President’s Cup Group II: Austria and Chile meet for top spot

Chile and Austria can salvage their tournament with a win in their clash at New Capital Sports Hall in the second game in the President’s Cup Group II, with the winner poised to secure first place in the group.

In the first game, Morocco and the Republic of Korea both aim for their first win at Egypt 2021.

Morocco vs Republic of Korea 16:30 CAT

Pride will be at stake for Korea, a team that has never finished the IHF Men’s World Championship without a win.

The youngest team in the competition, with an average age of 20.2, they have lost their first four games while conceding 39.25 goals per game, the most at Egypt 2021.

Failing to proceed to the main round also meant Korea are on pace for their worst-ever finish in the competition, after the 21th-place finish at Spain 2013.

However, no team that have played all their games in the preliminary round have scored less goals than Morocco, as Noureddine Bouhadioui’s side average 22 goals per game.

Morocco have won only two IHF Men’s World Championship games in their history, therefore their only objective is building for the future and earning at least one win at Egypt 2021.

It will be a clash of philosophies and styles, as the fast-paced Korean team will face a physical and tough defence.

The two sides have only met once at the World Championship, with Korea taking a commanding 32:19 win in the preliminary round at Germany 2007.

Austria vs Chile 19:00 CAT

After losing to North Macedonia in their last preliminary round game, Chile’s quest for their best-ever finish at the IHF Men’s World Championship was over.

But by their own admission, Chile are still trying to win the President’s Cup and that means winning against Austria.

Fresh from their largest margin of victory win in their history at an IHF Men's World Championship competition, 44:33 against the Republic of Korea, Chile are upbeat.

“Our objective is to win the President’s Cup and I think we are back on track after the disappointment against North Macedonia. We have shown a good reaction and we must focus on the next game,” said Chile’s coach, Mateo Garralda.

Yet the task will be big for the South American side, especially on defence, as Austria have never scored less than 25 goals in a game at Egypt 2021, with a goal average of 29.5 per game.

Chile allow the second most goals per game in the competition, 35.25. Yet, their attack is scoring at an unprecedented rate, boasting two of the top three best scorers at Egypt 2021, backs Rodrigo Salinas (30 goals) and Erwin Feuchtmann (28 goals).

The two sides have met only once at a World Championship, two years ago at GER/DEN 2019, with Chile taking a surprising 32:24 win, when the same Salinas and Feuchtmann combined for 13 goals.