Füchse Berlin Captain Injured
Overview of the Championship
Scheduled from January 14 to February 2, the Handball World Championship will take place in Denmark, Croatia, and Norway. This tournament involves 32 teams competing for the championship title, marking the first time the event is hosted across three countries.
Preliminary and Main Rounds
The tournament begins with a preliminary round held in five cities, where the teams are divided into eight groups of four. Each team aims to secure a place in the next stage, with the top three teams from each group advancing to the main round.
In the main round, the qualified teams are split into four groups of six. Points from the preliminary round are retained, which adds a strategic element to the matches. The two leading teams from each main round group will then proceed to the quarter-finals.
Knockout Stage
The knockout stage begins with the quarter-finals, taking place in Zagreb and Oslo. Winners from these matches will move on to the semi-finals, with the first semi-final scheduled for January 30 in Zagreb and the second on January 31 in Oslo. The championship concludes with the final and the third-place match on February 2 in Oslo.
President's Cup for Eliminated Teams
Teams that do not advance to the main round will participate in the President's Cup, where they will compete for positions 25 to 32. These teams will be organized into two groups of four, with each team playing the others in their group. The outcomes will determine their final rankings in the tournament.
Injury Impact on Sweden's Team
Max Darj, the captain of Füchse Berlin, has sustained a knee injury during a preparation match for the Swedish national team and will miss the upcoming World Championship. The 33-year-old player is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks, marking a significant loss for the team. Darj, who has represented Sweden 126 times, expressed disappointment at missing the chance to compete on such a prestigious stage.
As a former vice-world champion and European champion, his absence will be felt, especially as another key player, Oscar Bergendahl, is also unavailable due to injury. National coach Michael Apelgren has called up Andreas Nilsson as a replacement to bolster the squad in Darj's absence.
