«WC in chaos and injustice»
What do the gentlemen want? France or Spain?
Spain is a good, old vintage. Added a bit of youthful enthusiasm. Two of the world’s best at the very back. They have no flaws that make them more affordable than before, but have proven to be a tough nut to crack in the past.
France is a little less mature, but can point to the world’s best – both now and historically. Individually, they are absolutely fantastic, and have traditions of fighting at the top. But if you can get a gap on the man at the back, then there are good opportunities.
This is what the menu looks like for the Norwegian handball men before the last main round match against Germany. Here it is free choice. Make your choice.
Norway and Germany are both ready for the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Now it’s just a matter of who to meet.
Spain and France settled for the group win yesterday. Thus, Norway and Germany must decide who will meet who.
Now there will be no choice between tenderloin and liver stew. Here you have to choose between pepper steak or steak with bernaise. The quality is about the same, it is what you prefer that decides.
The situation would probably have been different if you were in the situation of Egypt and Denmark, where the choice is between Sweden and Hungary. Fortunately, it is the winner who is left with the main prize there. But you could risk it was the opposite. That two teams meet and both would prefer to lose to increase their chances of going far in the championship.
This is something the International Handball Federation (IHF) must do something about. Because this happens in World Cup after World Cup. The conditions must be the same for everyone in a WC. By no means is it. This is the World Cup of Injustice.
WC tip: – I look at the terrible thing that happened in the women’s EC
The matches Norway – Germany and Spain – France should have been wasted at the same time. Not only should they. It should have been a matter of course that they were wasted at the same time.
In addition, France and Spain get an extra day of rest before the quarter-finals. Towards the end of a championship, it can have more to be a national team manager Jonas Wille will admit publicly.
But the unfairness of the tournament setup doesn’t end there.
Sweden/Hungary and Denmark/Egypt play their quarter-finals in Stockholm. The host nation is probably already in place in the capital after losing its last match in the main round in Gothenburg on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Norway plays its quarter-final in Gdansk. If you have lost to Germany and therefore meet France, then it will be packed out of the room after the quarter-finals for departure to Stockholm on Thursday. Friday is the semi-final against a team which has been in place in the Swedish capital for at least three days – and which has used Thursday for recovery.
The team that wins the group of Denmark and Egypt must go to Stockholm to play the quarter-final against Hungary. After that, it’s time to get on the first flight to Gdansk to play the semi-finals against either Spain, Norway or Germany. Then go back to Stockholm to play the final.
No one can say that it is like competitive conditions for the teams. Everything has been arranged for Sweden, who can relax between matches, while the other teams from Poland have been given a tournament set-up full of challenges. But if Sweden loses its quarter-final, then everything changes. Then the IHF opens up for them to change which semi-final will be played in Stockholm. Then Denmark or Egypt can take over the “advantage” for Sweden. Because it is the easiest way for the IHF to fill the Tele2 Arena with Danes if the Swedes pull out, and money talks.
Only after the quarter-finals will we know if Norway will play in Gdansk or Stockholm if they go to the semi-finals. In practice, Norway can find out if they have to go to Stockholm or not less than twelve hours before the flight leaves. It is not just the WC in injustice, but also in chaos.
I understand that you want to spread the games over several days, but the teams that will meet in the playoffs should play on the same day. Then you can put in a rest day or two, so that the differences are as small as possible. For now, it is not certain that it will be the WC’s best team that is left as the winner in the end.
Norway has all the odds against it. You get at least a rest before the quarter-finals, and must travel before a semi-final. If you were to go all the way, it is a much bigger achievement than many realise. But if it is a small consolation, Denmark or Egypt will have it even worse if they go all the way.
If a championship is to be shared between nations, then it should be to neighboring countries. And with a short distance between the battle arenas.
I think neither Norway nor Germany have any desire to lose tonight’s match in order to meet in France.
Thorir Hergeirsson has always been concerned with “keeping the momentum” and I think Wille will also want to keep the winning streak going if possible. But I still imagine that both teams have a relaxed approach to the game. The result is subordinate. The most important thing will be to avoid injuries and that the central players get some rest, so that the result will be as it will be.
Quarter Finals:
1. France – No. 2: Norway/Germany, Gdansk
2. No. 1: Norway/Germany – Spain, Gdansk
3. Sweden – No. 2: Denmark/Egypt, Stockholm
4. No. 1: Denmark/Egypt – Hungary, Stockholm
Semi-final:
Winner quarter-final 1 – Winner quarter-final 3, Stockholm
Winner of quarter-final 2 – Winner of quarter-final 4, Gdansk
And the final will be played in Stockholm.