France Will Win Gold Handball Medal

They have the best goalkeeper in the world, the best defence and the most valuable player. They are their only obstacle.

Famous American handball player John Ryan looked back on the World Handball Championship in Croatia with analysis and explanations about the competition system for all of those who are not familiar with this highly popular game in Europe.

Danish are only safe players in Zadar group

Although many will not nod their head to what an American has to say about handball, they should reconsider, because Ryan has discovered handball in 1984. He played for the American team, lived in Paris from 2002 until 2007 and played handball for recreation.

He is the main advocator of this game across the oceans and is convinced one day Americans will accept this “fast, aggressive and dynamic game, because it was made for their taste”. This is not far from the truth, because basketball player Carmelo Anthony fell in love with handball after seeing it for the first time (!) at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Ryan carefully analysed to course of the World Handball Championship so far, and made the prognosis that France and Croatia will surely play in the semis. He crossed Macedonia from the list, but gives chances to everyone else, which is why he finds the Zadar group most interesting.

- Serbia, has a more balanced attack and has the greatest potential to continue their success into the main round. The Germans and Danish have already proved themselves, but they are not unbeatable, while Norwegians and Polls can do a lot more that what they have displayed so far. Everything is open, but I predict that one of the two possible travellers will be the Danish – Ryan wrote for Teamhandballnews.

Only the French can be world champions

- If you have the World’s best goalie, Thierry Omeyer, the world’s best court defender, Didier Dinart, and the World’s best all-around player, Nikola Karabatic you are the team to beat. Additionally, the memory of their loss to Germany at the 2007 WC in Germany is still fresh in their minds. They should know what it takes to beat a good team hosting the World Championships. So, if anybody can stop France… it will be themselves – Ryan writes.