The first day of the 2018 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship in Kazan, Russia sees all 16 nations play twice throughout the day, with some big clashes and small pieces of history made.
- Defending champions Croatia open their title defence against Uruguay
- Hosts Russia face world championship newcomers Sweden
- Asian side Vietnam debut with clash against Spain
- Wild card New Zealand make world championship bow against Hungary
- Pan-American clash for World Games 2017 winners Brazil, who face USA
2018 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship
Preliminary Round – Day 1
For the match schedules and results click HERE. All games will be streamed live HERE.
Featured Match – Group D: Russia vs Sweden 11:30 hrs (local time)
Russia have not qualified competitively for the last two world championships, having missed Budapest 2016 and receiving direct entry as hosts to Kazan 2018. However, this appears not to be a problem as they are current silver medal holders in the Men’s EHF European Championship, after losing to Spain in the final last year, following an impressive run which included a victory over world champions – and hosts - Croatia.
En route to that medal, they beat their first opponents at Kazan, Sweden, 2-1 in the main round, and with the pressure of a home tournament on their shoulders, the Swedes will be hoping Russia have a slow start in Kazan and they can end their first-ever world championship appearance with a victory.
Sweden qualified to Kazan with a fifth-place finish at the 2017 Men’s EHF EURO and they will be hoping their debut appearance on the global stage is another step on their continued international performances after their last four places at the EHF EURO read 15th (2011), 11th (2013), 10th (2015) and that fifth-place finish last year.
Group A
In the morning session, title holders Croatia open their 2018 defence with a match against Uruguay. The two teams have met three times before at the world championships, with the European side winning all three games. Iran take on Argentina as both sides appear at their second world championship.
Later in the afternoon Uruguay play Iran – the second time the teams have met in a world championship after Iran won 2-0 back in 2008. Argentina then face Croatia with the Croats leading their head-to-head meetings, having beaten the South Americans back in 2014.
Matches (all times local)
09:50 CRO-URU
10:40 IRI-ARG
14:50 URU-IRI
15:40 ARG-CRO
Group B
The 2017 EHF EURO champions Spain take on debutants Vietnam in the opening game of group B before fellow first-timers New Zealand go up against Budapest 2016 fourth-placed team Hungary.
Vietnam then face Hungary in the afternoon session before New Zealand play Spain in the fourth and final group B game of the opening day.
Matches (all times local)
09:50 ESP-VIE
11:30 HUN-NZL
15:40 VIE-HUN
16:30 NZL-ESP
Group C
Denmark and Oman open group C with the early game before Budapest 2016 bronze medallists, and Asian champions, Qatar play Australia. The Asian side have the upper hand against the Aussies at the world championships, having played them twice (in 2010 and 2012), winning both games 2-0.
In the afternoon session, Denmark can look at a tournament winning record as they prepare to beat Qatar. In their three matches (2010 and twice in 2014), Denmark have a 2-1 winning record and the Scandinavian side will hope history will be on their side. Australia then face Oman.
Matches (all times local)
09:00 OMA-DEN
09:00 QAT-AUS
14:00 DEN-QAT
14:00 AUS-OMA
Group D
After Russia play Sweden in the featured match of the day, Brazil play out their Pan-American clash against the USA and will hope for a 2-0 repeat of their match at Budapest 2016. Sweden then face Brazil in the afternoon session with Russia wrapping up the day in front of the live TV cameras on the central court against USA.
Matches (all times local)
11:30 RUS-SWE
11:30 BRA-USA
16:30 SWE-BRA
19:30 USA-RUS