Coach: Jorge Duenas

 

Key Players: Eduarda Amorim (left back), Ana Paula Rodrigues (centre back)

Qualification for Germany 2017: 2017 Women’s Pan American Championship, Buenos Aires (ARG) – Winners

History in Tournament: 1957-93: DNQ, 1995: 17th-20th, 1997: 23rd, 1999: 16th, 2001: 12th, 2003: 20th, 2005: 7th, 2007: 14th, 2009: 15th, 2011: 5th, 2013: 1st, 2015: 10th

Overview:

After they raised the 2013 IHF Women’s World Championship trophy in Serbia, Brazil couldn’t reach the semi-finals of the two following major international events. At the Denmark 2015 World Championship they only ranked 10th as Romania knocked them out in the eighth-finals and last year the Netherlands beat them in the quarter-finals of the Rio 2016 Olympics – at which the hosts had huge aspirations since they finished the preliminary round on top of Group A.

Danish-born coach Morten Soubak left his position as leader of Brazil’s women’s side last year and the Brazilian Handball Federation decided the new era was also going to be led by a European trainer. That is how the Spaniard Jorge Duenas, who claimed bronze medals with his women’s national team at the London 2012 Olympics and the Brazil 2011 World Championship, became the new head coach.

His challenge is to help the Brazilian ladies return to the limelight. “This is a transition period for us so achieving big results may take some time, but we will continue being part of the elite and fighting for medals. To take the time to build a new team is very important and it may be a crucial moment,” Duenas expressed soon after he was confirmed in the position.

Brazil proved that they are still a world-class team when they solidly defeated Argentina 38:20 to clinch the gold medal at the Women’s Pan American Championship held in June in Buenos Aires – where Sergio Graciano was their acting coach. Their first big tournament led by Duenas will be the Germany 2017 World Championship, for which they started to prepare with a training camp and friendly matches in France in September. The next step will be a tournament in Romania in November and some intense working days with all the squad together for Duenas to make the final adjustments.

31-year old left back Eduarda Amorim is one of the most outstanding players in an experienced side. She was awarded MVP of the 2013 World Championship – in which she led the team to the gold medal – and voted ‘Santander Consumer Bank IHF Player of the Year’ in 2015. ‘Duda’, as she is famously known, also won the EHF Champions League three times with the Hungarian club Györi Audi ETO KC – the 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2016/17 editions.

Centre back Ana Paula Rodrigues (30 years old) is also essential for Brazil. She won the 2015/16 EHF Champions League with CSM Bucuresti from Romania and this year she claimed gold at the EHF Cup 2016/17 with Russia’s Rostov-Don. Brazil goalkeeper Mayssa Pessoa was also a big part of the CSM Bucuresti achievement last year.

“I believe we have to be strong in defence and in our goal. We will emphasise in those aspects of the game and we also want to be fast for the counter attacks,” explains Duenas. “In attack we have a short time to work with some new players, but I expect us to be a reliable team and with not many mistakes.”

Duenas wishes to “go out of the preliminary round with a good handball level and reach the eighth-finals in a favourable physical condition.” Brazil will share Group C with the Olympic champions Russia, Denmark, Montenegro, Japan and Tunisia.

“We would love to play for medals at the World Championship, as most teams, but first we are cautious and we will see in which shape we get to December,” the coach said.

To follow the Brazil team visit the official Brazil Federation website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

IHF & World Championship Social Media:

Follow the Germany 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship on our website, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, as well as on the tournament’s official website, Facebook, and Twitter channels.

Group at Germany 2017: 
Group C: Denmark, Russia, Brazil, Montenegro, Japan and Tunisia 

Games at Germany 2017: 
All times local

Saturday 2 December: BRA-JPN (17:45)
Sunday 3 December: TUN-BRA (14:00)
Tuesday 5 December: RUS-BRA (17:45)
Wednesday 6 December: BRA-DEN (20:30)
Friday 8 December: BRA-MNE (17:45)