THE ROAD TO CROATIA

National teams that qualified directly for the 2009 World Championship in Croatia:

Germany, as 2007 World champions
Croatia, as host for the 2009 World Championship

All other competitors had to go through qualifications.

European Qualification (12 Nations)

European qualification was played in the three systems. From the European Championship held in Norway to the World Championship in Croatia came three best teams, excluding Germany and Croatia. These were Denmark, France, and Sweden. The remaining nations participated on qualifications. Winners of the groups joined game play-off altogether with the teams, which in Norway were ranked from sixth to 16th place. In nine play-off matches, we have nine winners for placement to 2009 World Championship.

European Championship in Norway (January 17 – January 27, 2008)

1. Denmark
2. Croatia
3. France
4. Germany 
5. Sweden
6. Norway
7. Poland
8. Hungary
9. Spain
10. Slovenia
11. Iceland
12. Montenegro
13. Czech Republic
14. Russia
15. Belarus
16. Slovakia

In final tournament for World Championship qualification, in match for 5th place, Norway played with Sweden, 34:36.

Qualifications

Group 1: Ukraine, Austria, Estonia
Group 2: Netherlands, Greece, Turkey
Group 3: Romania, Latvia, Cyprus
Group 4: Switzerland, Italy, Belgium
Group 5: Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland
Group 6: Portugal, FYR Macedonia, Bulgaria
Group 7: Serbia, Israel, Faroe Islands

Playoffs (June 2008):

The bottom 11 teams (not counting Croatia and Germany) from the European Championships and the 7 group winners were drawn into 9 pairings. These nations played a home and away 2 game play-off with the winner of each pairing qualifying for the World Championships.

First leg: 7/8 June 2008
Second leg: 14/15 June 2008

Final results:

Slovenia – Slovakia 33:33, 29:30
Spain – Greece 32:24, 31:32
Norway – Ukraine 29:22, 32:30
Belarus – Russia 26:26, 30:34
Montenegro – Romania 31:27, 24:29
Czech Republic – Serbia 38:33, 24:29
Poland – Switzerland 32:24, 22:24
Hungary - Bosnia and Herzegovina 27:25, 27:24
FYR Macedonia – Iceland 34:26, 24:30

Asia Qualification (3 Nations)

Asian Championship played in Isfahan, Iran (February 17 – February 25, 2008). The first three teams on this ranking qualified at the 2009 World Championship.

1. South Korea
2. Kuwait
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Iran
5. Qatar
6. Bahrain
7. Japan
8. China
9. United Arab Emirates
10. Lebanon

In final tournament for World Championship qualification, in match for bronze medal, Saudi Arabia won over Iran, 24:23.

Africa Qualification (3 Nations)

Africa Nations Cup held in Angola (January 7 – January 20, 2008). The first three teams on this ranking qualified at the 2009 World Championship.

1. Egypt
2. Tunisia
3. Algeria
4. Angola
5. Democratic Republic of the Congo
6. Nigeria
7. Cameroon
8. Morocco

In final tournament for World Championship qualification, in match for bronze medal, Algeria won over Angola, 23:20.

Oceania Qualification (1 Nation)

Wellington, New Zealand (April 7 – April 10, 2008). Only the winner, Australian national team, will participate at the World Championship.

1. Australia
2. Cook Islands
3. New Zealand

In final tournament for World Championship qualification, Australia beat Cook Islands with 32:11

Pan American Qualification (3 Nations)

1st Division Championships held on Cuba (November 5 – November 9, 2007).

1. Cuba
2. Canada
3. Dominican Republic
4. Puerto Rico
5. Mexico

The first three teams on this ranking qualified at the finals, which took place in Sao Carlos, Brazil (June 24 – June 28, 2008). The 3 top nations from the 1st Division Championships (Cuba, Canada and the Dominican Republic) will participate in the tournament. Nations will be drawn into two groups of four. The top two teams advance to the semifinals. The finalists and the 3rd place match winner will qualify for the World Championships.

Ranking in Brazil, as follows:
Pan American Championships, Brazil (24-28 June, 2008)

1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Cuba
4. Chile
5. Greenland
6. Uruguay
7. Canada
In final tournament for World Championship qualification, Cuba won over Chile 37:30.

Note: USA withdrew from participation due to financial problems. The Dominican Republic was named to replace the USA, but also was a no show at the tournament.