Iceland vs Hungary Prediction & Betting Tips - Handball World Championship

Prediction published on 12/01/2023, 16:16  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 12/01/2023 at 17:17 in Handball World Championship Predictions

Both of these countries won their opening match in this 2023 Men's World Handball Championships. Iceland now take on Hungary with both sides in prime position to qualify for the main round from Group D. Iceland started with a 30-26 win over Portugal. The scores were level at half time but Iceland forged ahead in the second half to get the win. Mar Elison certainly helped them get that win as he scored nine goals. With their final group game being against South Korea, Iceland should have few problems getting into the main round again. They last failed to do so in 2009 and this is the seventh successive world championships. The win over Portugal saw them continue their impressive recent form with six wins in their last seven matches, the only loss being to Germany in a friendly on January 8.

Hungary are also hopeful of making it into the main round of these world championships. They had a comfortable 35-27 win over South Korea in their opening Group D fixture. All they have to do is avoid finishing bottom of the group to qualify and that spot looks certain to be filled by South Korea. The Hungarians got through to the quarter finals in the 2021 world championships and have reached that stage in three of the last four editions of this tournament. Not since 1986 have they made it all the way to the final. The 2022 European Championships didn't go well for them despite being co-hosts and they were failed to reach the knockout stages. They have lost one of their last eight matches, the one defeat being to Slovenia earlier this month.