Six dreams to be fulfilled, six nightmares to be realised

The last six places for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games men’s handball competition will be decided this weekend (Friday 12, Saturday 13, Sunday 14 March) as the journey to Japan reaches its final destination when the IHF Men’s Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 throws-off across Europe.

Podgorica, Montenegro (Tournament 1), Montpellier, France (Tournament 2) and Berlin, Germany (Tournament 3) will host 12 teams, all dreaming of repeating what Denmark did back in 2016, when they qualified through the same way and went on to win Olympic gold.

Six teams are already qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games men’s handball competition which is played from 24 July to 8 August 2021. As hosts, Japan qualify directly, as do the reigning world champions from the original dates of Tokyo 2020, Denmark (2019).

In addition, representatives of each continent have secured their places at Tokyo 2020 via continental championships and qualification events with Spain, Egypt, Bahrain and Argentina taking their championships in Europe, Africa, Asian and South and Central America respectively.

Tournament 1: Podgorica, Montenegro
After being switched due to COVID-19 regulations in Norway, the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica, will host one the most diverse of the three tournaments when Chile, Republic of Korea, Norway and Brazil do battle at the Verde Complex.

South Americans Brazil and Chile know each other well from their continental clashes, but it is the Chileans, with some veteran players, looking to make history and qualify for their first-ever Games who could be the surprise package. They have beaten both Korea and Brazil in recent years and could cause Brazil, the 2016 Olympic Games hosts, some problems.

Brazil actually find themselves in Podgorica thanks to help from both Spain and Egypt at their respective continental championships back in January 2020 and will be looking to avenge their failure to qualify for London 2012 through the same way, with a number of players from then still in the squad.

Somewhat surprisingly, considering their recent medal haul, Norway’s men have only ever appeared at one Olympic Games – the debut indoor men’s handball edition back in 1972. Their silver medals at the IHF Men’s World Championship in 2017 and 2019, plus bronze at the 2020 EHF European Championship, shows their strength, but a disappointing sixth place at Egypt 2021 has shown some vulnerabilities.

Republic of Korea are an unknown quantity somewhat, having used a U23 team in Egypt due to COVID-19 restrictions back home, and having a unified Korea team back at Germany/Denmark 2019, but the Asian side will know one win could be enough as they look to book their ticket for the short journey to Tokyo.

(All times CET)
Friday 12 March
17:30    Chile vs Korea
20:00    Norway vs Brazil

Saturday 13 March
17:30    Brazil vs Korea
20:00    Norway vs Chile

Sunday 14 March
17:30    Brazil vs Chile
20:00    Norway vs Korea

Tournament 2: Montpellier, France
One of the toughest tournaments will see at least one European heavyweight devastated, and it could be two if Tunisia pull off what will surely be a shock Tokyo 2020 qualification judging on historic results and the ranking of the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship in Egypt.

Robbed of what would have been a cauldron of noise for their third and final game against hosts France, Tunisia will be relying on their key players, a number of whom who play in France. 

Former player, now coach, Sami Saidi saw his team excruciatingly miss out on a main round place at Egypt 2021, instead winning the President’s Cup for 25th place. He has had the chance to conduct two training sessions in late February and early March, in Nabeul and Hammamet to prepare, but they have only featured Tunisian-based players, with the European club players released a week before.

Tunisia face Croatia in their final match in France, with the European side coming off the back of their worst-ever world championship finish (15th). Following Egypt, new coach Hrvoje Horvat took over from Lino Cervar – who had actually announced his resignation before the Croats had even finished their North African campaign. Horvat will be missing right back Luka Stepancic but can put his faith in key players Domagoj Duvnjak and Luka Cindric who seem to have their competitive edge back after injury.

Croatia have never lost against Tunisia – beating them at Rio 2016 clearly (41:26) – so an expected win against them, combined with victory over either France or Portugal could be enough to grab the ticket. 

France, on home soil, without fans, will be buoyed by their better-than-expected world championship performance, even though they missed out on bronze, losing to Spain in the third-place match. They will also have memories of missing out on 2016 Olympic Games gold, losing to Denmark in the final so this could act as extra motivation to secure another Olympic spot. While en route to the 2016 final they beat Montpellier rivals Tunisia (25:23) but lost to Croatia (28:29).

Portugal are another side who know how to beat France, defeating them at the 2020 European Championship in the group stage, which ultimately led to the removal of legendary player Didier Dinart from the France head coach role, with his then assistant Guillaume Gille taking over.

After that match, Portugal coach Paulo Pereira asked the media to show his side respect of their place at the top table of European men’s handball and they rightly deserve it, after an eventual sixth place in the continental championship was followed up by 10th at Egypt 2021 – with a higher ranking not possible after the French defeated them in the main round (23:32).

However, their mission to reach their first-ever Olympic Games will be one conducted in sadness after their influential goalkeeper, Alfredo Quintana, suffered a cardiac arrest during a recent training session for his club, FC Porto, and never recovered. It is sure that the entire squad will be playing with Quintana in mind in what is sure to be an emotional tournament for the Portuguese.

Friday 12 March
18:30    Tunisia vs Portugal
21:00    France vs Croatia

Saturday 13 March 
18:30    Croatia vs Portugal
21:00    France vs Tunisia

Sunday 14 March 
18:30    Croatia vs Tunisia
21:00    Portugal vs France

Tournament 3: Berlin, Germany
Back at Rio 2016, Germany took bronze, defeating Poland in the third-place match to win just their third Olympic medal in the modern handball era. En route they beat both Sweden (32:29) and Slovenia (28:25), but two coach changes since, with the legendary German club coach Alfred Gislason now in charge did not have the desired effect at Egypt 2021, with his German side – missing a number of key players for a variety of reasons – finishing in their lowest-ever ranking of 12th.

Another team under a new coach in North Africa was Sweden, who were one of the revelations of the championship. Led by Norwegian Glenn Solberg, the Swedes impressed with their variety of tactics and fast-paced attack. Despite missing key players also, they more than made up for them with a number of new and young players entering the fray. Their silver in Cairo was their first World Championship medal in 20 years and followed a bronze at the 2018 European Championship under previous coach Kristjan Andresson. 

At Olympic level, they have both an envious and frustrating record in the four editions they qualified for in a 20-year period from 1992 to 2012. At Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and London 2012 they lost the final on every occasion to claim silver, while at Rio 2016 they went out in the group stage where they also lost to Berlin opponents, Slovenia, 24:29.

The Slovenians have only ever qualified for three Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2016), recording a sixth place finish at Rio de Janeiro, their highest rank. However, a ninth-place finish at Egypt 2021, including two hard-fought draws against Sweden, and then Egypt – a game which if they had won, they would have qualified through to the quarter-finals – show their capabilities. 

Algeria last qualified for an Olympic Games in 1996, which was their fourth appearance and equal highest ranking (10th). Their work will be cut out in Berlin as they have traditionally not fared well against European teams, most-recently losing all five matches in a row against them at Egypt 2021, after beating Morocco in the last seconds of their opening game, which ultimately secured a main round spot, and 22nd place finish.

Friday 12 March
15:15    Germany vs Sweden
17:45    Slovenia vs Algeria

Saturday 13 March 
15:35    Germany vs Slovenia
18:00    Sweden vs Algeria

Sunday 14 March 
15:45    Algeria vs Germany
18:15    Sweden vs Slovenia
 
All games will be streamed live via the IHF Competitions YouTube channel here (geo-restrictions apply).

The IHF Men’s Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 mini-site already features the very latest news about the three tournaments, with match previews, reviews, features, interviews, photos, statistics and much more to come.

For more information on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, visit www.tokyo2020.org.