The chilean handball team will participate from this week in the World Championship of the sport that will last until January 29th in Poland and Sweden. It will be the seventh consecutive participation of Los Lobos in the biggest international event and the objective is to best the 16th place gotten in Germany-Denmarc 2019.
The team, directed from September of last year by the Spanish Aitor Etxaburu after the successful cycle of his compatriot Mateo Garralda, comes from obtaining a silver medal at the Asunción 2022 South American Games. One of his stars, the left wing player Erwin Feuchtmann (31 years), predicted what will be the first challenge of the season.
“Our objective is to go from the main round to the second phase, for which we need to beat Iran and Montenegro (the group is completed by Spain). And then it depends who we encounter. To create an analogy with football, in handball is very difficult for Saudi Arabia to beat Argentina,” he said.
The actual player from the Fenix Toulouse, from the french first division, explained that “it never happens that a non-popular team beats one of the favorites. There are surprises, but between teams that are kind of on the same level. Obviously our wish is to not be the world champion, but we do want to improve our best result.”
And for that, the youngest of the Feutchmann arrives on a top moment of his career, after playing in the leagues form Spain, Germany, Romania, Turkey and Austria. “I’m in my best state, playing in what can be the best league in the world and fulfilling an important role on a good team. I think that this year I reached mental maturity and that can be reflected on the court,” he said.
Feuchtmann and the national team obtained the second place on the last Asuncion 2022 South American Games (photo: COch communications)
“THE PAN AMERICAN GAMES ARE OUR NORTH”
On the same line, the left winger highlighted the importance of this world championship -in which Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and the United States will also participate- for the biggest goal of the team: the multisports party of the Americas.
“The Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are our north. The World Championship is a huge instance, but if one is concrete and practical, seeing it with a cool head, it doesn’t matter finishing 16th, 17th or 8th. That is good for our record and progress, but on the other hand, we do want to have a gold, silver or bronze medal at the Games. Our objective is always Santiago, we are always aiming in that direction,” he pointed out.
The Santiago 2023 male handball tournament will take place from October 27th to November 1st at the Gimnasio Polideportivo from Viña del Mar, in the Valparaíso region, which promises to be dressed in red for the event. “I’ve never been in a competition like this one as a local, I don’t know what will happen, so I’m very anxious and hoping for the time to pass by, wanting to perform as good as possible and give back the love that the people give us,” said Feutchmann.
“I imagine that this will generate pressure for the rival, since, like in any sport, the local player is the favorite. We know we have that advantage,” he concluded.
CHILE’S SCHEDULE IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Tournaments system: the 32 qualified teams will be divided into eight groups of four teams. The best three of each series will move forward to the main round or second phase, where there will be four series of six teams. Then, only the two best ones will move forward to the playoffs, starting with quarter finals.
Thursday 12th-jan, 14:00 (18:00 local): vs. Iran, in Cracovia
Saturday 14th-jan: 16:30 (20:30 local): vs. Spain, in Cracovia
Monday 16th-jan: 14:00 (18:00 local): vs. Montenegro, in Cracovia
Wednesday 18th-jan to Monday 23rd-jan: Main Round or second phase
Wednesday 25th-jan: Quarter finals
Friday 27th-jan: Semifinals
Sunday 29th-jan: Finals
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