2023 World Championship guide: Crash course in group E-H

The first day of the 2023 World Championship is almost here. On Wednesday the 29th of November Norway, one of three hosting nations, gets the WC started. 

Here is Gohandballs guide for group E-H. We go through each group and the different nation’s stars and expectations.

Group E

Denmark

Number of WCs (including 2023): 22
Result last WC: 3 (2021)
Greatest merits: 3 gold medals in Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004), 1 gold WC (1997), 3 gold medals EC (1994, 1996, 2002)
Stars: Sandra Toft (Györ), Kristina Jörgensen (Metz), Emma Friis (Ikast)

Romania

Number of WCs (including 2023): 26
Result last WC: 13 (2021)
Greatest merits: 1 gold WC (1962) 1 bronze EC (2010)
Stars: Cristina Neagu (CSM Bukarest), Crina Pintea (CSM Bukarest)

Serbia

Number of WCs (including 2023): 8
Result last WC: 12 (2021)
Greatest merits: 1 silver WC (2013), 1 bronze WC (2001)
Stars: Andjela Janjušević (Rapid Bukarest), Sanja Radosavlejvic (Kristianstad HK), Jovana Risovic (RK Krim)

Chile

Number of WCs (including 2023): 2
Result last WC: 23 (2009)
Greatest merits: 1 bronze South and Central American championship (2022)
Stars: Valeska Lovera (Beti-Onak), Gabriela Müller (Sur-Centro)

Group F

Germany

Number of WCs (including 2023): 24
Result last WC: 7 (2020)
Greatest merits: 1 gold WC (1993), 1 silver EC (1994), 2 bronze medals WC (1997, 2007)
Stars: Alina Grijseels (Metz), Emily Bölk (Ferencvaros)

Poland

Number of WCs (including 2023): 18
Result last WC: 15 (2021)
Greatest merits: 4th place WC (2013, 2015)
Stars: Monika Kobylinska (CSM Bukarest), Aleksandra Rosiak (Krim)

Japan

Number of WCs (including 2023): 21
Result last WC: 11 (2021)
Greatest merits: 1 gold Asian Championship (2004)
Stars: Natsuki Aizawa (Hokkoku), Kaho Nakayama (Hokkoku)

Iran

Number of WCs (including 2023): 2
Result last WC: 31 (2021)
Greatest merits: 4th Asian championship (2021, 2022)
Stars: Fatemeh Khalili (Antalya), Fatemeh Merikhi

Group G

Spain

Number of WCs (including 2023): 12
Result last WC: 4 (2021)
Greatest merits: 1 bronze Olympics (2012), 1 silver WC (2019), 2 silver medals EC (2008, 2014)
Stars: Jennifer Gutierrez Bermejo (Rapid Bukarest), Lara Gonzalez (Rapid Bukarest)

Brazil

Number of WCs (including 2023): 15
Result last WC: 6 (2021)
Greatest merits: 1 gold WC (2013)
Stars: Bruna de Paula (Györ), Bárbara Arenhart (Krim)

Ukraine

Number of WCs (including 2023): 8
Result last WC: 17 (2009)
Greatest merits: 1 bronze Olympics (2004), 1 silver EC (2004)
Stars: Maria Gladun (Lokomotiva Zagreb), Yevheniia Levchenko (Dacia Mioveni)

Kazakhstan

Number of WCs (including 2023): 7
Result last WC: 24 (2021)
Greatest merits: 2 gold medals Asian championship (2002, 2010)
Stars: Veronika Kardina (Kaysar), Dana Abilda (Erd), Tansholpan Jumadilova (Kazygurt)

Group H

Netherlands

Number of WCs (including 2023): 14
Result last WC: 9 (2021)
Greatest merits: 1 gold WC (2019), 1 silver WC (2015), 1 silver EC (2016)
Stars: Dione Housheer (Odense), Angela Malestein (Ferencvaros), Lois Abbingh (Vipers Kristiansand)

Czech Republic

Number of WCs (including 2023): 8
Result last WC: 19 (2021)
Greatest merits: 8th WC (2017)
Stars: Marketa Jerabkova (Vipers Kristiansand)

Argentina

Number of WCs (including 2023): 12
Result last WC: 21 (2021)
Greatest merits: 1 gold Panamerican Championship (2009)
Stars: Luciana Mendoza (Pessac), Manuela Pizzo (Mariano Acosta)

Congo

Number of WCs (including 2023): 7
Result last WC: 23 (2021)
Greatest merits: 4 gold medals African championship (1979, 1981, 1983, 1985)
Stars: Fanta Diagouraga (Celles-sur-Belle)