prepare ourselves from now on.”

Slovenia will meet Japan in round two at 17:00 local time in Spain on Thursday 18 July.