Spain have participated in 10 World Championships, and have not missed any edition since 2007, but the best performance of ‘Las Guerreras’ (‘The Warriors’) occurred two years ago in Japan, where Spain lost the final match to the Netherlands and claimed silver.

However, the team coached by Carlos Viver have failed to stay at the same level in the following big tournaments, as they finished only ninth both at the Women’s EHF EURO 2020 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. 

“We are in a period of renewal or rejuvenation in which we are looking for new young players who will become the leaders of our game,” says Serbia coach Uros Bregar. 

“We have a young, ambitious and fast team. The young players are willing to show themselves, trying to become leaders,” declares right wing Olga Fomina. “Everything will be new for some. At the same time, it will be vital to build team chemistry and play as one team.”

With their Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 gold medal still sparkling following their August win in Japan, Olivier Krumbholz’s France come to Spain as one of the strong favourites for not just a podium place, but another gold.

The 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship winners have a wide range of talent across the court, but their last outing in the competition could not have been more in contrast – a 13th place finish at Japan 2019, their lowest rank in nearly 30 years.

Denmark have known only tears in the last three major women’s handball international competitions.

The 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship in Kumamoto, Japan saw the Danes only manage a 26:26 draw in their final main round game against Serbia to miss out on the chance to play in the 5/6 placement match and qualification for the Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 Tournaments.

Germany’s campaign at the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship included victories against top teams such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Brazil, but finishing eighth was less than what they expected. At the Women’s EHF EURO 2020, they placed seventh – once again, they returned home feeling they had enough potential to make it into the last four.