World and European championship silver medallist Netherlands, Serbia, Korea, China and Cameroon are the opponents of the German women’s team at their “home world championship” in December. This is the outcome of the draw event, which took place in the 23rd floor of the Emporio Tower in Hamburg, hosting city of the final weekend of the World Championship. German record international and World Championship ambassador Grit Jurack drew the lots, attended by IHF President Dr. Hassan Moustafa and the board of the German Handball Federation.
„This is an interesting group. But as we play on home turf, I expect that our team will proceed to the knock-out stage”, said Andreas Michelmann, President of the German Handball Federation. “This is a multi-coloured group, for which we have to prepare on very different styles of playing,” German head coach Michael Biegler said, while German national team goalkeeper Clara Woltering added: “This group is ok for us.” Germany will play their preliminary round matches of group D in Leipzig.
The World Championship will be staged in six German cities from 1 to 17 December 2017. World Champions Norway face Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Argentina, Poland in group B in Bietigheim-Bissingen. France will duel with Romania, Spain, Slovenia, Angola and Paraguay in group A in Trier. Olympic champions Russia have a tough group C in Oldenburg ahead, facing Denmark, Brazil, Montenegro, Japan and Tunisia.
The each four best teams of the four groups clinch their berth for the eighth-finals, while the remaining sides face for the positions 17 to 24 in the President’s Cup. All matches of the first knock-our stage and later-on the quarter-finals will be played in Magdeburg and Leipzig. Those eighth-finalists from groups A and B will travel to Leipzig, while the teams from groups C and D will continue in Magdeburg. The final weekend will be carried out in the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, with the semi-finals on 15 December and the final plus bronze final on 17 December.
The ticket sale had already been started on the official website www.germanyhandball2017.com/tickets
The preliminary round groups of the Women’s World Championship in Germany:
Group A in Trier: France, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, Angola, Paraguay
Group B in Bietigheim-Bissingen: Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, , Hungary, Argentina, Poland
Group C in Oldenburg: Denmark, Russia, Brazil, Montenegro, Japan, Tunisia,
Group D in Leipzig: Netherlands, Germany. Serbia, Korea, China, Cameroon
