64 years ago, Czechoslovakia won the first edition of the IHF Women’s World Championship, Yugoslavia 1957. It was the start of their golden era in women’s handball – but this was going to change after 1993, with the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

At the 1995 World Championship in Austria and Hungary, Slovakia played against the Czech Republic in the preliminary round. It was a draw at 24:24 and, in the end, Slovakia ranked 12th and the Czech Republic finished 13th.

Two years ago in Japan, the Netherlands achieved the biggest success in their history, winning the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship, and now they are looking to defend their title on Spanish soil.

The Dutch team have been on the rise in the recent decade and reached the podium in several major events, earning silver at the 2015 IHF Women’s World Championship and Women’s EHF EURO 2016, and bronze at the 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship and Women’s EHF EURO 2018.

In June, Cameroon hosted the 2020 CAHB Women’s African Championship. They played solid at home beating Kenya (40:16), Nigeria (31:19) and DR Congo (26:21) in the preliminary round. 

Afterwards, they knocked Nigeria out in the quarter-finals (44:14) and Congo in a close semi-final match (22:21) – claiming not only a ticket to their third IHF Women’s World Championship but also securing their best rank at the continental competition since 2004.

Their 28:26 victory over neighbours Serbia in the 5/6 placement match at the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship in Japan saw Montenegro achieve their highest-ever ranking in the competition.

The result ensured the gradual improvement following sixth place at Germany 2017 and eighth at Denmark 2015. Can 2021 continue that upward trend in the only championship they are yet to medal in?

Romania have been a perennial contender at the last IHF Women’s World Championship editions, finishing on the podium twice and taking a fourth place in the last eight editions.

Their results came courtesy of having a transcendental talent in their ranks, superstar Cristina Neagu, who scored 186 goals in four editions, lifting the Romanian side into contention.