Claes Hellgren, a seasoned handboll expert with an unparalleled record of attending over 40 handball championships, makes his comeback as a commentator for Viaplay at the upcoming World Championship in Norway, Denmark, and Croatia. His experience extends beyond commentary, encompassing a playing and coaching career that adds another 20 championships to his impressive tally. Having meticulously analyzed all 32 participating teams, Hellgren identifies Denmark as the gold medal favorite, despite the retirement of key players Mikkel Hansen and Niklas Landin.
Denmark’s continued dominance, according to Hellgren, stems from the seamless integration of new talent. He highlights Emil Nielsen, voted the world’s best player in 2023, and Mathias Gidsel as exceptional talents who have stepped up to fill the void left by Hansen and Landin. The presence of Simon Pytlik and Magnus Saugstrup further strengthens the Danish squad, ensuring depth and continued competitiveness. Hellgren, who has worked closely with the Danish team as a goalkeeper coach, acknowledges the significance of the departed stars but remains confident in Denmark’s strength.
Sweden, under the new leadership of Michael Apelgren, faces a challenging tournament. Apelgren takes the reins after Glenn Solberg’s departure following a disappointing Olympic campaign. Compounding their difficulties, Sweden grapples with injuries to key players, including Felix Claar, Oskar Bergendahl, and the recent addition of Max Darj. This, coupled with a difficult draw, adds to the pressure on the Swedish team. A potential quarter-final clash with Denmark looms if Sweden fails to secure the top spot in their main round group.
The group stage encounter against Spain presents a crucial test for Sweden. Spain, undergoing a generational shift, introduces promising young players like 19-year-old Petar Cikusa and 20-year-old Victor Romero, alongside the established Dujshebaev brothers. This blend of youth and experience makes Spain an intriguing opponent. Portugal, another potential main round adversary, boasts a formidable duo in brothers Martim and Francisco Costa. Their continued commitment to Sporting Lisbon, alongside investments in other Portuguese clubs, signifies a growing strength within Portuguese handball that could impact the national team’s performance.
France enters the tournament without the legendary Nicola Karabatic, one of the sport’s all-time greats. Their surprising quarter-final exit at the Tokyo Olympics, marred by a blunder from Dika Mem, raises questions about their current form. The return of Mem and Elohim Prandi from injury provides a boost, but Hellgren emphasizes the importance of their goalkeeping performance, a potential weakness since Thierry Omeyer’s retirement. France remains a contender, but their success hinges on consistent goalkeeping.
Hellgren tips Slovenia as a potential dark horse, largely due to their strong goalkeeping duo of Klemen Ferlin and Urban Lesjak. Ferlin’s outstanding performance in the Olympic semi-final against Denmark demonstrated his ability to elevate the team’s performance. Hellgren emphasizes the crucial role of top-tier goalkeeping in championship success, highlighting it as a key factor in Slovenia’s medal potential. The tournament format sees 32 teams divided into eight groups, with the top three from each group advancing to the main round. The top two teams from the four main round groups proceed to the quarter-finals, culminating in the medal matches in Oslo. Sweden’s group includes Spain, Japan, and Chile, with a tough path ahead.
