DEN

No team has won more medals at the IHF Women’s Youth (U18) World Championship than Denmark – five – but the Scandinavian side tied their worst placement ever in the competition four years ago, in 2018, when they finished sixth.

Building successful generations of players have been lengthy enshrined in Denmark’s DNA, who have constantly sent wave after wave of talent, winning the competition in 2006 and 2012. Players like Sandra Toft, the IHF Female World Player of the Year in 2021, Lærke Møller or Line Jørgensen, have been part of the winning team in 2006, while Anne Mette Hansen, Line Haugsted or Mette Tranborg represented Denmark when they won the trophy in 2012.

This time around, Denmark will surely rely on left back Julie Scaglione, a transcendental talent, who was the All-star left back and second top scorer at the W17 EHF EURO 2021, when she recorded 51 goals.

Scaglione has plenty of experience on the highest of levels, as she scored 34 goals in the EHF European League Women last season when Ikast Håndbold secured the third place in the competition.

Having placed fourth at the W17 EHF EURO 2021, Denmark will be favoured in the 100% European group where they start off facing Portugal, Austria, and Faroe Islands. Anything bar a semi-final berth will be considered a failure, however, for a side that has never finished lower than sixth in the competition.


Key players: Julie Scaglione (left back), Anne Johansen (right back), Emma Jensen (line player)

Qualification for North Macedonia 2022: W17 EHF EURO 2021 – 4th place

History in tournament: 2006: 1st, 2008: 3rd, 2010: 6th, 2012: 1st, 2014: 3rd, 2016: 2nd, 2018: 6th 

Group at North Macedonia 2022: Group C (Denmark, Portugal, Austria, Faroe Islands)