Here’s some top level analysis as to how each of the Continental Federations performed at the Men’s World Championships in Croatia. The data includes 2009 performance and as a comparison their performance data from 2007 is in parentheses.
2007 World Championship Continental Analysis: http://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.266
[b]Europe [/b]
Europe’s record vs. the Rest of the World: 42-0-4 (28-1-1 )
Average Match Final Score: 33.5 – 22.1 (34.2 – 23.1)
Average Match Goal Differential: +11.4 (+11.1)
Ranking: The 14 European nations captured spots 1-11, 13, 15 and 16
European dominance continues to be the story at the Men’s World Championships. In 46 matches, Europe came away the victor 42 times. The 4 losses were
South Korea 24 – Spain 23
Brazil 32 – Serbia 30
Tunisia 25 – Macedonia 24
Egypt 31 – Russia 27
This 91% win rate is a slight drop form 2007’s 93%, and a few non European sides have shown that they can compete against Europe’s best. It’s still pretty clear, though, that this is a European game.
A closer look at the other Continental Federations
[b]Africa[/b]
Record vs. Europe: 2-0-11 (1-0-13)
Average Match Final Score: 23.8 – 30 (24.9 – 33.5)
Average Match Goal Differential: -6.2 (-8.6)
Record vs. Rest of the World (non-Europe): 8-0-0 (7-0-3)
Average Match Final Score: 29.4-24.9 (31.5 – 27.5)
Average Match Goal Differential: +4.5 (+4)
Ranking: Egypt- 14th , Tunisia- 17th, Algeria- 19th
Africa again failed to have a team advance to the Main Round. Egypt and Tunisia, however, have clearly shown that they can compete with the Europeans. Most of those games were close and they pulled off two victories (Tunisia vs. Macedonia and Egypt vs. Russia). Tunisia also played without Wissem Hmam and if he had played they might very well have advanced to the Main Round and competed for a semifinal spot. Algeria was less competitive against the Europeans, but contributed to Africa’s dominance against the other continents. All told, Africa went a perfect 8-0-0 against the other continents. Granted, the way the schedule worked out no African team played South Korea, but it’s safe to say that Egypt or Tunisia woud have been competitive against the Koreans. So Africa is clearly the 2nd best continent in the world for Handball
[b]Asia[/b]
Record vs. Europe: 1-0-14 (0-1-6)
Average Match Final Score: 22.5 – 32.5 (24.9 – 35.9)
Average Match Goal Differential: -10 (-11)
Record vs. Rest of the World (non-Europe) 3-0-7 (5-0-6)
Average Match Final Score: 24.3- 25.8 (29.9 -29.9)
Average Match Goal Differential: -1.2 (0)
Ranking: South Korea- 12th , Kuwait- 22nd, Saudi Arabia- 23rd
South Korea was easily the best non-European team in the tournament. Their surprising victory over Spain was the shock of the tournament and it propelled them into the main round. It was their only victory over a European side, but they acquitted themselves well in every match. They scared the host Croatian (a 26-27 loss) and even hung tough with France before falling behind for a 9 goal loss. Notably, this performance was accomplished with a relatively young side and with players that for the most part are based in Korea. This contradicts the premise that in order to be competitive you need to have your top players based in Europe.
The other two representatives, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were less impressive. They were not competitive against the European sides and their only two wins were narrow victories over Australia. As things currently stand Asia can pretty much be defined as South Korea and everybody else.
[b]Pan America[/b]
Record vs. Europe: 1-0-12 (0-0-6)
Average Match Final Score: 23.1 – 34.8 (20.5 – 29.6)
Average Match Goal Differential: -11.7 (-9)
Record vs. Rest of the World (non- Europe): 6-0-6 (4-0-4)
Average Match Final Score: 27.3 – 25.9 (29.3 – 30.5)
Average Match Goal Differential: +1.4 (-1.2)
Ranking: Argentina- 18thth , Cuba- 20th , Brazil- 21st
Pan America’s performance can best be described as “average”. Like the other continents they didn’t fare well against the Europeans. And when they played the other also-rans they had a .500 record for the second World Championship in a row. Argentina kept all their matches respectable and fared well in the President’s cup. Brazil had a more up and down experience as evidenced by their two goal victory over Serbia and their 18 goal lost to Norway. An inexperienced Cuban side had a similar performance to the other 3rd PATHF representatives in recent World Championships. Not competitive against the Europeans, but respectable against the rest of the world.
[b]Oceania[/b]
Record vs. Europe: 0-0-5 (0-0-3)
Average Match Final Score: 14 – 42.4 (16-43)
Average Match Goal Differential: 28.4 (27)
Record vs. Rest of the World (Non-Europe): 0-0-4 (0-0-3)
Average Match Final Score: 19 – 28.5 (23.3-33.3)
Average Match Goal Differential: 9.25 (10)
Ranking: Australia- 24th
Australia was Oceania’s lone representative at the WC again and came away with similar results. Defeats against the European powers ranged from 20 (vs. Romanian) and 35 vs. (vs. Slovakia). In competition against other continents Australia fared better and lost by only 3 and 4 to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia respectively. Considering Australia introduced several new players holding ground from 2007 is somewhat of a moral victory. Beating European sides won’t happen anytime soon, but victories against Asian sides could be a possibility next time around.
Match Scores grouped by Continents are in the Extended Post
[b]Africa vs. Europe[/b]
Algeria 19 Macedonia 32
Algeria 28 Russia 29
Algeria 20 Germany 32
Algeria 22 Poland 39
Egypt 22 Serbia 30
Egypt 17 Denmark 26
Egypt 20 Norway 30
Egypt 31 Russia 27
Egypt 24 Spain 28
Tunisia 25 Macedonia 24
Tunisia 27 Poland 31
Tunisia 31 Russia 36
Tunisia 24 Germany 26
[b]Africa vs. Rest of World[/b]
Algeria 29 Brazil 28
Algeria 34 Cuba 27
Algeria 30 Saudi Arabia 27
Egypt 25 Brazil 22
Egypt 26 Saudi Arabia 18
Tunisia 28 Saudi Arabia 21
Tunisia 34 Brazil 33
Tunisia 29 Argentina 23
[b]Africa vs. Africa [/b]
Egypt 31 Tunisia 30
Algeria 28 Egypt 22
Tunisia 36 Algeria 25
[b]Asia vs. Europe[/b]
Kuwait 21 Croatia 40
Kuwait 27 Romania 34
Kuwait 19 Sweden 30
Kuwait 17 Spain 47
Saudi Arabia 13 Denmark 32
Saudi Arabia 23 Norway 39
Saudi Arabia 15 Russia 34
Saudi Arabia 29 Serbia 38
South Korea 21 France 30
South Korea 31 Macedonia 32
South Korea 24 Spain 23
South Korea 26 Croatia 27
South Korea 27 Hungary 28
South Korea 20 Slovakia 23
South Korea 25 Sweden 31
[b]Asia vs. Rest of World[/b]
Kuwait 24 Brazil 27
Kuwait 23 Cuba 26
Kuwait 25 Argentina 26
Kuwait 27 Australia 24
Saudi Arabia 27 Algeria 30
Saudi Arabia 21 Tunisia 28
Saudi Arabia 18 Egypt 26
Saudi Arabia 24 Brazil 26
Saudi Arabia 23 Australia 19
South Korea 31 Cuba 26
[b]Asia vs. Asia[/b]
South Korea 34 Kuwait 19
[b]Pan America vs. Europe[/b]
Argentina 26 France 33
Argentina 20 Hungary 31
Argentina 26 Romania 30
Argentina 25 Slovakia 27
Argentina 19 Spain 31
Cuba 20 Croatia 41
Cuba 20 Spain 45
Cuba 28 Romania 39
Cuba 14 Sweden 41
Brazil 21 Norway 39
Brazil 32 Serbia 30
Brazil 27 Denmark 40
Brazil 22 Russia 25
[b]Pan America vs. Rest of World[/b]
Argentina 36 Australia 16
Argentina 26 Kuwait 25
Argentina 23 Tunisia 29
Cuba 27 Australia 17
Cuba 27 Algeria 34
Cuba 26 Kuwait 23
Cuba 26 South Korea 31
Brazil 27 Kuwait 24
Brazil 26 Saudi Arabia 24
Brazil 33 Tunisia 34
Brazil 28 Algeria 29
Brazil 22 Egypt 25
[b]Pan America vs. Pan America [/b]
Argentina 30 Cuba 23
[b]Oceania vs. Europe[/b]
Australia 12 Slovakia 47
Australia 20 Romania 40
Australia 10 Spain 42
Australia 11 France 42
Australia 17 Hungary 41
[b]Oceania vs. Rest of World[/b]
Australia 24 Kuwait 27
Australia 19 Saudi Arabia 23
Australia 16 Argentina 36
Australia 17 Cuba 27