Men's handball world championship 2003

18th men's handball world championship 2003
18th Men's Handball World Championship
Number of nations	24
World Champion	Croatia (1st title)
venue	Portugal
Opening game	January 20, 2003
Endgame	February 2, 2003
Games	84
Gates	4,638   (∅: 55.21 per game)
Top scorer	Carlos Pérez , 64 goals
Best player	Christian Schwarzer (MVP)
←  2001 World Cup World Cup 2005  →

The 18th men's handball world championship was held from January 20 to February 2, 2003 in Portugal . A total of 24 teams competed against each other in groups in the preliminary round and the main round. This was followed by elimination games with semi-finals and finals as well as placement games for places three to eight. Croatia became world champion in 2003 after beating Germany 34:31 in the final.

game schedule

If after the group matches of the preliminary round and the main round teams were tied, the direct comparison on points between these teams was the first decision criterion for table formation. If there was a tie between the teams, the second criterion was the goal difference resulting from the games between the teams in question. If the points and goal difference were equal, the third differentiation criterion was the number of goals scored in the games between the teams in question.

Preliminary round

The preliminary round was held from January 20 to January 26, 2003. The first four in each group qualified for the main round.

The venues are shown in brackets behind the groups.

Group A ( Guimarães )

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Spain	157: 106	10
2	Yugoslavia	142: 103	8th
3	Poland	140: 130	6th
4th	Tunisia	131: 129	4th
5	Kuwait	98: 168	2
6th	Morocco	113: 145	0

	Mon, January 20, 2003, 3:30 p.m.	Tunisia	- Kuwait	29: 20 (16:10)
	Mon, January 20, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Yugoslavia	- Poland	24: 20 (12: 9)
	Mon, January 20, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Spain	- Morocco	23:18 (13: 8)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 3:30 p.m.	Kuwait	- Yugoslavia	14: 36 (3:20)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Morocco	- Tunisia	24: 28 (15:14)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Poland	- Spain	25: 34 (16:17)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 3:30 p.m.	Morocco	- Kuwait	22: 25 (9:11)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Tunisia	- Poland	22: 24 (11:11)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Spain	- Yugoslavia	22: 20 (12: 9)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 4 p.m.	Spain	- Kuwait	45: 18 (24: 8)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 6 p.m.	Yugoslavia	- Tunisia	28: 27 (20:10)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 8:00 p.m.	Poland	- Morocco	35: 29 (17:12)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 4 p.m.	Tunisia	- Spain	25: 33 (13:18)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 6 p.m.	Yugoslavia	- Morocco	34: 20 (17: 9)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 8:00 p.m.	Kuwait	- Poland	21:36 (10:15)

Group B ( Viseu )

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Germany	191: 111	10
2	Iceland	185: 116	8th
3	Portugal	164: 126	6th
4th	Qatar	116: 159	4th
5	Australia	100: 192	2
6th	Greenland	100: 152	0

	Mon, January 20, 2003, 2:15 p.m.	Germany	- Qatar	40: 17 (23: 8)
	Mon, January 20, 2003, 5:00 p.m.	Iceland	- Australia	55: 15 (23: 6)
	Mon, January 20, 2003, 7:00 p.m.	Portugal	- Greenland	34: 19 (20: 8)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 2:15 p.m.	Australia	- Germany	16: 46 (6:24)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 5 p.m.	Greenland	- Iceland	17: 30 (8:16)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 7:00 p.m.	Qatar	- Portugal	21:31 (10:15)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 2:15 p.m.	Germany	- Greenland	34: 20 (20:11)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 5 p.m.	Australia	- Qatar	23: 28 (10:14)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 7 p.m.	Iceland	- Portugal	29: 28 (14:13)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 3:15 p.m.	Portugal	- Germany	29: 37 (15:19)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 5:15 p.m.	Iceland	- Qatar	42: 22 (24: 9)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 7:15 p.m.	Greenland	- Australia	21: 26 (12:12)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 4:15 p.m.	Germany	- Iceland	34: 29 (20:16)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 6:15 p.m.	Portugal	- Australia	42: 20 (22:11)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 8:15 p.m.	Qatar	- Greenland	28: 23 (15: 8)

Group C ( Madeira )

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Croatia	135: 125	8th
2	France	147: 103	8th
3	Russia	132: 132	5
4th	Hungary	154: 138	4th
5	Argentina	127: 156	3
6th	Saudi Arabia	114: 155	2

	Mon, January 20, 2003, 3 p.m.	Russia	- Hungary	31: 30 (15:14)
	Mon, January 20, 2003, 5:00 p.m.	Croatia	- Argentina	29: 30 (18:13)
	Mon, January 20, 2003, 8:00 p.m.	France	- Saudi Arabia	30: 23 (14:10)
	Tuesday, January 21, 2003, 3 p.m.	Argentina	- Russia	26: 26 (11:15)
	Tuesday, January 21, 2003, 6 p.m.	Saudi Arabia	- Croatia	18: 25 (10: 8)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 8 p.m.	Hungary	- France	24: 29 (10:18)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 3 p.m.	Russia	- Croatia	26: 28 (10:12)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 6 p.m.	Hungary	- Saudi Arabia	36: 25 (22:12)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 8:00 p.m.	France	- Argentina	35: 18 (14: 6)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 3 p.m.	Argentina	- Hungary	23: 35 (15:15)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 5:00 p.m.	Croatia	- France	23: 22 (11:10)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 7:00 p.m.	Russia	- Saudi Arabia	34: 17 (19: 8)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 3 p.m.	Croatia	- Hungary	30: 29 (16:13)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 5:00 p.m.	Saudi Arabia	- Argentina	31: 30 (14:14)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 7:00 p.m.	France	- Russia	31: 15 (15: 6)

Group D ( São João da Madeira )

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Sweden	147: 129	8th
2	Denmark	146: 125	8th
3	Slovenia	144: 137	6th
4th	Egypt	132: 139	5
5	Algeria	119: 136	2
6th	Brazil	118: 140	1

	Mon, January 20, 2003, 3 p.m.	Algeria	- Brazil	22: 22 (10:11)
	Mon, January 20, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Sweden	- Egypt	29: 23 (14:13)
	Mon, January 20, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Denmark	- Slovenia	33: 24 (17:10)
	Tuesday, January 21, 2003, 3 p.m.	Egypt	- Algeria	25: 25 (13:13)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Slovenia	- Sweden	29: 25 (14:12)
	Tue, January 21, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Brazil	- Denmark	24: 28 (10:11)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 3 p.m.	Slovenia	- Egypt	26: 27 (14:13)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Sweden	- Brazil	29: 21 (12:12)
	Thursday, January 23, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Denmark	- Algeria	22: 19 (9:13)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 1:00 p.m.	Algeria	- Sweden	28: 32 (12:17)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 6 p.m.	Brazil	- Slovenia	27: 30 (10:15)
	Sat, January 25, 2003, 8:00 p.m.	Denmark	- Egypt	35: 26 (18:12)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 4 p.m.	Sweden	- Denmark	32: 28 (19:14)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 6 p.m.	Egypt	- Brazil	31: 24 (17:11)
	Sun, January 26, 2003, 8:00 p.m.	Algeria	- Slovenia	25: 35 (13:16)

Main round

The main round was held from January 29th to February 2nd . In the main round, 16 teams played in four groups of four.

For this purpose, two teams each from groups A and B were drawn into main round group I, the other four teams formed group II. Similarly, main round groups III and IV were made up of preliminary round groups C and D.

Each team only played against the two new opponents in the main round. The result of the game of the teams that had already met in the preliminary round was adopted.

The first teams in each main round group qualified for the semi-finals, while the second group played out places five to eight.

Group I ( Caminha )

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Spain	106: 71	6th
2	Iceland	106: 83	4th
3	Poland	89:93	2
4th	Qatar	63: 117	0

	Wed, January 29, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Iceland	- Poland	33: 29 (14:17)
	Wed, January 29, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Spain	- Qatar	40: 15 (20: 6)
	Thursday, January 30, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Poland	- Qatar	35: 26 (18:11)
	Thursday, January 30, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Spain	- Iceland	32: 31 (18:18)

Group II ( Póvoa de Varzim )

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Germany	98:81	5
2	Yugoslavia	89:86	5
3	Portugal	84:93	2
4th	Tunisia	74:85	0

	Wed, January 29, 2003, 2:15 p.m.	Germany	- Tunisia	30: 21 (14:13)
	Wed, January 29, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Yugoslavia	- Portugal	30: 28 (18: 7)
	Thursday, January 30, 2003, 2:15 p.m.	Germany	- Yugoslavia	31: 31 (15:16)
	Thursday, January 30, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Portugal	- Tunisia	27: 26 (14:12)

Group III ( Rio Maior )

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	Croatia	90:76	6th
2	Russia	90:78	4th
3	Denmark	90:94	2
4th	Egypt	71:93	0

	Wed, January 29, 2003, 6:15 p.m.	Croatia	- Egypt	29: 23 (13:11)
	Wed, January 29, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Denmark	- Russia	28: 35 (16:16)
	Thursday, January 30, 2003, 6:15 p.m.	Russia	- Egypt	29: 22 (12:11)
	Thursday, January 30, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Croatia	- Denmark	33: 27 (19:11)

Group IV ( Espinho )

rank	country	Gates	Points
1	France	90:70	6th
2	Hungary	84:87	2
3	Slovenia	76:84	2
4th	Sweden	82:91	2

	Wed, January 29, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Sweden	- Hungary	33: 32 (17:17)
	Wed, January 29, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	France	- Slovenia	31: 22 (14:11)
	Thursday, January 30, 2003, 6:30 p.m.	Sweden	- France	24: 30 (11:15)
	Thursday, January 30, 2003, 8:30 p.m.	Slovenia	- Hungary	25: 28 (10:13)

Games for places 5-8 ( Lisbon )

The runners-up in the main round played against each other in two games. The winners of these games then played for 5th place, the two losers for 7th place.

Sat, February 1, 2003, 9:30 a.m.	Yugoslavia	- Hungary	33: 34 n.2V. (27: 27/25: 25/12: 11)
Sat, February 1, 2003, 12:00 p.m.	Iceland	- Russia	27: 30 (12:13)

Games for places 5 and 7 ( Lisbon )

Play for 5th place	Sun, February 2, 2003, 9:00 a.m.	Hungary	- Russia	25: 30 (11:16)
Game for 7th place	Sun, February 2, 2003, 11:30 a.m.	Yugoslavia	- Iceland	27: 32 (13:16)

Final round ( Lisbon )

	Semifinals				final
	Sat, February 1, 2003, 3 p.m.
	Germany	23 (11)
	France	22 (10)
					So, February 2, 2003, 5:00 p.m.
					Germany	31 (18)
					Croatia	34 (20)
					3rd place
	Sat, February 1, 2003, 5:30 p.m. after 2V.				So, February 2, 2003, 2:30 p.m.
	Spain	37 (31/26/14)			France	27 (16)
	Croatia	39 (31/26/9)			Spain	22 (11)

The half-time results are in brackets. In the case of extra time, the scores after the end of regular playing time and after the end of the 1st extra time are also given there.

Game for 3rd place in Lisbon

	So, February 2, 2003, 2:30 p.m.	France	- Spain	27: 22 (16:11)

Final in Lisbon

	So, February 2, 2003, 5:00 p.m.	Germany	- Croatia	31: 34 (18:20)

Final placements

rank	team	Sp.	S.	U	N	Gates	Diff.
	Croatia	9	8th	0	1	270: 243	+ 027
	Germany	9	7th	1	1	306: 219	+ 087
	France	9	7th	0	2	257: 194	+ 063
04th	Spain	9	7th	0	2	288: 218	+ 070
05.	Russia	9	6th	1	2	256: 234	+ 022
06th	Hungary	9	4th	0	5	273: 259	+ 014
07th	Iceland	9	6th	0	3	308: 234	+ 074
08th.	Yugoslavia	9	5	1	3	263: 228	+ 035
09.	Denmark	7th	4th	0	3	201: 193	+ 08
10.	Poland	7th	4th	0	3	204: 189	+ 015
11.	Slovenia	7th	3	0	4th	191: 196	- 05th
12.	Portugal	7th	4th	0	3	219: 182	+ 037
13.	Sweden	7th	5	0	2	204: 191	+ 013
14th	Tunisia	7th	2	0	5	178: 186	- 08
15th	Egypt	7th	2	1	4th	177: 197	- 020
16.	Qatar	7th	2	0	5	157: 234	- 077
17th	Argentina	5	1	1	3	127: 156	- 029
18th	Algeria	5	0	2	3	119: 136	- 017th
19th	Saudi Arabia	5	1	0	4th	114: 155	- 041
20th	Kuwait	5	1	0	4th	98: 168	- 070
21st	Australia	5	1	0	4th	100: 192	- 092
22nd	Brazil	5	0	1	4th	118: 140	- 022
23.	Morocco	5	0	0	5	113: 145	- 032
24.	Greenland	5	0	0	5	100: 152	- 052

Awards

• Best Player (Most Valuable Player, MVP): Christian Schwarzer

Allstar team

position	Surname	country
Goal:	Henning Fritz	Germany
Left winger:	Eduard Koksharow	Russia
Back left:	Carlos Perez	Hungary
Back center:	Enric Masip	Spain
Back right:	Patrick Cazal	France
Right winger:	Mirza Džomba	Croatia
Circle:	Christian Schwarzer	Germany

statistics

Goal scorers

Pl.	player	team	Gates	FT	7 m
01.	Carlos Perez	Hungary	64	-	-
02.	Hussein Zaky	Egypt	61	-	-
03.	Ólafur Stefánsson	Iceland	58	-	-
04th	László Nagy	Hungary	51	-	-
	Alexei Rastworzew	Russia	51	-	-
06th	Markus Baur	Germany	50	-	-
	Ivan Simonovič	Slovenia	50	-	-
08th.	Stefan Kretzschmar	Germany	48	-	-
	Florian Kehrmann	Germany	48	-	-
010.	Petar Metličić	Croatia	46	-	-

FT - field gates; 7m - seven meters;

Best goalkeeper

Pl.	player	team	held balls
1	Andrei Lavrov	Russia	109
2	Henning Fritz	Germany	99
3	Arpad Šterbik	Yugoslavia	97
4th	Jose Hombrados	Spain	94
5	Nándor Fazekas	Hungary	88
6th	Vlado Sola	Croatia	78
7th	Dejan Peric	Yugoslavia	71
8th	Sławomir Szmal	Poland	69
9	Beno Lapajne	Slovenia	68
	Kasper Hvidt	Denmark	68

Bids

Medalist

Croatia	Germany	France
Mario Kelentrić Nikša Kaleb Renato Sulić Ivano Balić Božidar Jović Blaženko Lacković Vedran Zrnić Igor Vori Davor Dominiković Denis Špoljarić Mirza Džomba Petar Metličić Vlado Šola Tonči Valčić Slavko Goluža Valter Matošević	Henning Fritz Pascal Hens Mark Dragunski Stefan Kretzschmar Christian Rose Jan-Olaf Immel Christian Schwarzer Klaus-Dieter Petersen Steffen Weber Volker Zerbe Christian Ramota Markus Baur Christian Zeitz Heiko Grimm Florian Kehrmann Carsten Lichtlein	Jérôme Fernandez Didier Dinart Cédric Burdet Bertrand Gille Christophe Kempé Daniel Narcisse Grégory Anquetil Andrej Golić Olivier Girault Bruno Martini François-Xavier Houlet Thierry Omeyer Jackson Richardson Joël Abati Patrick Cazal
Lino Červar (coach)	Heiner Brand (trainer)	Claude Onesta (Trainer)

doping

After the preliminary round match against Brazil, the Egyptian Gohar gave a positive doping test and was excluded from the tournament.

Web links

• IHF statistics on www.ihf.info (PDF; 26 kB)
• Statistics for all handball world championships

Individual evidence

1. ↑ "Handball World Championships since 1938" on www.welt.de
2. ↑ www.sport-komplett.de
3. ↑ Egyptian Gohar was doped handelsblatt.com February 2, 2003