Having waited so long for one world title, Denmark will this month have the chance to become the first nation to win the World Men’s Handball Championship three times in a row.
Throwing-off this evening in Katowice, the Danes are the favourites for the 2023 edition, which is being co-hosted by Poland and Sweden.
A 2.25 chance with William Hill, Nicolaj Jacobsen has many of his world class stalwarts to call upon, including goalkeeper Niklas Landin and left back Mikkel Hansen, as they attempt to repeat their successes of 2019 and 2021, respectively.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 11th, 1:00 P.M. (GMT)
A group containing Bahrain, Belgium and Tunisia should not provide too much trouble early on in this the first World Championship to feature 32 teams.
Desperate to stop the Danes in their golden tracks are their great rivals, Sweden, who will have aspirations of lifting the trophy on the 29th of January in front of their home crowd in Stockholm.
Winners of the EHF Euro 2022, Sweden know what it takes to go deep in major tournaments. Centre Jim Gottfridsson and wing Hampus Wanne will be key if they are to have another successful run and end their 24-year wait for a fifth world title.
Fourth favourites at 7.50, the Swedes start against Brazil, who can never be underestimated.
Second in the market at 4.50 and taking on Poland in tonight’s curtain-raiser are France. Finishing in the top four at a remarkable 13 of the last 15 World Championships, six of which saw them win the title, Les Experts can never be discounted.
With Dika Mem, Valentin Porte and Ludovic Fabregas, they have enough talent to win another title, while legend of the sport Nikola Karabatic is back for more glory at the ripe old age of 38.
The goalkeeping position could be a weak spot, perhaps, with the hot-and-cold Vincent Gerard backed up by two international rookies.
Making up the quartet of favourites is Spain at 5.50. Two-time world champions, most recently a decade ago at home, Spain make the likes of France envious with their outstanding goalkeeping duo of Gonzalo Perez de Vargas and Rodrigo Corrales, while they will rely heavily on right back Alex Dujshebaev in attack.
The European runners-up find themselves in Group A alongside Montenegro, Chile and Iran.
Arguably the world’s best player Sander Sagosen will aim to lead Norway (15.00) to glory. They are in the chasing pack alongside the likes of Iceland (9.00) and Germany (21.00).
Egypt (26.00) are the best-fancied non-European team but the loss of star man Yahia Omar is a huge blow to their chances to come away victorious after all is said and done.
