Examining Group G: Old rivalries spring back to life at Poland/Sweden 2023

The draw for the 28th IHF Men’s World Championship, which took place in Katowice, Poland, on 2 July, threw a surprise a few months ago. Everything aligned to see an interesting Group G including four teams from three continents, with two African sides facing off in a high-profile clash in Jönköping.

Reigning African champions Egypt will be boosted by their excellent last tournaments, with the seventh place at Egypt 2021 underlining a progression that was confirmed by the fourth place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games a few months later and the total domination of the 2022 CAHB African Men’s Handball Championship this summer.

However, Poland/Sweden 2023 will likely be the last championship for Egypt coach Roberto Garcia Parrondo, who extended his contract until the end of the tournament. He is on a mission to deliver another outstanding performance for a side that has morphed from underdog to a certainty under his guidance in recent years.

But Egypt will have to deliver once again excellent performances to achieve their objectives, despite not having star right back Yahia Omar in the roster after his season was cut short due to an injury.

Egypt will have to improve their head-to-head record against Croatia to secure a better finish in the competition, as the European powerhouse has won all four matches between the sides at the IHF Men’s World Championship. Still, from a historical standpoint, the gap between them has been getting smaller and smaller.

After a 16:30 loss in the quarter-finals at Iceland 1995, Egypt have constantly been getting better and better. The last meeting between the two sides culminated in a 21:19 win for Croatia in the round of 16-match at France 2017, where the European side definitely proved once again that they have an outstanding defence.

While they have never met the United States of America before this event, Egypt have dominated Morocco in the past meetings, both at the IHF Men’s World Championship and at the CAHB Men’s African Handball Championship, winning every match they ever played. 

In the only match played between Egypt and Morocco in the world flagship handball competition, the Pharaohs took a clear 28:19 win in the preliminary round at France 2001. Their last meeting was last summer, at the 2022 CAHB Men’s African Handball Championship, where Egypt totally dominated (36:21).

Morocco also have a negative head-to-head record against Croatia, as the European side is undefeated against all three teams they will face in the preliminary round at Poland/Sweden 2023, taking eight wins from eight matches.

Croatia have met Morocco at Iceland 1995, taking a 33:21 win, at Japan 1997, securing a 26:17 win, and at Germany 2007, taking a 35:22 win. Therefore, their average margin of win is 11.3 goals per match.

As the United States of America side will make their comeback for the first time since 2001, they have yet to meet Egypt or Morocco in the competition. Still, they have played once against Croatia, in the preliminary round at France 2001, with the European powerhouse taking a 41:12 win.