LIVE Romania – Croatia » The adventure at the Women's Handball World Championship begins!

• Reporter Adrian Jitea and photojournalist Ionuț Iordache are in Rotterdam with the Romanian national team and will transmit all the information and images that matter
• Also today, from 21:30, Denmark faces Japan. GSP will broadcast from Rotterdam Ahoy.

Romania – Croatia, live from 19:00

Romania, the only national team that has participated in all editions of the World Championship, is embarking on a new adventure. And he does it with great confidence, having two strong arguments.

As never before, the tricolor handball players came with many minutes played at the clubs and in good shape.

Reunited under the command of the selector Ovidiu Mihăilă, they achieved 3 easy victories at The Carpathian Trophy. It should also be mentioned that Portugal, the Czech Republic and Austria are not teams at the level of Denmark, the group's favorite.

The debut in group A, in Rotterdam Ahoy, where approximately 1000 Romanian fans are expected, will be against Croatia.

Croatia is in trouble!

Hampered by injuries, Croatia have very little chance in the view of the bookmakers. Odds for Romania's victory fell below 1.20.

The selector Ivica Obrvan complains about the problems in the central area of ​​the defense. He also struggles with the pivot position. Ana Debelic recently retired from the national team, while Katarina Jezic, from Dunărea Brăila, is recovering from an injury.

• In the squad for the World Cup we find only 3 players from outside the Croatian league. Dejana Milosavljevic, the center from Danube Brăila, is one of them. Podravka and Lokomotiva Zagreb form the core.

The Croatians lost both warm-up matches in November, 22-27 against Poland and 27-29 against Senegal.

The last head-to-head matches took place in the Euro 2024 qualifying group. Romania won both, 25-23 and 26-24.

How Ovidiu Mihăilă sees his debut at the World Championship

It's really a big personal challenge and I'm glad that I have some inner peace thanks to these girls who are with us. They have shown that they have created a beautiful group and we hope that all this time that we will spend here together will be professional satisfaction and thoughts will be only positive and confident.

Let's remember that the same Croatia took the bronze medal a few years ago, also after an unpleasant moment, when many players from Podravka had Covid and had to change the team. That's why I consider that we are not going away as favorites only in terms of this aspect.

The girls understood this, they are balanced, they are focused and calm because that is the only way we can approach this game, not to relate to the shortcomings that Croatia has. We don't have an easy group and this first match against Croatia is a first test for this team at the World Championship

– The selector Ovidiu Mihăilăaccording to handbalmania.ro

Romania's squad for the World Championship:

• Goalkeepers: Iulia Dumanska (Minaur), Bianca Curmentă (Corona Brașov), Elena Șerban (Danurea Brăila)
• Far right: Sonia Seraficeanu (Gloria Bistrița), Mihaela Mihai (CSM Bucharest)
• Inter right: Alicia Gogîrla (SCM Craiova)
• Coordinators: Rebeca Necula (Rm. Vâlcea), Alisia Boiciuc (Corona Brașov), Andreea Popa (Brăila Danube), Elena Roșu (Brăila Danube), Cristina Laslo (Gloria Bistrița)
• Pivots: Lorena Ostase (Gloria Bistrita), Sonia Vasiliu (Slatina), Asma Elghaoui (Rm. Vâlcea)
• Left Integers: Sorina Grozav (Corona Brașov), Maryia Skrobic (Rapid)
• Far left: Gabriela Dumitrascu (Corona Brașov), Eva Kerekes (Gloria Bistrița)

The program in Romania's group at the World Championship:

• November 27, 19:00 » Romania – Croatia
• November 27, 21:30 » Denmark – Japan
• November 29, 19:00 » Romania – Japan
• November 29, 21:30 » Croatia – Denmark
• December 1, 19:00 » Japan – Croatia
• December 1, 21:30 » Denmark – Romania